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l f n h t e r h e : l e , y . r s n a d d t d e r n n . , g e e e s ) k . , VCA South Shore Animal Hospital can reach 18 inches. The risk of serious incision complications (dehiscing, or incision "failure") rises with the increased length of an incision. Doberman Pinchers are a unique breed of dog where minimally invasive surgery provides an excellent alternative to open surgery for some procedures. Dobermans are very prone to bleeding, which makes traditional open surgery more risky. Being able to mitigate this risk using laparoscopic vessel sealing equipment allows us to perform many surgical procedures with much less risk of bleeding. It seems that minimally invasive surgery has been around for a while in human medicine. We all know people who have had arthroscopic surgery for orthopedic conditions like an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in the knee, for example. Is minimally invasive surgery "new" for veterinary medicine? ssm Surgeons at a number of veterinary schools started developing minimally invasive surgical techniques in the early to mid 1990's. In the last seven years, however, there has been an explosion in usage, particularly in treating cats and dogs. Despite this surge in popularity, it isn't always easy to find a veterinarian who offers it. Performing minimally invasive surgery requires specialized training beyond the traditional surgical training, and an investment in the necessary tools and equipment. The overhead for this equipment is very high, so it is difficult for most veterinarians to commit to the time and costs. I am happy that VCA South Shore has made it possible for my colleagues and for me to be able to offer this option to our patients. What are some of the animal species and conditions that are being treated using minimally invasive surgery? ssm I primarily use minimally invasive surgery in dogs and cats. In orthopedic cases, I frequently use the scope to treat conditions involving the elbow and shoulder. Common soft tissue applications include removal of urinary bladder stones, liver biopsies, and gastropexies. Spaying, and neutering cryptorchids (dogs with undescended testicles) are procedures that are also well suited for minimally invasive surgery—especially in large dogs and adult dogs. There are also some limited procedures that can be performed on birds and reptiles. Services available at VCA South Shore include: Acupuncture Avian and Exotic Animal Medicine Cardiology Dentistry Dermatology Diagnostic Imaging (X-Ray, Ultrasound, CT and MRI) Emergency and Critical Care Medicine Internal Medicine Neurology and Neurosurgery Oncology Ophthalmology Pain Management Rehabilitation Therapy Surgery (Soft Tissue and Orthopedic) Wellness How does the cost of minimally invasive surgery compare to traditional open surgery? ssm It depends. As I mentioned earlier, the cost savings potential for performing cardiothoracic surgery using the scope can be quite high since the recovery time is much shorter. Also, studies have shown that performing preventive gastropexies in large breed dogs is very cost effective. This is especially true for Great Danes. For other procedures like spaying, the actual cost of surgery may be slightly higher, but the benefit to the animal with regards to pain reduction and a faster recovery may well outweigh the difference in cost. VCA South Shore Animal Hospital 595 Columbian Street, South Weymouth 781-337-6622 Appointment times are available: Monday through Friday: 7am to 9pm Saturday: 9am to 5pm, Sunday: 9am to 4pm The hospital is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for emergencies. www.vcahospitals.com/south-shore-weymouth 595 Columbian Street South Weymouth 781-337-6622 www.vcaweymouth.com