Soft Tissue Surgery
Specialty soft tissue surgery for pets with complex surgical conditions.
Soft tissue surgery encompasses procedures involving organs and other soft tissues throughout the body. Small Animal Surgical Services provides specialty surgical care for a broad range of soft tissue conditions, with each surgical approach tailored to the individual patient and procedure.
Soft Tissue Care
Specialty surgery for conditions beyond the bones and joints.
Soft tissue surgery may involve the abdominal and gastrointestinal systems, urinary tract, reproductive system, airway, ears, skin, eyes, endocrine organs, and other soft tissues.
At Small Animal Surgical Services, surgical planning is based on the patient’s condition, diagnostic findings, overall health, and the goals of treatment.
- A broad range of soft tissue procedures.
- Individualized surgical planning.
- Evaluation of diagnostic findings before surgery.
- Procedure-specific recovery planning.
- Communication and coordination with the referring veterinarian.
Common Procedures
A broad range of soft tissue surgical procedures.
Each procedure category is presented as an image-ready card so original SASS photography can be incorporated into the final page.
Abdominal & Gastrointestinal Surgery
Abdominal
Hernia Repair · Splenectomy · Liver Lobectomy · GDV Surgery · Gastropexy · Intestinal & Stomach Procedures · Abdominal Explore
Urinary Tract Surgery
Urinary
Urethrostomies · Nephrectomy · Cystotomy · Neoureterostomy
Biliary & Gallbladder Surgery
Biliary
Cholecystectomy · Biliary Diversion
Ear Surgery
Ear
Ventral Bulla Osteotomy · TECA
Oral & Salivary Procedures
Oral
Salivary Mucocele · Mandibulectomy · Maxillectomy
Skin & Reconstructive Surgery
Fractures
Excisional Biopsy · Skin Flap · Skin Graft
Endocrine Surgery
Endocrine
Thyroid Surgery · Parathyroid Surgery · Adrenal Surgery · Pancreatic Surgery
Reproductive Surgery
Reproductive
C-Section · Pyometra Surgery
Airway & Brachycephalic Surgery
Airway
Brachycephalic Surgery · Laryngeal Tie-Back · Permanent Tracheostomy
Thoracic & Cardiovascular Procedures
Thoracic
PDA Ligation · Pericardectomy
Colon & Rectal Surgery
Colon & Rectal
Subtotal Colectomy · Colopexy · Rectal Pull-Through · Anal Sacculectomy
Eye & Eyelid Procedures
Eye
Eye Procedures · Eyelid Procedures · Conjunctival Procedures · Cherry Eye · Entropion
Selected Soft Tissue Procedures
Specialized surgical care for a wide range of conditions.
SASS provides specialty surgical care across a broad range of soft tissue conditions. Selected procedures are highlighted below as major areas of surgical care.
A broad soft tissue surgical focus
Hernia Repair · Splenectomy · Gastropexy · Salivary Mucocele · TECA · Laryngeal Tie-Back · Skin Flap & Graft · Pyometra · Pericardectomy
When Soft Tissue Surgery May Help
When should your pet be evaluated for soft tissue surgery?
A TPLO recommendation should be based on the individual patient’s condition rather than a generic website checklist.
- Clinical history
- Physical examination
- Stifle instability
- Diagnostic imaging
- Overall health
- Patient size and activity level
- Individual surgical considerations
Patient Size
50 pounds and above
The original SASS material notes that TPLO is commonly performed in pets 50 pounds and above, while also explaining that it can be performed in animals under 50 pounds when appropriate and determined during surgical consultation.
When Surgery May Help
When should your pet be evaluated for orthopedic surgery?
Soft tissue surgery may be considered when a condition involving an organ, body cavity, airway, urinary tract, reproductive system, skin, eye, or other soft tissue requires specialized surgical evaluation and treatment.
Abdominal Conditions
Some conditions involving abdominal organs or structures may require surgical evaluation and treatment.
Airway Conditions
Some airway and brachycephalic conditions may benefit from surgical evaluation.
Gastrointestinal Problems
Surgery may be considered for selected conditions involving the stomach or intestines.
Masses & Tissue Changes
Surgical evaluation may be appropriate for certain masses or abnormal tissue changes.
Urinary Conditions
Certain urinary tract conditions may require specialized surgical care.
Complex Surgical Cases
When a condition requires specialized surgical expertise, your veterinarian may recommend consultation with a veterinary surgeon.
Surgical Evaluation
Every soft tissue case starts with the individual patient.
There is no single surgical approach that is appropriate for every soft tissue condition. Evaluation helps the surgical team understand the patient’s condition and determine the appropriate next step.
01
Review
Review the patient’s history, examination findings, diagnostic information, and surgical concern.
02
Evaluation
Assess the patient’s condition and determine whether specialty surgery may be appropriate.
03
Surgical Planning
Develop an appropriate surgical approach based on the individual patient and procedure.
04
Recovery Planning
Discuss postoperative care, activity restrictions, follow-up, and other recovery considerations.
Recovery
The procedure is only one part of soft tissue care.
Recovery is an important part of orthopedic surgery. The appropriate postoperative plan depends on the procedure performed, the patient’s condition, and how healing progresses.
Controlled Activity
Follow activity restrictions carefully as directed by the surgical team.
Incision Monitoring
Monitor the incision or surgical site and follow care instructions.
Follow-Up
Attend recommended rechecks and complete follow-up diagnostics when requested.
Important: Procedure-specific postoperative instructions from the surgical team should take priority over general website information.
Veterinary Professionals
A specialty surgical resource for your veterinary team
Small Animal Surgical Services works with referring veterinarians to evaluate surgical cases, coordinate specialty care, and support communication throughout the patient’s surgical journey.
Discuss the Case
Contact SASS to discuss the patient's orthopedic condition and potential surgical needs.
Coordinate Care
Provide relevant clinical and diagnostic information for surgical evaluation.
Continue the Partnership
Keep the primary-care veterinary team connected throughout the patient's care.
Procedures at a Glance
Soft tissue procedures offered by SASS.
Soft tissue procedures offered by SASS.
| Category | Procedures |
|---|---|
| Abdominal & Gastrointestinal | Hernia Repair · Splenectomy · Liver Lobectomy · GDV · Gastropexy · Intestinal & Stomach Procedures · Abdominal Explore |
| Urinary | Urethrostomies · Nephrectomy · Cystotomy · Neoureterostomy |
| Biliary | Cholecystectomy · Biliary Diversion |
| Endocrine | Thyroid · Parathyroid · Adrenal · Pancreas |
| Reproductive | C-Section · Pyometra |
| Airway | Brachycephalic Surgery · Laryngeal Tie-Back · Permanent Tracheostomy |
| Ear | Ventral Bulla Osteotomy · TECA |
| Skin & Reconstructive | Excisional Biopsy · Skin Flaps · Skin Grafts |
| Thoracic & Cardiovascular | PDA Ligation · Pericardectomy |
| Colon & Rectal | Subtotal Colectomy · Colopexy · Rectal Pull-Through · Anal Sacculectomy |
| Eye | Eye Procedures · Eyelid Procedures · Conjunctival Procedures · Cherry Eye · Entropion |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Common questions about Soft Tissue Surgery
What is soft tissue surgery?
Soft tissue surgery includes procedures involving organs and other soft tissues rather than primarily bones and joints. These procedures can involve the abdominal, gastrointestinal, urinary, reproductive, airway, ear, skin, eye, endocrine, and other systems.
What soft tissue procedures does Small Animal Surgical Services perform?
SASS offers a broad range of soft tissue procedures, including abdominal, gastrointestinal, urinary, reproductive, airway, ear, skin, endocrine, thoracic, cardiovascular, colon, rectal, and eye procedures.
How do I know if my pet needs soft tissue surgery?
Your veterinarian can evaluate your pet's condition and determine whether specialty surgical consultation may be appropriate. Surgical candidacy depends on the individual patient's history, examination, diagnostic findings, and overall health.
How long is recovery after soft tissue surgery?
Recovery varies depending on the procedure and the individual patient. The surgical team will provide procedure-specific instructions regarding activity, medications, incision care, rechecks, and follow-up.
Can my regular veterinarian refer my pet?
Yes. SASS works with veterinary professionals to coordinate specialty surgical care. Your veterinarian can contact the practice to discuss your pet's case and next steps.
Where can I find pricing?
Procedure price ranges will be published once the practice supplies and approves the final pricing information. Final estimates may vary based on the individual patient, procedure, diagnostics, medications, anesthesia, and other case-specific needs.
When your pet needs advanced surgical care, start with a conversation.
For appointments and surgical inquiries:
Proudly serving all of Maine
From Portland north to the Maine border, with particular focus on Mid-Coast and Southern Maine communities. Referring practices statewide are welcome.