Welcome to Surgery!

What Separates Us From the Rest

The surgical service at Veterinary Specialists of Rochester is comprised of a team of highly experienced doctors, veterinary technicians, and assistants. As a secondary and tertiary care facility, we manage the most complex surgical cases in small animal veterinary medicine.

The list of problems we deal with is extensive. In orthopedics the kinds of conditions we handle routinely include complex fractures (broken bones), joint surgeries, muscle and tendon injuries, and correction of limb and spine deformities. Included in this list are such things as tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) for cruciate ligament injuries in the knee, joint replacement (such as total hip replacement with an artificial hip prosthesis), and arthroscopy.

We are also a regional center for neurosurgery, including operations for the spine, spinal cord and brain. Included in this list are such commonly performed operations as laminectomies for spinal cord compression (for example, from intervertebral disc rupture), removal of certain brain and spinal cord tumors, and stabilization of the spine for conditions or trauma that induce instability with pain and/or weakness.

We are also, in combination Animal Emergency Service, the regional trauma center for animals in western New York. We routinely manage the most severely injured dogs and cats, including those suffering from automotive accidents, gunshot wounds, burns, and fights with other animals.

We also provide expert and advanced surgical care for a wide variety of soft tissue, general surgical problems. Included in this are operations for the head, neck, chest and abdomen. Dr. Chris Adin, for example, is internationally recognized in the field of veterinary renal (kidney) transplantation. All of our surgeons also do reconstructive procedures (skin flaps and grafts). Surgery for the chest (thorax) and belly (abdomen) can be done with either standard surgical incisions, or for appropriate cases thorough minimally invasive techniques using laparascopy and thoracoscopy. In addition, while it is commonly thought that x-rays, CT (“CAT”) scans, and MRI scans are only indicated for orthopedic or neurologic problems, in fact these imaging modalities are frequently employed to assist in diagnosing and planning treatments for a wide variety of soft tissue disorders.

While the surgeons at Veterinary Specialists of Rochester cannot save every dog and cat they see, their training and expertise permits many more animals to recover and do well with even some of the most severe problems, including large cancerous growths. We encourage clients and general practitioners to consult with our specialists before undertaking any non-elective operation so that the best possible care can be offered.

The surgical staff at VSES includes Dr. James Fingeroth, Dr. Kathleen Collins, and Dr. Chris Adin. Each is board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, the highest standard in veterinary medicine to ensure the level of knowledge, training, and accomplishment one expects in a specialist. Each completed a minimum of four years of additional and specific surgical training in a formal residency beyond the four years of veterinary college where they obtained their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. Each then had to submit credentials to the ACVS for review, and then, being accepted to take the certifying examination, had to pass a rigorous three-part examination over several days to demonstrate their suitability to be recognized as diplomates (ie, holding a diploma) of the ACVS. This examination is widely recognized as among the most grueling tests of any of the specialty colleges, and each year only about half of the highly trained and highly qualified candidates who take the exam pass. What does this mean to you? It means you can have confidence that the judgment and skill brought to helping you understand and treat your pet’s problem, whether an operation is required or not, is the best you can get anywhere. In fact, it is not at all uncommon for our surgeons to identify alternative treatments that make an actual operation unnecessary, even though a patient was referred for surgery!

Beyond their formal training each of our surgeons has had years of practical experience in the “real world,” both in academia and in private practice. Both Dr. Jim Fingeroth and Dr. Chris Adin are former professors of surgery at university veterinary colleges, and all three of our surgeons have been involved in surgical research and teaching of veterinary students, interns, residents, and graduate veterinarians seeking additional training and education. All continue to participate actively in providing continuing education to the profession, and are sought after as lecturers at the local, state, national, and international levels. And even as our surgeons are engaged in training other veterinarians (including our interns who spend 13 months with us developing their skills as general practitioner veterinarians), these specialists themselves frequently attend continuing education programs and courses to learn new techniques and stay current with state-of-the-art knowledge in veterinary medicine and surgery. Finally, while our surgeons can handle almost any condition they are challenged with, they recognize more than anyone the desirability of having the most expert person for any particular patient. For this reason they will not only discuss and “refer” patients among themselves and their non-surgeon specialist colleagues at Veterinary Specialists of Rochester, but keep abreast of and willingly seek counsel from (or refer to) other experts and surgeons around the country if they feel there is someone who can do a better job helping a patient than they. They are truly dedicated to providing the best care for their clients and patients!

Assisting our surgeons is an outstanding support staff. This includes a team of licensed veterinary technicians (LVTs). These highly trained and skilled individuals provide invaluable assistance with patient management, including preparation for surgery and monitoring anesthesia. Veterinary technicians in New York State are extremely motivated and bright individuals, dedicated to compassionate patient care, and they have completed a formal academic program, obtained a degree and passed a state licensing examination. Moreover, our surgical technicians, like our doctors, have extensive experience beyond their formal training.

In addition to the doctors and veterinary technicians, we employ animal care assistants (ACAs) who help with such things as holding patients, feeding, cleaning kennels, and helping prepare the operating rooms and surgical instruments. These individuals, though not formally trained or licensed, are nonetheless given expert on-the-job training. And they are among the most sensitive, dedicated, and compassionate people on our staff. Not uncommonly some of these ACA’s are veterinary students or LVT students obtaining some practical experience to complement their formal school education. All are very devoted to providing the best care for each and every animal in our hospital.

Also assisting on the surgical service are our exemplary rotating interns. These veterinarians are fully licensed doctors who have chosen to dedicate 13 months to additional training after veterinary college. Not all newly graduating veterinarians do internships (they are not legally required for licensing) and those that choose to do so face stiff competition for slots in programs like ours. Many more apply than are accepted. Thus, our interns represent some of the brightest and best of new graduates from North American veterinary colleges. They spend time (rotate) on each of Veterinary Specialists of Rochester’s services, including surgery. This provides them invaluable experience in observing advanced surgical procedures and learning about management of patients with surgical diseases. While they have direct, hands-on responsibilities for patient care, you can also rest assured that interns only serve as surgical assistants, and are never the primary surgeon for patients who have been referred to Veterinary Specialists of Rochester. Operations are always done by the board-certified specialist unless otherwise discussed with you. Many of our interns themselves go on for specialty training (residencies) in various fields after completing their program with Veterinary Specialists of Rochester, and quite a few of our former interns are now board-certified doctors working around the world.

Complementing our extraordinary team of doctors, technicians, and ACAs is the Veterinary Specialists of Rochester facility. The surgical suite is comprised of three operating rooms. The use of multiple operating rooms not only allows more than one surgeon to operate at the same time, but importantly to discriminate between rooms to avoid using the same room for highly sterile procedures such as joint replacement and more inherently contaminated procedures such as intestinal operations. We are equipped with a full array of modern surgical instruments and we observe the strictest standards of aseptic technique. The highest compliment we can share is the commentary received from some of our physician colleagues who have, at times, come in to observe or assist with a veterinary operation. They applaud us for having operating rooms as clean (or cleaner!) than those routinely used for their human patients, and for having surgical tools and equipment exactly comparable to those they are used to for human surgery. Although some equipment (such as anesthetic machines) are appropriately scaled down for dogs and cats, the drugs used and the monitoring are comparable to what is done for humans. This includes such things as continuous monitoring of vital signs like blood pressure, electrocardiogram, oxygen saturation, carbon dioxide levels, and ventilation. For this reason, and with the skill of our staff, it is not uncommon for us to successfully operate on very old, very sick animals that have a multitude of medical problems. While no one (especially us) ever takes the administration of general anesthesia casually, we are proud that anesthetic complications or fatalities are extremely rare at Veterinary Specialists of Rochester despite the sometimes severe nature of the surgical problems we are managing.

Our facility is open and staffed 24-hours a day with doctors and veterinary technicians. This ensures that post-operative and other critical patients are never left unattended, and that they receive the same standard of care regardless of the hour of day or night. This gives you peace of mind as well, knowing that no chances are taken with your pet during “off” hours, and it also means that there is no need to prematurely transfer your pet to another facility or to home after an operation.

Your Visit

The surgical service has appointment hours Monday-Friday during daytime hours. Your veterinarian is welcome to call beforehand to speak with the specialist in order to determine if a referral is appropriate, to get an idea as to which specialist to see, to determine if there are specific things he or she can do in advance to assist, or determine the urgency of the referral.

It is very important that the specialists have pertinent parts of your pet’s medical record available for review at the time of your appointment. This can be accomplished either by your veterinarian providing you with copies of lab results and other tests, and any relevant radiographs (x-rays) for you to bring with you to the appointment, or they can send these items in advance. Please check with your veterinarian a day or two before your scheduled appointment to verify that medical records have been sent or are available for you to pick up and bring with you.

For many patients we request that they be fasted the day of the appointment. This is done in case lab tests need to be done or procedures requiring sedation are planned. However, if your pet has a condition where fasting or holding off water is contraindicated, please ask the client service representative to check with the doctor with whom you have your appointment so he or she can advise appropriately. Similarly, many pets are on chronic medications. It is generally alright to give these medications as scheduled, but again, if any questions or doubts, please call us to check. Patients referred for non-emergency surgical conditions are rarely operated on the day of their initial consultation appointment. Any requested fasting for these patients is generally to leave open the option for lab work or sedation as needed, not because they are going to the operating room that day.

Please arrive at Veterinary Specialists of Rochester at least 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment to complete necessary paperwork. While we make every attempt to keep to the schedule, it does happen that our doctors sometimes fall behind. Each doctor strives to be thorough and unhurried in his/her evaluation of patients and discussions with clients. Sometimes patients have problems that are more complex than anticipated for the appointment time allotted. As a result, the doctors may fall behind simply because they don’t want clients leaving without benefit of a full discussion of their pet’s problem. Rest assured that when your appointment comes you will receive the same undivided attention. But you should allow sufficient time in your schedule to account for any such delays, along with the consultation time itself.

The consultation will involve some observation or examination of your pet and review of prior medical records. The intensity and focus of the examination is determined by the overall age and condition of your pet and the particular problem for which he or she has been referred. Much of the time will be spent questioning you about the problem, clarifying any uncertainties, and then discussing the problem, further recommended evaluations, and proposed treatments. We generally try to present a range of options where more than one option exists. How you choose to proceed is a decision for you to make; our job is to arm you with information, in a format you comfortably understand, so you can make appropriate choices.

During your initial consultation with the surgeon, treatment options will be discussed. If surgery is recommended, your doctor will provide you with an estimate for the planned procedure(s). If you require a written estimate please let your doctor know at the time of your visit. The estimate will cover pre-anesthetic evaluation (including blood work, radiographs, etc.), anesthesia, surgery, hospitalization, medications, in-hospital rehabilitation therapy and nursing care. It does not cover follow up care, outpatient rehabilitation therapy or complications.