Laser Surgery

Laser Surgery for Cats.

We offer Boise's only CO2 laser surgery for soft tissue surgery. The laser works by delivering a concentrated beam of light to tissue and vaporizing or melting the surfaces it touches thereby creating an incision.

Laser surgery has many advantages over conventional surgical methods:


	The laser makes fine, precise incisions with no damage to surrounding areas.


	Bleeding is minimal. The laser seals small blood vessels as the incision is made.


	No tearing or bruising of tissue occurs, swelling is greatly reduced.


	Pain associated with most surgeries is greatly reduced.


	Infection risk is reduced because the beam sterilizes tissues it contacts.


	Faster recovery and return to normal activity.

Every day we see cats recovering from surgeries such as spay, neuter, declaw, abscess repair or tumor removal who are up, walking around and eating much faster than with conventional methods.

Less Pain, Less Bleeding,
Less Swelling

Written By: Alexis Higdon, D.V.M.

OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, since we acquired a carbon dioxide laser, we hear more and more from new clients who need a surgical procedure done on their cat and call us specifically because we offer laser surgery. The word is definitely out, at least in Boise, Idaho! Pet owners today tend to research and educate themselves regarding the comfort and safety of their "pet child" especially when it comes of medical or veterinary concerns.

It has taken almost a century to develop lasers into a form that is practical and affordable to use in a veterinary practice today. Albert Einstein conceptualized the idea of Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation (LASER) in 1917. The military developed and used them during various wars and conflicts for the next four decades. Since then, human medical professionals on the look out for advanced instrument technology discovered the benefits of lasers and use them commonly today for procedures from skin resurfacing to neurosurgery. Over the past 20 years, laser technology has improved, costs have come down, and carbon dioxide lasers have moved into general veterinary practices. Finally, the family pet can benefit from this outstanding tool as well.

A carbon dioxide laser and the mammalian body make a perfect match in the veterinary, surgical arena. Simply stated, a carbon dioxide laser beam is an intense ray of invisible light that is well absorbed by water. This is important because two-thirds of a mammalian body is comprised of water. When the beam is directed at animal tissue in a surgical procedure, the inherent water or "glue" that helps hold mammalian cells together absorbs the energy from the laser beam and is instantly ablated or erased, resulting in the surgical removal of targeted tissue. By manipulating the power and diameter of the beam, one can, with exceptional precision, remove cellular layers one at a time without injuring surrounding tissue. Conventional scalpel blade surgery cannot do this.

A surgical scalpel blade severs nerve endings, leaving them raw, generating pain after the procedure. Although not completely understood, it is believed that the laser seals or melts nerve endings, thus rendering them less capable of generating a painful signal and resulting in much less post-operative pain in the patient.

Similar to nerve endings, the laser also seals and coagulates small blood vessels resulting in less bleeding during the surgery. In most cases, laser surgery takes less time and the surgical field is highly visible and dry since the surgeon does not compete with blood for a view of the targeted tissue and doesn't need to spend time either tying off (ligating) the blood vessel or applying pressure until bleeding has stopped. And finally, we also see far less post-operative bruising. Swelling is a standard post-operative concern. With laser surgery, there is less trauma to the targeted tissue and the lymphatic vessels which carry fluids to an altered site are sealed thus resulting in greatly decreased swelling. Overall, with less pain, bleeding and swelling, there is a faster return to normal activity for the patient following laser surgery.

Since responsible pet owners know the value of spaying and neutering their newly acquired kittens or puppies, please consider having these procedures done with a laser. Your "pet child" will benefit immensely, as will your older pet who has any soft tissue problem that requires surgery. Lasers are available in several veterinary hospitals in Boise and the valley. Less pain, less bleeding and less
swelling. What a gift.

9151 Ustick Rd., Boise, ID 83704 (208) 327-7706 FAX (208) 327-0676

HOURS: Mon/Wed/Fri 8-6 | Tues/Thurs 8-7 | Sat 8-1

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