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Veterinary Surgery at Upstate Veterinary Specialties

Veterinary Surgeons are veterinarians who specialize in performing complex surgeries. Surgeries performed by a board-certified specialist generally require advanced training and comprehensive surgical equipment, intensive surgery monitoring, and 24-hour postoperative care. Our state-of-the-art surgery department is fully equipped to perform minimally invasive, orthopedic, and soft tissue procedures.

What to Expect

Pre-surgical Consultation and Assessment at UVS

A visit to the surgery department will start with a consultation with our surgeon to discuss all case referral documents, imaging, and treatment options. We ask all patients to fast for the initial visit if bloodwork, sedation, diagnostic imaging, or other tests/procedures are recommended. Our surgeon will discuss your pet’s condition, treatment options, and prognosis.

Surgical Care at UVS

Our team is highly trained in anesthetic procedures. Our top priority is to ensure our patients are safe and pain-free before, during, and after their surgical procedure. Our operating rooms are equipped with the latest anesthesia equipment allowing us to closely monitor our patients and tailor an anesthetic protocol to each patient. To maximize our patient’s comfort and minimize their stress levels, patients receive pain medication before, during, and after surgery. This includes epidurals, pain patches, local and regional nerve blocks, or constant rate infusions.

Postoperative Care at UVS

Our surgical team will contact you after your pet’s surgery and provide an update on the results of their procedure. If an animal is placed under general anesthesia, they will remain in the hospital overnight. Postoperative patient care is as important to us as the surgical procedure itself. Therefore, we provide doctor and nursing care 24 hours a day to monitor our patient’s needs. At discharge, clients will be given detailed instructions for at-home care and follow-up recommendations.

Common Surgical Procedures

Our surgical suite is fully equipped to perform comprehensive surgical procedures. The following are some common procedures at UVS performed on an elective, urgent, or emergency basis:

Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Arthroscopy
- Laparoscopy
- Thoracoscopy
Soft Tissue Surgery
- Foreign body removal and gastric dilatation-volvulus [GDV]
- Ear, nose, and throat surgery (brachycephalic syndrome, tracheal collapse, or laryngeal paralysis)
- Gastrointestinal surgery (esophagus, stomach, intestines, and colon)
- Oncologic surgeries
Orthopedic Surgery
- Tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO)
- Patellar luxation
- CCL (cruciate ligament) rupture repair
- Joint repair
- Fracture repair
Advanced wound management
Reconstructive surgery

Board Certified Veterinary Surgeons

A veterinarian who is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons has been specifically trained in the practice of surgery. Only those veterinarians who have completed the certification requirements of the ACVS are Diplomates and have earned the right to be called specialists in veterinary surgery.

If your pet needs an elective, urgent, or emergency surgical procedure, speak with your primary care veterinarian about a referral to Upstate Veterinary Specialties. Our surgeon, Dr. Joseph Palamara, and his team will meet with you and your pet to diagnose and manage your pet’s condition to improve their overall quality of life.