What Surgeries are offered at Redtail Equine Veterinary Service?
Dr. Wood can perform several surgical procedures on your farm. Castrations and surgical wound repairs can almost always be performed by Dr. Wood at your location. Dr. Wood can also perform standing enucleations (removal of an eye for medical reasons), mass removals, biopsies, some surgical dental extractions, and limited other procedures.
Other surgeries will be referred to one of our fantastic local equine surgical centers. This allows for better patient monitoring in cases where the procedure might be long or the horse has other health concerns that may lead to complications. It also allows for a proper sterile environment when the procedure has a high risk of infection as a complication.
If you think your horse might need surgery and want to know if the procedure can be performed at your farm, Dr. Wood would be happy to discuss it with you.
How to prepare for a surgery at your farm
Before the surgery, depending on your horse’s age, the procedure, and other complicating factors, Dr. Wood may require blood work or other pre-surgical screenings. Once any pre-surgical screening has been performed and the day of surgery has arrived, a safe, clean area will be needed for the procedure. For surgeries done with the horse down (such as castration) this often means a large open space that is fairly flat and not muddy or snowy. For standing procedures, a barn aisle or wash rack with excess items (buckets, wheel barrows, hoses, etc.) removed will often work. An area with concrete or stall mats is preferred to reduce dust that may contaminate the surgical site.
After Surgery
It's Redtail Equine Veterinary Service’s goal to give you all the advice you need to properly care for your horse, donkey, or mule from the moment their surgery is complete. You will be left with detailed instructions and any post-op medications needed. If you have questions or concerns, Dr. Wood is happy to answer them via phone or email.
