Laser Surgery: Alexandria Veterinary Clinic, P.A.

The Alexandria Veterinary Clinic PetCare Center is proud and excited to be one of the first veterinary clinics in Minnesota to provide Laser Surgery. This incredible surgical tool is revolutionizing the way surgery is performed on our companion animals. Laser technology reduces the trauma to your pet, improves recovery, and often shortens hospital stays.

A laser is a device that generates an intense beam of light at a specific wavelength. The way a particular laser works is determined by the specific wavelength of light that is produces. For example, the most commonly used surgical laser is the carbon dioxide laser. This laser produces an invisible beam of light that vaporizes the water normally found in the skin and other soft tissue. The laser can be precisely controlled allowing only a thin layer of tissue to be removed, leaving the surrounding area unaffected. There are several advantages to carbon dioxide laser surgery:

1. Pain Reduction
The Laser seals nerve endings as it "cuts." This results in decreased pain for our special friends.

2. Swelling Reduction
Laser energy does not crush, tear or bruise tissue because the only thing that touches your pet is an invisible beam of light.

3. Control of Infection
The laser beam operates at a temperature of over 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. Essentially bacteria are vaporized by contact with the laser beam. This makes it highly effective at killing bacteria that have potential to cause an infection. This is particularly important in areas where it is difficult to prevent bacteria from contaminating the surgical site.

4. Precision
The laser can remove unhealthy tissue while minimizing adverse affects to healthy surrounding tissue.

5. Less Bleeding
The laser seals small blood vessels during surgery, which allows your doctor to perform surgeries with extraordinary precision. This also speeds some procedures reducing the amount of anesthesia required.A laser is ideal for a wide variety of surgical procedures for dogs, cats, horses and exotics. Laser surgery can correct many common conditions such as cysts, tumors, warts, and special procedures around the eyes, ears and mouth. Declawing cats with a laser drastically decreases post-operative discomfort allowing normal function much sooner. Specialized internal procedures are also possible with a laser.

6. Recovery Time is Reduced
Less swelling, bleeding and post-operative discomfort results in a shorter recovery period for your pet.

Call Alexandria Veterinary Clinic PetCare Center at 320-762-8112 or 800-642-6263