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Health & Fitness

Why Does My Pet's Incision Look Like That?

For most pet owners choosing surgery for their pet, the only way they may have to judge the skillfulness of their surgeon is by the appearance of their pets incision. Yet there is so much more to safe and appropriate surgery than just that.

Often, it is what is done well before anesthesia is induced, or scalpel applied to skin, that determines a successful outcome. Also, surgical skill is dependent on factors opaque to persons without strong medical backgrounds.

It may seem to some as just common sense, but a successful surgical outcome first depends on a correct diagnosis. In elective surgery such as ovario-hysterectomy, simply knowing the pet is of the female gender and has not had prior "spay" surgery is enough to make the diagnosis of "unspayed." In illness however, the relevant factors are more complex and sometimes the diagnosis cannot be known with certainty before an "exploratory."

Still, doing what is possible to ascertain a diagnosis for which the planned surgery is indicated is key to a successful outcome, as well as a satisfied pet owner. While often it is not possible to obtain results of advanced imaging studies such as MRI or CT scan prior to surgery, it is almost always possible to delay surgery until basic laboratory tests and x-ray images can be reviewed to allow owner and veterinarian some security in knowing that surgery is the right thing to do.

Then, in the administration of general anesthesia, it is critical to ascertain the animal's overall health so as to attain a good anesthetic outcome. The surgery cannot be considered successful when a pet does not awaken or awakens with disabilities. So complete knowledge of the medical condition(s) underlying the need for surgery are very important. Measures needed to allow appropriate intervention may then be readied or completed prior to surgery, to best ensure that successful outcome.

Finally, there are the nuanced skills and techniques which when properly applied, improve outcomes and demonstrate the professionalism of the surgeon. Such factors include delicate tissue handling, proper instrument grip and handling, proper use of instruments, maintenance of instruments in good repair, ownership and use of procedure-specific instruments, appropriate suture material selection, appropriate knot tying and suture pattern selection, proper hemostasis (minimizing of bleeding), adequate skilled staff support during surgery, proper post-operative nursing care and many other factors all combine to create both the real and perceived outcome of surgery.

Finally, a neat, clean, dry, even, pain-free incision represents the likelihood that the entire job was done with all possible care and professionalism on the part of the surgeon. Did I mention delicate tissue handling earlier? An excellent incision closure requires at least that. So, if your pet's incision hardly looks like it is an incision at all, there is a very good chance your surgeon also gave adequate consideration to all the other factors related to your pet's diagnosis and surgical procedure. And that's a good thing!

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