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Surgery

Farm Animal Hospital

Precision, care, and expertise meet at our experienced Farm Animal Surgery Service.

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Our Surgery service is committed to providing the highest level of surgical care for your farm animals. We offer a wide range of surgical interventions to address various health conditions.

We treat the following farm animal species: bovine (beef and dairy), small ruminants (sheep and goat), pigs, camelids, and exotics (deer, elk, and some birds).

Under the care of our experienced, board certified surgeons, residents and nurses your farm animal will receive the best in veterinary care whether we perform a routine procedure or a complex operation. Our surgeons work closely with anesthesiologists, nursing staff, and you, the owner, to create a comprehensive surgical plan tailored to your animal’s needs.

After you make your appointment, you work with a team of individuals to assess your animal and develop a diagnostic and treatment plan. We will do our best to respond to your concerns and answer any questions you may have concerning your farm animals care. You will also receive a written estimate of cost for your animals’ surgical procedure. You will have the opportunity to provide input into what treatment or procedure your animal will receive and your surgeon should provide different options depending on diagnosis made following a complete evaluation.

Common Conditions and Procedures

Our Farm Animal Surgery Service frequently performs surgeries for:

  • Reproductive problems: We treat a variety of reproductive disorders for both males and females. These disorders include:
    • Dystocia: manual extraction and C Section
    • Vaginal and rectal prolapse
    • Scrotal abnormalities
    • Scrotal hernia
    • Testicular abnormalities including bilateral and unilateral castration
    • Ovariectomy
    • Uterine prolapse
    • Teaser bull preparation
  • Soft tissue surgeries: The Farm Animal Surgery service is well versed in all types of soft surgeries including:
    • Abomasal displacement
    • Rumenotomy
    • Intestinal procedures
    • Wound repair including laceration management
    • Mass removal
    • Hernia repair: umbilical and incisional
    • Treatment of umbilical infections
    • Pig ovariohysterectomy
    • Small ruminant ovariectomy/ovariohysterectomy
    • Cattle ovariectomy
    • Laparoscopy
    • Bladder surgery for urolithiasis (for example, blocked small ruminants and cattle)
    • Tube cystostomy
    • Urethrostomy/urethrotomy
    • Nephrectomy
    • Standing enucleation
    • Routine and cosmetic dehorning
  • Orthopedic conditions: We provide surgical care for a large variety of orthopedic conditions. Following an evaluation your surgeon will determine if the procedure can be performed with the horse restrained on a tilt table or under general anesthesia. Orthopedic surgical procedures offered include:
    • Hoof trimming
    • Hoof amputation
    • Facilitated ankylosis of infected coffin joints
    • Treatment of infected joints: medical and surgical
    • Casting for limb fractures
    • Pin placement for fracture stabilization
    • Internal fixation of fractures and joint fusions
    • Sequestrum removal

If your farm animal has a condition that may require surgery, schedule an appointment with our Surgery service.

Special Equipment and Techniques

Our Surgery service utilizes:

  • Tilt table for hoof trimming
  • Hydraulic chute for standing surgery and reproductive procedures
  • Advanced diagnostic imaging: CT, MRI, Digital radiography and ultrasonography, and fluoroscopy
  • Diode and Carbon Dioxide Lasers
  • Limb casting
  • Internal fixation for some fractures
  • Laparoscopic equipment
  • Ligasure for bloodless surgery
  • Access to board certified Anesthesiologists

To learn more about our surgical equipment and procedures, schedule an appointment with us.

Common Questions

How is pain managed during and after surgery?
We utilize a variety of pain management techniques, including local and general anesthesia, and post-operative analgesics.

What is the recovery process like after surgery?
This varies depending on the procedure, but we will provide detailed post-operative care instructions.

Are there risks associated with surgery?
While all surgical procedures carry some risk, we take all possible measures to minimize these risks.

For more questions about our Surgery services, schedule an appointment with us.

At-Home Tips

To aid your animal's recovery after surgery:

  1. Follow post-operative instructions: This may include wound care, medication administration, and activity restrictions.
  2. Monitor for complications: Watch for signs of infection, like swelling or discharge, and report any concerns to us immediately.
  3. Provide a comfortable recovery environment: Ensure your animal has a clean, quiet space to rest and recover.

Should your farm animal require surgical intervention, schedule an appointment with our Surgery service.

Schedule an Appointment

Call: 765-494-8548
24/7 Emergency Phone: 765-494-8548

Farm Animal Hospital Parking Lot:

  • Entrance C - Drive Aisle
  • Entrance D - Client Entrance

415 South Grant Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907
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Surgery Team

Clinicians

Nurses/Technicians

Residents

Assistants