Veterinary Surgery for Dogs & Cats in Halifax, NS
Our veterinary surgery team at Coastal Care Veterinary Emergency & Referral Hospital in Halifax performs advanced surgery that puts your pet’s safety and comfort at the forefront.
Advanced Vet Surgery & Pet Care
At Coastal Care Veterinary Emergency & Referral Hospital, we are equipped with three cutting-edge surgical suites staffed by experts in veterinary surgery. We offer an extensive range of advanced orthopedic surgeries and soft tissue surgeries.
When your dog or cat is referred to our Halifax surgery department, we will reach out to schedule a consultation with our surgical team. During this appointment, we will assess your pet and discuss their diagnosis with you. We will also discuss any additional recommended diagnostic tests and treatments, and explain details of any recommended surgical procedure(s), risks and expected outcomes for your pet.
Veterinary surgeries are always performed with your pet's well-being foremost in our minds. During your pet’s procedure, our surgical team will provide carefully controlled anesthesia, customized to each patient. We will also utilize pain management protocols tailored to their needs before, during and after animal surgery. We are proud to be the only facility in Nova Scotia where anesthesia is performed by a board-certified anesthesiologist, maximizing your family member's safety and pain management.
Your companion’s condition will be continually monitored during their medical procedure, as well as following vet surgery until the time they go home. Our doctors, registered veterinary technologists and assistants who are working in hospital 24 hours a day, work closely with the specialty team to help ensure that each patient is comfortable, safe and receives the best possible, advanced care.
Please Note: Specialty services require a referral from a primary care veterinarian.
Meet Our Vet Surgeon in Halifax – Expert in Pet Surgery
Dr. Scott Joudrey DVM (Practice Limited to Surgery) has undergone advanced training in surgical techniques, including minimally invasive laparoscopic and thoracoscopic procedures, surgical oncology, management of cranial cruciate ligament disease, brachycephalic airway disease, and more. He is here for all your furry friend's surgical needs at Coastal Care Veterinary Emergency & Referral Hospital.
Our Veterinary Surgery Process at Coastal Care, Halifax, NS
At Coastal Care Veterinary Emergency & Referral Hospital, everything we do, every decision we make, is focused on working towards the best possible outcomes for our cherished patients.
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Multi-Specialty Collaboration
Some patients have complex disease processes that require more than just a veterinary surgeon.
At Coastal Care Veterinary Emergency & Referral Hospital, we pride ourselves on collaboration between specialists in surgery, internal medicine, cardiology, anesthesiology and ophthalmology, to help provide the best possible complete veterinary care for each patient, especially those with complex needs.
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Advanced Diagnosis
To help provide an accurate diagnosis and the best treatment plan for your pet, we provide a wide array of advanced diagnostics that will complement blood work and other diagnostic testing performed by your family veterinarian.
Detailed radiographs, abdominal ultrasound, fluoroscopy, endoscopy and CT scan are performed on-site at Coastal Care Veterinary Emergency & Referral Hospital by the specialty team, and are available if needed, to help ensure the best outcome for each patient.
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Anesthesia, Pain Management & Continuous Patient Monitoring
Each pet is unique, and thus each patient receives a customized anesthesia and pain management protocol that is specific to their medical, surgical and individual needs.
Each patient also receives continuous monitoring using advanced equipment and a dedicated team before and during procedures, as well as continued monitoring and nursing care 24 hours a day while they remain in the hospital.
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Post-Operative Care
For most surgical procedures, patients will remain in the hospital for at least one night, under the specialized care of our 24-hour veterinary team, to help ensure that they are stable, comfortable, and have recovered completely from anesthesia before going home.
The surgery team will work with you to help ensure that you are aware of all recommended home care for your pet once they leave the hospital.
You will receive written instructions regarding your pet’s activity, restrictions, medications and a follow-up plan, before their release from the hospital. A member of our surgery team will go over these instructions with you in detail and answer all of your questions.
Should you have any questions or concerns once your pet arrives home from the hospital, our surgery team or our 24-hour emergency team is always available and happy to help.
Advanced Surgical Care for Your Pet
Our team provides a range of orthopedic, soft tissue, and neurosurgical procedures. Orthopedic surgery addresses conditions affecting the bones, joints and other structures involved in movement, while soft tissue surgery focuses on the internal organs, skin and other tissues. Neurosurgery addresses conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord and nervous system.
From planned procedures to more complex or urgent surgical needs, our team provides individualized care focused on your pet’s comfort, safety and recovery.
Veterinary Surgery FAQs
Please see the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions regarding veterinary surgery.
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Do I need a referral for surgery?
Yes. Our surgical services work by referral from your primary care veterinarian, who will send us your pet's history and diagnostics. Once we receive the referral, our team will reach out to you to schedule a consultation. Pets who come through our emergency service and need surgery are assessed by our team right away.
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How long will my pet stay in hospital?
Some surgical patients are able to go home the same day, while others may benefit from staying overnight. If your pet has undergone a more invasive procedure or needs additional monitoring, pain management or support, they will remain in the care of our 24-hour team until they are ready to safely continue their recovery at home.
When it’s time to go home, you’ll receive clear written instructions covering activity, restrictions, medications and follow-up care to help make your pet’s recovery as comfortable as possible.
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What happens at the surgical consultation?
Our surgical team will examine your pet and review the diagnostics your family veterinarian has already completed. We will explain the diagnosis, walk through the recommended procedure, and discuss the risks and the outcome you can expect. Any additional diagnostics we recommend will be explained at the same appointment.
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What orthopedic procedures do you perform?
Our orthopedic caseload includes cruciate ligament stabilization such as TPLO and lateral suture stabilization, femoral head and neck excision, fracture repair, patellar luxation repair, and tendon and ligament repair.
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What soft tissue procedures do you perform?
Soft tissue procedures include (but are not limited to):
- Abdominal surgery (liver lobectomy, splenectomy, cholecystectomy, etc)
- Airway surgery (brachycephalic airway syndrome, laryngeal paralysis)
- Gastrointestinal surgery (GDV, intestinal obstructions, etc)
- Head and neck surgery (thyroidectomy, salivary gland removal, etc)
- Oncologic surgery
- Mass resection and oncologic surgery
- Thoracic surgery (lung lobectomy, pericardiectomy, etc)
- Urological and genitourinary surgery
- Minimally invasive soft tissue surgery, including laparoscopy and thoracoscopy (ovariectomy, abdominal cryptorchid testicle retrieval, gastropexy)
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What will surgery cost?
Costs depend on the procedure, the diagnostics involved and how long your pet stays with us. You will receive an estimate before anything proceeds, and our team will go through it with you so you know what is included. Financing options are available.
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Who performs the anesthesia?
Anesthesia is performed by our board-certified veterinary anesthesiologist, Dr. Jocelyn Marchiori, with a customized protocol for each patient and continuous monitoring by a dedicated team member throughout the procedure.
Caring for Pets in Atlantic Canada
Our specialists are pleased to accept new patients by referral from primary care veterinarians. Our emergency service welcomes all clients – 24/7/365.