Client Education

What's New

Canine Influenza Information

With much discussion about human influenza (flu) it is interesting to note that there exists a canine influenza virus also. It is not transmissible to humans, but there seems to be a fair amount of confusion as to whether one should vaccinate one's dog for this problem or not. Currently we are recommending you wait on this. Please read our position on this current topic in preventive medicine...... read more

New Cancer Treatment Available

The Animal Hospital of Rowlett is one of just a few veterinary facilities in the United States providing this new technology in fighting cancer in pets... read more

AHR - Pet of the Month

Each month we like to highlight a special friend of Animal Hospital of Rowlett. To read more about them, just click here and select the "Pet of the Month" album in the photo gallery.

CurrentNews

Curious and Fascinating Animal Stories

Australian Cattle Dog Survives 6 Months on Desert Island
...read

Sick Sea Turtle Checks Herself into Hospital
...read

Vets to the stars recalls stories, lessons learned on the set
...read

World's largest archive of animals sounds
...read

Presidential Pets
...read

Full moon means more pet emergencies
...read

Cats Can Get Alzheimer's: Study?
...read

Poll: Candidates' Positions on Dog Laws Matter
...read

Don't Forget

Schedule appointments on-line

You can now schedule your routine medical appointments, or make a grooming or Pet Hotel reservation on-line. Click to Schedule an appointment

Help Us Out

Customer Satisfaction Survey

Let us know how we're doing by taking our Customer Satisfaction Survey. Click to take the survey

Education

At the Animal Hospital of Rowlett, we take a special interest in educating you about the health and well-being of your pet. We want to help you take care of your companion animals by providing reliable, up-to-date animal health information authored by our doctors as well as by other medical experts in the field. We will continue to add to this library of resources on a continuing basis so be sure to check back often for updates.

Medical Procedures

Ever wonder exactly what happens when your pet undergoes a medical procedure? View photos and general descriptions of some of the procedures we perform at The Animal Hospital of Rowlett.

Canine Orchidectomy (Neuter)

1. A premedical examination is performed, paying particular attention to heart rate rhythm and overall body condition.

2. A pre-op injection is administered to lightly sedate the animal and to allow us to use less general anesthetic.

3. An IV anesthetic is administered.

4. An Endotracheal tube is placed in the trachea to administer inhalant anesthetic. (Arrow denotes opening of trachea)

We perform 99% of all medical procedures and 100% of all spays, neuters and declaws with an endotracheal tube in place. This allows immediate ability to provide lung inflation for the patient should an emergency situation arise.

tube tube

5. Patient is connected to anesthetic machine and heart/respiratory monitors.

This machine is equipped not only with the routine Isoflorane anesthetic vaporizor but also a newer anesthetic vaporizor for Sevoflorane. Sevoflorane is required for patients with preexisting liver or kidney dysfunction and optional for those with normal functions.

Anesthetic Machine

6. The surgical site is clipped and scrubbed to make the area sterile.

Prep

7. The patient is transferred to the surgery suite along with connected monitoring equipment.

A pulse oximetry monitor is attached to the patient's tongue with a soft rubber clip.

We monitor all patients' breathing with a simple device that will sound an alarm if the patient does not take a breath within a predetermined number of seconds.

instruments Tongue monitor

8. Patient is transferred to the warmed surgery table and placed into position for the procedure.

Our surgery tables are equipped with electric warmers to keep the tables at a steady body temp. Patients under anesthetic can lose body warmth, a particular problem for long procedures and small patients.

table warmer

9. The technician continues to monitor the patient's vital signs.

All patients are monitored by pulse oximetry, respiratory monitor and often electrocardiogram. Despite the great reassurance of today's technological advances, they will never take the place of a trained technician at your patient's side. We do not perform anesthetic procedures without a technician's watchful eye.

technician

10. The pulse oximetry machine is connected that will inform the doctor of the patient's percentage of oxygen in the blood stream during the surgery.

Pulse Oximeter is attached to the patient with an infrared tongue sensor. The machine will tell us the patient's oxygen saturation while under anesthetic. Normal values are over 95%. The pulse rate is also given and the pulse quality can be subjectively monitored with the sound of the beeps.

pulse oximeter

11. An incision is made midline prescrotal.

incision

12. Testicle is pushed out through the incision.

ligation incision

13. The tissue is stripped from the testicle exposing the vasculature that provides blood to and from the testicle as well as the passageways for sperm.

vasculature

14. The vasculature that connects the testicles to the body are clamped, ligated and replaced into the body.

uterine ligation neuter

15. The subcutaneous layer is then closed.

16. The skin is closed with sutures that will need to be removed in 10-14 days.

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