Surgery

At Arena, we offer all routine soft tissue surgical procedures, including neutering, lump removal, bladder surgery for the removal of bladder stones, exploratory laparotomy and splenectomy. We also offer the specialized BOAS procedure with Dr. David Woods, and several specialized soft tissue and orthopedic procedures with our other experienced vets.   

Dr. Gemma Mahon is our soft tissue specialist surgeon and offers a multitude of surgical procedures. Along with our routine surgical procedures, Dr. Gemma specializes in the following; hernia repair of both perineal and inguinal hernias, sublingual sialocele marsupialisation, foreign body removal, vulvoplasty and urethrostomy. 

Dr. Chris Young is our orthopedic surgeon and offers multiple procedures, including lateral sutures, TTA, hip surgeries such as FHO, fracture repairs, amputation and bone marrow biopsy.  

If you would like any more information regarding our surgical procedures and what we offer, then please don’t hesitate to give us a call. We also accept referrals from all other clinics, and this can be done via email in which we ask for all relevant owner and patient details and any diagnostics that may have been performed by the primary veterinarian. 

At Arena Veterinary Hospital, we have been providing a small animal orthopaedic service for a number of years. We currently receive small animal orthopaedic referrals from a number of practices in the South East.

Chris Young has, over the last number of years, invested in a large range of specialist orthopaedic equipment and completed numerous courses in the field of small animal orthopaedics to permit varied fracture repair techniques and joint surgeries to be undertaken.

An orthopaedic work-up includes a full examination of the animal, x-rays of affected areas, surgery or medical care as required, post-operative care and a long-term management plan.

Some of the orthopaedic cases catered for include external fixator fracture repair, plating of fractures, cruciate surgeries including TTA rapid, luxations and assessment of hip dysplasia.

For further information on the orthopaedic service we provide, please do not hestitate to contact us.

Dr. David Woods is now 1 of 3 in Ireland kennel club registered assessors for the respiratory function grading scheme of English bulldogs, French bulldogs and pugs. David provides a specialist procedure for animals who suffer from Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS). Some breeds that may be predisposed to this problem include English & French bulldogs and pugs for example. These breeds typically suffer from much smaller nares/ nostrils and a much longer thickened soft palate, which in turn can make it difficult for them to breathe properly.

The procedure is an elective-corrective surgery, in which the nares are widened, and the soft palate is shortened. The benefits of the surgery include easier breathing, increased energy, increased exercise and heat tolerance, better quality of life, and less snoring.

The process for the BOAS procedure begins with a consultation, in which the vet carries out a thorough physical examination and respiratory function assessment in order to grade the severity of the problem. From there, we can discuss the surgical options and put a plan in place.

Early intervention is important for these patients to provide better, long-term results! If you would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

To refer a patient please click on the link below ***insert link please***

Our pets are predisposed to a lot of plaque and tartar build up on their teeth, and for this reason it is important that we carry out regular dental checks and cleaning. Routine dentals can help us to avoid any negative impact that dental disease can have on our pet’s health such as dental decay, tooth loss, abscesses, and halitosis.  

A dental is a day procedure; your pet will come in the morning of the procedure for admission with the vet, where they will carry out a physical exam and answer any questions that you may have. Routine dentals require your pet to go under full general anesthetic, so that we can fully examine the mouth, scale and polish the teeth and perform dental x-rays. All teeth will be assessed following the descale and dental x-rays, and it will be decided then if any extractions are required.  

Dental x-rays are a crucial part of the dental process, and we are one of the only clinics in the Southeast to provide this service. In cats and dogs, almost 70% of dental disease occurs below the gum line, which we would be unable to see from a visual examination. The x-rays allow us to diagnose issues such as root infections or fractures, abscesses, or bone loss. 

We recommend a toothpaste, oral hygiene gel or dental diet for day-to-day use at home to help with the build-up of plaque on your pet’s teeth, however most animals generally still require a scale and polish annually/ bi-annually to maintain good oral health.  

At Arena, we offer free dental checks with our experienced nursing team. The nurse can perform a visual examination of the teeth and advise if and when your pet would benefit from a dental. It is important to note that we will not know if extractions are required until we have the patient under anesthetic and can perform an in-depth oral examination and dental x-rays. 

If you have any questions regarding our dental procedures, or you would like to book in for a complementary dental check, please do not hesitate to contact us.  

At Arena, we are happy to offer a complimentary pre-neuter check up with one of our experienced nurses. This check involves a physical examination of your pet, allowing the nurses to identify issues such as retained testicles, retained deciduous teeth, or if your animal is in or near their heat cycle. It also allows the owners a chance to ask any questions they may have before the procedure and gives them time to voice any concerns. 

FEMALES: 

Neutering females is a routine surgical procedure, which will prevent unwanted pregnancies, prevent infections in the uterus and reduce the risk of mammary tumors. Your pet will be admitted to the hospital in the morning after a consultation with the vet, giving you a chance to ask any questions that you may have! Your pet will be discharged that evening, and a nurse will go through all the information you need for your pet's recovery. We ask that you bring your pet back to see the nurse around 4 days after her procedure for a post-op check, and then again at around 10 days to have her stitches removed.  

MALES: 

Neutering males is a routine surgical procedure, which will help to reduce the risk of any prostate problems, may reduce the likelihood of your pet wandering or spray marking, and it can sometimes reduce aggression issues. Again, your pet will be admitted to the hospital the morning of the operation following a consultation with the vet and they will go home that evening following a discharge appointment with the nurse. For dogs, they will need to come back at around 4 days after the procedure for a post-op check and at around 10 days to remove the stitches. For cats, they generally don’t require any stitches so they often don’t need to come back in for any post-operative checks.  

For dogs, we recommend that they are at least 6 months or older when they are neutered. For larger or giant breed dogs we recommend waiting until they are at least 12 months old before neutering, ensuring they are fully grown before the procedure to avoid any future joint issues etc.  

For female dogs, we recommend waiting at least 8 weeks following their heat cycle to have them neutered, this reduces the risk of complications with the surgery.  

For cats, we recommend that they are at least 2.5kg or more, and ideally 6 months of age or older.  

If you are unsure whether it is the right time to neuter your pet, feel free to book a complimentary pre-neuter check with one of our experienced nurses where they can answer any questions that you may have!  

We would like owners to be aware that following a neutering procedure, their pet will have to wear an Elizabethan collar for at least 10 days, and exercise will have to be restricted!   

If you would like more information regarding the neutering process, please don’t hesitate to contact us or book a complimentary pre-neuter check.