Veterinary Surgery & Orthopedics

What to Expect at Your Pet's Appointment

At VRCC, our surgical center is equipped with cutting-edge surgical instrumentation and equipment. Everything we do and every decision we make is designed to ensure post-operative success for your pet.

• Pre-Operative Lab Work

  Before any surgery, it is important to rule out potential health risks; for your pet's safety, we request that blood work be done within 2-6 weeks of the scheduled surgery day (unless otherwise discussed with your pet’s surgeon). 

• Preparation & Medications

  Take all food and snacks away from your pet after 10 p.m. A small amount of water is okay to leave available.

  If you normally give nighttime medications, continue as normal, unless directed otherwise by our staff.

• Registration Forms & Meet Technician

  When you drop off your pet, be prepared to:

  • Sign the Surgery & Orthopedics Form and Check-In Questionnaire, and Procedure Consent Form
  • Fill out the Patient Intake Form if you haven't already (please allow 15 minutes before your appointment to complete if you need assistance).
  • Fill out the Anesthesia Questionnaire
  • Verify phone numbers where a family member can be contacted
  • Leave a deposit (the low end of the surgical estimate); unless other previous arrangements have been made
  • Briefly meet with admitting technician to answer any questions
• Medical Records & Nutritional Information

  Bring current information about your pet's condition, including medical records, special food diets, supplements, current bloodwork, and radiographs. 

  Let us know if your pet is on steroids or aspirin since these can increase the risk of bleeding disorders and/or infection and limit our choices for post-operative pain relief.

• Consultation & Physical Exam

  During the consultation, a veterinary surgeon will perform a physical exam for your pet, then discuss your pet's condition and any further diagnostic and therapeutic options.

  Our staff is properly trained to carefully restrain pets, so it's in your pet's best interest to let us do this for you, since they may sense fear or nervousness in you and react negatively, or nip, bite, scratch, jump in response to discomfort.

• Reminders

  Please arrive with your dog on a leash (must be less than 6 feet long) and/or your cat in a carrier for your pet's safety and for the safety of other animals and people in the office.

  Make sure your pet has attempted to both urinate and defecate before admitting.

  If your pet already has an E-collar (aka lampshade, or cone) please bring it with you at admit drop-off.

  Please have an idea of any medication refills you may need for post-op.

  It is a good idea to have your pet groomed prior to surgery, they may not have another opportunity for 2-10 weeks.

Department FAQs

Most clients will have a wide range of questions and concerns when bringing their pet in for surgery. Here are some commonly asked questions about appointments at our veterinary hospital: 

• When are surgery appointments available?

  New patient appointments are available Monday through Thursday and closed on Fridays. 

  Emergency surgeries are available 24 hours a day/365 days a year (patients will be admitted through the emergency department).

• How are referral appointments requested?

  If you are a referring veterinarian please fax medical records/history to (303) 874-3202 or send via e-mail to surgery@vrcc.com.  

  Please email radiographs to surgery@vrcc.com. We may be reached directly by phone at (303) 874-2073.

• What if my pet requires overnight care?

  If your pet needs to stay with us in the hospital, we will be happy to show you the accommodations once your pet gets settled. During your pet’s stay, we provide fresh, comfortable bedding, along with food and water as medically appropriate. We monitor temperature and provide blankets or fans to keep your pet comfortable.

  We recommend against leaving any personal belongings with your pet during their stay, as it is possible these items may get misplaced.

  If you wish to provide a specific diet for your pet during their stay, please bring it in a sealed, leak-proof container (no plastic baggies of any kind will be accepted), and make sure its contents are clearly labeled with: type of food, your pet’s name, and the date.

• What are your patient visiting hours and guidelines?

  We understand that pets are a part of the family. Being separated from your pet can be extremely difficult and stressful for everyone. Although we do not have set visiting hours at our hospital, you are able to visit your pet during their stay in the hospital.

  Please observe the following guidelines for visiting with your pet:

  • To set up a time to visit with your pet, call to speak with your pet's care team.
  • We request that you limit your visit to 15 minutes – consideration will be given on a case-by-case basis to allow for extended visitation time.
  • If you visit your pet after-hours, keep in mind that your pet's primary care team will not be available for questions. Any questions you have will be addressed the following day when the primary care team is back in the hospital.
  • All necessary safety protocols must be followed in cases when your pet is being hospitalized in our isolation unit.
  • In some situations, our Patient Care staff may request that you return to the lobby. We will reunite you with your pet as soon as possible.
  • Although you will not be allowed to stay overnight with your pet, we welcome you to call and check in with our patient care staff at any time to learn the status of your pet.
  • For privacy purposes, patient status for pets other than your own cannot be shared.
• How do I refill my pet's prescription?

  Prescriptions may be refilled by speaking with one of our staff members or by simply leaving a message on our department voice mail at (303) 874-2073.

  Please call for refills Monday through Thursday from 7:00 am - 5:00 pm. Once refills are filled, they can be picked up at our Pharmacy. 

  Prescriptions are only refilled during regular business hours, not on weekends, so be sure to request refills early enough that you will not run out.

  By law, prescriptions can only be made for one year. After a year another appointment must be made to refill your pet's medications.

• When should I book my checkup/recheck appointment?

  After one year, a recheck appointment must be scheduled to continue the doctor/patient relationship with our surgeon, or with your primary care veterinarian who can then refill your medications if they feel comfortable doing so.

Surgical Services

We perform medical and emergency surgeries to help treat disease and conditions in pets or to repair injuries sustained through trauma.

Our Englewood vets routinely perform the following elective and non-elective surgeries:

• Soft Tissue Surgery

  For pets suffering from ear, nose, and throat disorders, we offer soft tissue surgical procedures.

  These procedures are also available for hepatic, urogenital, oncological, cardiothoracic, gastrointestinal, and skin disorders. 

• Spaying & Neutering

  When we spay or neuter a cat or dog, we surgically sterilize them to prevent disease and provide them with an extended life expectancy. 

• C-Sections

  C-Sections at VRCC are done on an emergency basis only.

  During Cesarean sections, we surgically remove puppies or kittens from their mother's uterus. C-sections are typically performed when the mother is unable to give birth naturally. 

• Mass Removal

  Cats and dogs can develop masses associated with the skin. Masses can also grow inside a body cavity and can be serious or life-threatening.

  Mass removal surgery is a fairly common procedure for both cats and dogs.

• Foreign Body

  Sometimes, foreign objects are ingested or can get stuck inside a cat's or dog's body.

  Whether your pet has eaten an object they shouldn't have or an accident has left them injured, we can perform foreign body surgery to remove it.

  In some cases, specialized skills or equipment are needed to perform pet surgery. If that is the case for your animal, our veterinary surgeons will work closely with your primary care veterinarian to ensure that your dog or cat receives the very best care.

• Wounds

  Wounds occur when living tissue has been cut, broken, burnt, torn, or otherwise damaged.

  It's imperative that these wounds be cleaned, disinfected, and appropriately cared for by a qualified veterinarian as soon as possible. 

  We practice current wound management techniques and treatments, and pride ourselves on superb wound care, wound management planning, and client education.

• Orthopedic Surgery

  Orthopedic surgeries correct injuries and diseases of the bones, ligaments, joints, tendons, and other skeletal structures in your pet. 

  Our veterinary surgeons perform several types of orthopedic surgeries, including Arthrodesis (Joint Fusion); Bicipital Tenosynovitis; repairs of various bone fractures and dislocations, including subluxation or luxation, and shoulder dislocations and fractures; Carpal Injuries; Cranial Cruciate Ligament Injuries; Forelimb & Hindlimb Deformities; Fragmented Coronoid Process (FMCP); Hip Dysplasia Surgeries (Double Pelvic Osteotomy & Juvenile Pubic Symphysiodesis - JPS); Hyperextension Injury; Infraspinatus Muscle Contracture; Meniscus Injury; Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD); Patellar Luxation; Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) and Un-united Anconeal Process (UAP).

Diagnostics & Tools

We offer a wide range of diagnostics at our animal hospital, including:

Digital Radiology

With digital radiography, images are ready for evaluation within seconds of taking the radiograph. Digital radiography allows us to e-mail your pet's images or make copies on a computer disc so that your family veterinarian has a complete medical update.

Laboratory

Antech Diagnostics, our professional national pet laboratory, provides our doctors with accurate test results. The lab's analyzers are maintained and calibrated daily.