Minimally Invasive Spays

Our recent purchase of Storz endoscopy equipment makes it possible for us to offer minimally invasive surgery.  Minimally invasive surgery involves placing two to three small (5-12 mm) portals through the body wall, and using a rigid endoscope with an attached video camera to visualize the inside of body cavities and organs.   Laparoscopic instruments are then placed through one or more of the portals to perform surgical procedures .  These small portals replace the standard body wall incision in most procedures, resulting in far less bleeding and post-operative pain, and quicker recovery.   Procedures offered include:

Laparoscopic spays.

Laparoscopic removal of cryptorchid (undescended) testicles.

Minimally invasive exploration of the abdomen and thorax to obtain biopsies of internal organs and masses of the chest and abdomen.

Direct examination and biopsy of lesions of the lower urinary tract, including the bladder, in female dogs and cats.

Urethral collagen injections for the treatment of urinary incontinence in female dogs.

Cleaning and treatment of diseases of the outer ear canal and middle ear.

Deep examination of the nasal passages for removal of foreign bodies and identification/biopsy of masses or areas of infection.

  In addition, some procedures (such as prophylactic gastropexy, or tacking of the stomach to the body wall to prevent bloating in at-risk large breed dogs) can be performed through much smaller than usual incisions with the assistance of laparoscopy.  The field of laparoscopy is rapidly growing, with new techniques and procedures being introduced frequently.  We feel that minimally invasive surgery offers huge benefits to our clients and their pets, and we are very excited to be able to offer this cutting-edge technology.

Fore more details, see our endoscopy pages (coming soon).

12/01/04

TPLO Procedure Now Available at the Juneau Veterinary Hospital

The Juneau Veterinary Hospital is very pleased to announce the availability of Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO).  This procedure is the most advanced and successful treatment for rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the stifle in dogs weighing more than 50 lbs.  It is especially recommended for show or working dogs where return to full function is of the utmost importance.  TPLO is a technically demanding and difficult procedure, requiring extensive training and advanced instrumentation.  Having spent the past year acquiring the needed instruments and undergoing advanced training with board certified surgeons in Arizona and Alaska, we are very pleased to offer this procedure to dog owners throughout Southeast Alaska.

11/11/04

New Procedure to Reduce or Eliminate Canine Hip Dysplasia in Juvenile Dogs.

A new technique has been developed which promises to greatly reduce the progression of hip dysplasia in young dogs.  The procedure, known as Juvenile Pubic Symphysiodesis, or JPS, is a minor procedure which can be performed on dogs from 16-20 weeks of age.  The procedure is useful in very young puppies who already have measureable laxity of the hip joints.  Puppies are screened for hip laxity when they are presented for vaccinations by palpating and manipulating the hip joints.  If a puppy's hips appear to be loose on physical examination, the degree of laxity can be measured by the Penn Hip X-ray method. 

If a puppy has significant laxity of the hip joints as determined by Penn Hip radiographs, JPS is recommended.  JPS is a relatively minor procedure, but does require general anesthesia.  A small incision is made over the pubic bone, and the pubic growth plate is destroyed with electrocautery.  This causes a change in the growth pattern of the pelvis, so that the top of the pelvic socket (acetabulum) grows over the head of the femur, effectively trapping the femoral head in the socket of the hip joint.  The end result is a much more stable hip, and greatly decreased arthritis as the puppy ages.

In order for this procedure to be most effective, the surgery has to be performed by 16 weeks of age.  After puppies reach 20 weeks of age, the surgery offers little, if any, benefit.

Dr. New recently attended a training seminar in this exciting new technique, and we are pleased to offer this minimally invasive and promising procedure.  

11/11/04

Penn Hip@ Evaluation for Hip Laxity to be Available Soon.

Dr. New has just returned from a trip to Oregon, where he attended a training session in the Penn Hip method of evaluating dogs for hip dysplasia.  We are in the process of submitting evaluation studies to the program for certification.  Once the evalauation studies are completed and certification obtained, we will be offering this valuable technique to our clients.  For information on the Penn Hip method of hip evaluation, please follow the link on our Web Links page.

10/01/04

Arytenoid Lateralization for Laryngeal Paralysis Available at JVH

Arytenoid lateralization is an advanced surgical technique for the treatment of laryngeal paralysis in dogs.  In the past, our clients have had to travel to Anchorage or Seattle to have this demanding procedure performed by a board-certified specialist in small animal surgery.  After extensive study and practice, Dr. New successfuly completed the procedure on a patient this fall.  We are pleased to be able to offer this procedure locally, and invite any questions or comments from those whose dog suffers from laryngeal paralysis.

01/01/04

Reduced Vaccination Schedule Adopted

Veterinarians have suspected for some time that annual vaccination against such diseases as distemper and parvovirus may not be neccessary or justifiable.  Recent research into duration of vaccine immunity have confirmed this suspicion, resulting in new guidelines and recommendations from the American Association of Feline Practitioners and the American Animal Hospital Association.

For details on our reduced vaccine protocols, please visit our Vaccine Philosophy page.