Pet Soft Tissue Surgery in Mississauga, ON
Targeting issues not related to joints or bones, our soft tissue surgeries are designed to improve your pet’s comfort and overall well-being with precise, compassionate care.
Common Soft Tissue Surgeries and Their Benefits
Soft tissue surgeries at our clinic address issues not involving bone, offering various health benefits for pets. A frequently performed procedure is mass removal. Most masses are benign, but early removal and diagnosis are crucial if cancerous. Additionally, dogs with frequent ear infections can benefit from surgery to improve airflow in the ear canal, reducing infection occurrence.
Soft Tissue Surgeries for Eye Health
Surgery can address eye-related issues such as infections or corneal damage, helping the cornea heal faster with minimal scarring. For pets with damaging eyelashes, surgical intervention enhances comfort, prevents corneal scarring, and improves long-term vision. Contact us to learn how soft tissue surgery can help your pet.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Soft Tissue Surgery
What exactly qualifies as a "soft tissue" surgery for pets?
Soft tissue surgery includes any surgical procedure that does not involve bones or joints. It covers a wide range of treatments, such as removing skin lumps or masses, repairing deep wounds or lacerations, performing abdominal procedures (like removing swallowed foreign objects), and correcting chronic ear, nose, or eye abnormalities to improve your pet’s daily comfort.
If a skin mass or lump is benign, why does it still need to be surgically removed?
While many skin tumors are benign (non-cancerous), removal is often recommended if the mass is growing rapidly, causing pain, or located in an inconvenient area—such as the armpit, paw, or eyelid—where it constantly rubs or interferes with your pet’s normal movement. Removing lumps when they are small makes the surgery much easier, safer, and faster for your pet to heal from.
Why do you send removed masses or tissues out for laboratory biopsy?
It is not possible to tell if a lump is cancerous just by looking at it or feeling it. Sending the removed mass to a veterinary pathologist for a histopathology biopsy is the definitive way to identify exactly what the growth was. This test confirms if the entire mass was successfully removed with clean margins and tells us whether any further medical treatments are needed.
What should I expect during my pet's recovery from soft tissue surgery?
Recovery typically takes 10 to 14 days, which is the time required for skin incisions and internal stitches to fully close. During this healing window, you must keep your pet quiet and indoors—no running, rough playing, jumping on furniture, or climbing stairs. You will also need to check the surgical incision daily for any swelling, redness, or discharge.
How can I safely manage my pet's post-operative pain at home?
At Erin Mills Pet Hospital, we use a proactive multi-modal pain management system. We administer advanced pain relief medications before the surgery even begins and maintain it throughout the procedure. We will send you home with customized, easy-to-administer post-operative anti-inflammatories or pain medications. Never give your pet human over-the-counter pain relievers, as they are highly toxic to dogs and cats.