Colorado State University says its new surgery program makes them the first veterinary teaching hospital in the nation to teach veterinary students minimally invasive surgery — performed through small incisions with an endoscope—and are looking for animals to participate. Veterinarians already offer a variety of these procedures on dogs as well as cats, horses, llamas, and alpacas.
“Minimally invasive surgery provides advantages to the animal such as small incision size and shorter recovery time with less pain,” says Eric Monnet, DVM, a cardiothoracic surgeon at the hospital. “Some surgeries can be performed with greater precision than with traditional techniques. There is also a reduced risk of infection and other complications.”
“The practice is relatively new in the veterinary field,” Monnet says. “Colorado State has been a leader in training veterinarians cutting-edge techniques, and we’d like to make the public aware of the service here at our hospital.”
Minimally invasive surgery can be used on dogs that need to remove bladder stones, foreign objects, and even some tumors; and correct twists in the stomach.
For more information about whether an animal qualifies for minimally invasive surgery at Colorado State University, call (970) 221-4535.