Surgical Services for Dogs and Cats in Nanaimo
Surgical procedures require careful preparation, skilled hands, and attentive post-operative support. At Coastal City Animal Hospital in Nanaimo, our veterinary team provides a range of surgical services for dogs and cats, from routine spay and neuter surgery through to soft tissue and orthopedic procedures. Before any surgery, we perform a full physical examination and recommend pre-anesthetic bloodwork to ensure your pet is safe to proceed. Our team monitors your pet throughout the procedure and provides clear post-operative care instructions so recovery at home goes smoothly. We are open Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm and Saturday to Sunday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Spay and Neuter
Spay and neuter surgery is one of the most important health decisions you can make for your dog or cat. Spaying eliminates the risk of pyometra, a potentially life-threatening uterine infection, and significantly reduces the risk of mammary tumors when performed before the first heat cycle. Neutering eliminates the risk of testicular cancer and reduces the risk of certain prostate conditions. For dogs, we tailor the timing recommendation to breed size. Small and medium breeds are typically spayed or neutered around 5 to 6 months of age. Larger breeds benefit from waiting until 9 to 18 months to allow for appropriate musculoskeletal development. We will discuss the right timing for your pet at your pre-surgical consultation.
Soft Tissue Surgery
Soft tissue surgery includes a broad range of procedures involving the internal organs, skin, and body wall. Common procedures we perform include mass removals, cystotomy for bladder stones, foreign body removal from the gastrointestinal tract, splenectomy, gastrostomy, and ear surgery for dogs with chronic ear disease. We also perform tumor surgery for accessible skin and subcutaneous masses. Post-operative care is a critical component of a successful outcome. We provide detailed written care instructions and schedule follow-up appointments to monitor healing. Most soft tissue procedures are performed under general anesthesia with continuous monitoring of vital signs throughout.
Orthopedic Surgery
Orthopedic surgery addresses conditions affecting the bones, joints, and musculoskeletal system. At Coastal City Animal Hospital, we perform orthopedic procedures including fracture repair and joint-related surgeries. Dr. Pannu has a specific clinical interest in soft tissue and orthopedic approaches and works closely with each patient to ensure the best possible outcome. For complex orthopedic cases or those requiring specialist-level expertise, we refer patients to a board-certified veterinary surgeon, providing a complete clinical summary and surgical history to support continuity of care. We remain involved in your pet’s primary care and recovery throughout the process.
Tumor Surgery
Identifying and removing tumors early gives your pet the best chance of a positive outcome. We recommend having any new lump, bump, or growth evaluated promptly rather than waiting to see if it changes. Many masses that look concerning are benign, and some that appear harmless turn out to be more significant. We begin with a fine needle aspirate or biopsy to assess the mass before recommending surgical removal. The decision on how to proceed depends on the type of mass, its location, and your pet’s overall health. We discuss all findings and options with you openly before proceeding.
Cesarean Section (C-Section)
Cesarean sections are performed when natural delivery is not progressing safely for the mother or the offspring. Signs that a C-section may be needed include prolonged labor without delivery, signs of distress in the mother, or confirmed obstruction. When a planned breeding is expected to result in a litter, establishing a relationship with us in advance allows us to be familiar with the mother’s history if an urgent C-section is needed. We perform both planned and urgent C-sections and monitor both the mother and newborns closely in the immediate post-operative period.
Reproduction Planning
Our reproduction planning service supports responsible breeders who want to optimize breeding outcomes. We offer reproductive health assessments, progesterone testing to identify optimal breeding timing, and consultation on reproductive health management. Progesterone testing is particularly valuable for breeders working with small litters or dogs who have had inconsistent breeding results in the past. We approach reproduction planning with the health of both the parent animals and offspring as the primary consideration. Contact us to discuss how we can support your breeding program.
Exploratory Surgery
Exploratory surgery is performed when internal signs or imaging results suggest a problem that cannot be fully assessed without direct visualization. Common reasons include suspected foreign body obstruction, unexplained internal bleeding, or ambiguous masses identified on imaging. We discuss the anticipated findings and possible outcomes with you before proceeding. In some cases, the assessment and the surgical correction can both be accomplished in the same procedure. We provide a complete post-operative report including a description of findings, actions taken, and the recommended recovery plan.
Eye Surgery
Eye surgery in small animals addresses conditions including entropion, where eyelids roll inward and irritate the cornea, as well as cherry eye, eyelid mass removals, and procedures related to corneal injury. Prompt attention to eye conditions is critical, as deterioration can occur quickly. We perform a thorough ophthalmic assessment before recommending any surgical intervention and discuss the expected outcome and recovery with you in advance. For complex ophthalmic cases, we refer to a veterinary ophthalmologist as appropriate.
Reproduction Planning
Our reproduction planning service supports responsible breeders who want to optimize breeding outcomes. We offer reproductive health assessments, progesterone testing to identify optimal breeding timing, and consultation on reproductive health management. Progesterone testing is particularly valuable for breeders working with small litters or dogs who have had inconsistent breeding results in the past. We approach reproduction planning with the health of both the parent animals and offspring as the primary consideration. Contact us to discuss how we can support your breeding program.
Explore More Services
Timing depends on breed size. Small and medium breeds are typically spayed or neutered around 5 to 6 months. Large breeds benefit from waiting until 9 to 12 months, and giant breeds often wait until 12 to 18 months. Females spayed before their first heat cycle have a significantly reduced lifetime risk of mammary tumors. We provide a specific recommendation at your puppy’s first visit.
Pre-surgical bloodwork assesses organ function, including the kidneys and liver, which process anesthetic agents. It also evaluates red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Even young, apparently healthy pets can have underlying conditions not apparent on physical exam. Bloodwork gives us the information we need to select the safest anesthetic approach and reduces the risk of unexpected complications.
Recovery varies by procedure. Most soft tissue surgeries require restricted activity for 10 to 14 days while incisions heal, followed by a gradual return to normal activity. We provide specific written post-operative instructions for every patient. Signs that a recheck is needed sooner include redness, swelling, discharge at the incision site, loss of appetite, or unusual lethargy.
Not necessarily, but it does need to be evaluated. We recommend a fine needle aspirate or biopsy to characterize the mass before deciding on a course of action. Some masses are benign and can be monitored, while others require removal. The earlier a problematic mass is identified, the more straightforward the surgical approach tends to be. Call us at (778) 441-3989 to book an assessment.
For complex or specialized cases outside our surgical scope, we refer patients to a board-certified veterinary surgeon. We provide a full clinical summary to the specialist and stay involved in your pet’s ongoing primary care and recovery support. We discuss all options with you openly and maintain clear communication throughout the process.
If your dog or cat needs surgical care in Nanaimo, contact Coastal City Animal Hospital at (778) 441-3989 or book an appointment online. Our veterinary team is open 7 days a week and will ensure your pet is in skilled hands from pre-operative preparation through to recovery.