Veterinary Surgery in Springfield

The initial consultation usually lasts about 30 minutes, but additional time may be needed if X-rays or other diagnostic tests are required to aid in our decision-making or surgical planning.

Surgery, if indicated, is usually performed the same day. Expected costs, risks, possible complications and prognosis will be discussed with you prior to surgery. After surgery, you will be contacted by the surgeon to discuss the surgical findings and how your pet is recovering from the procedure.

At discharge from the hospital, both you and your referring veterinarian will receive a copy of the discharge instructions and referral letter. Your veterinarian will also be mailed digital photos of the surgical procedure for their records.

• Fracture repairs, using plating, pinning and external skeletal fixation.
• Cranial cruciate ligament repair, extra-capsular techniques, tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) and tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA).
• Arthroscopic joint surgery.
• Other orthopedic procedures.
• Laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgery.
• Thoracic surgery.
• Gastrointestinal surgery.
• Hernia repairs.
• Urinary tract surgery.
• Upper respiratory tract surgery.

Here at the surgery department at The Regional Veterinary Referral Center we have a sub-specialization in surgical oncology. Dr. Griffin has a special interest and extensive experience in surgical oncology.

Cancer in pets traditionally evokes thoughts of a terminal untreatable disease.  However, advances in veterinary surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy allow excellent care and hope for pets with cancer.  Through our team approach to cancer treatment we can achieve a cure in many patients and marked improvement in quality and quantity of life in most others.  Early detection and aggressive therapy is the key.  At The Regional Veterinary Referral Center we can achieve “clean margins” (complete removal of the tumor, including microscopic portions), and subsequently cure the local disease in 95% of our surgical patients.

• Pre-surgical biopsy to determine the prognosis and the surgical dose required for cure.
• Complete staging of the patient using radiography, lymph node biopsy and other imaging. We have a CT scan in house which helps us to better determine the extent of local disease.
• Aggressive surgery using the appropriate dose. Dr. Griffin and Dr. Anderson’s experience in surgical oncology allow a cure of local disease in many patients without being overly aggressive, thereby reducing post-operative complications.
• Marking and assessing surgical margins. This is the best predictor of local recurrence of the tumor and helps determine if radiation therapy or further surgery is needed. We achieve clean surgical margins in 95% of patients on which we operate.
• Radiation therapy or repeat surgery if margins are incomplete. We have a linear accelerator at our hospital for performing radiation therapy with minimal side effects.
• Chemotherapy for potential metastatic lesions. We have a medical oncologist and an internist with a special interest in oncology who can help your pet with chemotherapy if needed.

• Wide excision of feline vaccine-associated sarcomas.
• Canine soft tissue sarcoma removals.
• Limb-salvage surgery for osteosarcoma in cases that would otherwise require amputation.
• Thoracotomy for lung tumors.
• Abdominal tumor removals.
• Maxillectomy and mandibulectomy for tumors of the oral cavity.
• Perianal tumor removals.
• Skin and muscle tumor removals, including skin flap or skin graft for wound reconstruction.

Veterinary Medical Acupuncture is offered as an adjunct to traditional medicine. Western medical acupuncture is a therapeutic modality that involves placing needles in various locations in the body using current knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathology and the principles of evidence-based medicine. It is commonly used to treat chronic arthritic, neurologic and musculoskeletal conditions that are not being adequately treated by standard therapies such as surgery and medication. It is often used in conjunction with physical therapy for these conditions. Many other medical conditions can be treated with acupuncture as well. Each animal is examined and an acupuncture treatment plan is based on the specific abnormalities present.