Every veterinary practice undertakes some surgical procedures. In smaller clinics the surgery will often simply be a room out the back with a table and some anaesthetic equipment and used only for simple procedures. Here at Alpine Animal Doctors we undertake far more surgery than the average vet clinic, often performing complex operations, both soft tissue and orthopaedic and our theatre facilities need to be a big step above average.

The difference in our facilities begins before your pet even reaches the operating theatre. All surgical prep — where the patient will be sedated, clipped and shaved — is isolated from the sterile environment of the theatre for maximum hygiene. All surgical instruments are sterilised before and after use and everything to be used in the procedure, including swabs and sutures, is counted before and after surgery.

The operating theatre itself is a purpose built area designed for maximum efficiency and sterility. Our theatres are completely self-contained, with climate control and HEPA air filters that circulate only the air in the surgery, preventing cross-contamination to or from other areas of the hospital.

Our operating tables are custom-built and adjustable, allowing us to position an animal exactly where the surgeon needs it to be, and at the correct angle to present the relevant portion of the animal’s anatomy. We use only the highest quality medical grade stainless steel surgical tools — saws, chisels and drills etc.

All radiographs can be transmitted to high resolution computer monitors in theatre, allowing the surgeon to refer to any relevant x-rays during surgery.

At the heart of our facilities are the state-of-the-art machines we use to deliver anaesthesia to your pet and to monitor their vital signs during an operation.

The hospital is equipped with Drager Fabius GS machines, identical to anaesthesia equipment used in many public and private hospitals. Our philosophy is ‘safety first’ so we have a number of these machines, across two surgical facilities, for multiple redundancy in case of equipment failure. Each machine has a 6-hour battery backup to ensure they continue working in the event of a power failure. All other electronic equipment in the theatre is also covered by UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply), guaranteeing that we can complete an operation should the power go out.

All anaesthetic machines and gas lines are fitted with individual anti-bacterial and viral filters to further minimise the possibility of cross-infection or contamination.

In addition to this crucial anaesthetic equipment our theatres are also equipped with an extensive array of machines that allow us to precisely monitor the vital signs of your pet during surgery.

All patients are attached to devices that record heart rate and rhythm, respiration and rhythm, oxygen levels, the amount of anaesthetic in their blood, blood pressure and ECG. We think this additional monitoring is critical to ensure the best outcome for your pet, particularly for senior animals. At least one qualified veterinary nurse is always in attendance to assist during all surgical procedures and to monitor the patient’s vital signs.

We also have our own blood bank at the hospital with small supplies of whole blood for the rare occasions when an animal may require a blood transfusion.

Wherever possible all procedures are carried out via ‘keyhole surgery’, using our endoscopy and arthroscopy facilities.

Veterinary surgery is about more than just neutering and minor operations for things like removing dew claws. Repairing a damaged cruciate ligament, excising a cancerous tumour, pinning a badly broken bone or undertaking gastrointestinal surgery can be very complex. While there will always be risks associated with any surgical procedure, when you choose your vet you want to be confident that they can tackle the hard jobs. At Alpine Animal Doctors we bring Dr. Bek’s years of experience and extensive surgical skills together with our superb hospital facilities to ensure the best possible outcomes for your pets.