Our veterinary team provides soft tissue surgery for dogs and cats in Madison Heights, Royal Oak, Warren, Troy, Hazel Park, Ferndale, Berkley, Sterling Heights, and nearby Michigan communities.
When Your Pet Needs Surgery, Experience Matters
Learning that your pet needs surgery is rarely easy news. Questions about safety, recovery, and outcomes arrive fast, and the instinct to want the very best care for your companion is immediate and completely understandable.
At Madison Veterinary Hospital, we have been performing veterinary soft tissue surgeries with skill and compassion for more than 50 years. We approach every procedure, whether routine or complex, with your pet’s safety and comfort at the center of everything we do.
Soft tissue surgery includes a broad range of procedures involving the organs, muscles, skin, and other non-bony structures of the body. From spays and neuters to mass removals, bladder surgery, and abdominal exploratory procedures, our experienced veterinary team provides careful surgical care and attentive follow through during recovery.
Soft Tissue Procedures We Perform
Our surgical capabilities cover a wide range of conditions and needs. Common soft tissue surgeries performed at Madison Veterinary Hospital include the following procedures.
Spay and Neuter
Ovariohysterectomy and castration are among the most commonly performed veterinary surgeries and among the most beneficial. Beyond preventing unwanted litters, spaying eliminates the risk of uterine infections, also known as pyometra, and can significantly reduce the risk of certain cancers.
Neutering reduces the risk of testicular cancer and prostate disease. We perform these procedures with the same level of attention, monitoring, and care as any other surgical case.
Mass and Tumor Removal
Lumps and bumps on or beneath the skin are very common in pets, especially as they age. Some masses are benign and cause no problems, while others may require removal and histopathology to determine their nature.
We evaluate masses carefully before recommending removal and discuss the reasoning, options, and next steps with you clearly.
Gastropexy
A prophylactic gastropexy is a surgery that permanently attaches the stomach to the abdominal wall. This helps prevent the life threatening condition known as gastric dilatation volvulus, or GDV, commonly called bloat.
This procedure is strongly recommended for large and giant breed dogs, especially those with deep chests. It is often performed at the time of a spay or neuter to reduce the need for another anesthetic event.
Cystotomy
A cystotomy is a surgical procedure used to open the bladder, most commonly to remove bladder stones. Bladder stones can cause pain, difficulty urinating, blood in the urine, and in severe cases, life-threatening urinary obstruction.
When stones cannot be managed through diet or medication, surgical removal may be the most effective treatment.
Splenectomy
Splenic masses are common in dogs, especially older and larger breeds. When a splenic mass is identified through physical exam, imaging, or another diagnostic test, surgical removal of the spleen may be recommended.
We coordinate pre-surgical diagnostics to guide our approach and give you the most complete information possible before surgery.
Intestinal Surgery
Foreign body ingestion is a common surgical emergency in curious dogs and cats. When an object becomes lodged in the digestive tract and cannot pass on its own, surgery may be needed to remove it and assess the health of surrounding tissue.
We also perform intestinal resection and anastomosis when portions of the intestine are diseased, damaged, or no longer viable.
Abdominal Exploratory Surgery
When diagnostic imaging and lab testing point to an internal problem but do not provide a clear answer, an exploratory laparotomy allows us to directly view the abdominal organs, take samples, and address what we find.
This procedure requires careful surgical experience, planning, and sound clinical judgment.
Wound Repair and Laceration Management
Traumatic wounds, bite wounds, and lacerations may require surgical cleaning, debridement, and repair. We assess wound severity carefully and create a repair plan that supports healing while reducing the risk of infection.
Enucleation and Eyelid Surgery
In cases of severe eye disease, trauma, or inoperable glaucoma, removal of the eye may be the most compassionate option for relieving pain.
We also perform eyelid surgeries for conditions such as entropion, where the eyelid rolls inward and causes chronic irritation to the surface of the eye.
Additional Soft Tissue Procedures
Many of our soft tissue procedures are performed using our veterinary surgical laser, which may help reduce bleeding, minimize post operative discomfort, and support a smoother recovery.
Our surgical capabilities extend beyond this list. If your pet requires a soft tissue procedure not listed here, call Madison Veterinary Hospital at 248-399-5225 to discuss whether we are the right fit for your pet’s specific needs.
Pre-Surgical Workup Before Your Pet Goes Under
We do not perform surgery without preparation, and that preparation starts well before the procedure date.
Every surgical patient at Madison Veterinary Hospital receives a pre-anesthetic physical exam and bloodwork. Depending on your pet’s age and health history, this panel may include a complete blood count, blood chemistry profile, electrolytes, and urinalysis.
For older pets or pets with known health conditions, additional diagnostics such as chest X-rays or an electrocardiogram may be recommended. This information helps us determine whether your pet is healthy enough for anesthesia, guides our anesthetic plan, and gives us baseline values to reference during recovery.
Our team will contact you before the procedure to review fasting instructions, answer last-minute questions, and make sure you feel informed and prepared for surgery day.
Anesthesia Monitoring During Surgery
We take anesthesia safety seriously, and our monitoring protocols reflect that commitment at every step.
Once your pet is anesthetized, a dedicated veterinary technician is assigned to monitor their vitals continuously throughout the procedure. We track heart rate and rhythm, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, body temperature, and depth of anesthesia.
An intravenous catheter is placed during the procedure, allowing us to administer fluids to support blood pressure and circulation, as well as deliver medications quickly if needed. Active warming support helps maintain your pet’s body temperature, which is an important part of safe anesthesia and smooth recovery.
We use this careful approach for every patient, regardless of the length or complexity of the procedure.
Pain Management Before, During, and After Surgery
Effective pain management is not an afterthought at Madison Veterinary Hospital. It is built into every surgical plan from the beginning.
Before your pet’s procedure, we administer pre-operative pain medication to help reduce discomfort and support a smoother anesthetic experience. During surgery, our veterinarians use local anesthetic techniques where appropriate to further minimize pain.
After the procedure, pets go home with a tailored pain management plan that usually includes oral medications and clear instructions for monitoring comfort and healing at home.
For eligible patients, laser therapy applied to the surgical site during recovery may help reduce inflammation and support healing. We also ask you to call us if you have any concerns about your pet’s pain level during recovery. You know your pet best, and if something does not seem right, we want to hear from you.
Recovery Support After Surgery
The work does not end when surgery is complete. Our team will walk you through postoperative care instructions in detail before your pet goes home.
These instructions may include activity restrictions, incision care, medication guidance, feeding instructions, signs of complications to watch for, and the schedule for recheck appointments.
Our team is available by phone if questions come up during recovery. We genuinely mean it when we say not to hesitate to call.
Surgical Care Backed by Five Decades of Experience
Since 1970, Madison Veterinary Hospital has been a trusted resource for veterinary surgical care in the metro Detroit area.
We are proud to be AAHA accredited and to have been named one of Newsweek’s Best Veterinary Hospitals in America in both 2025 and 2026. These recognitions reflect the dedication of our entire team.
Our doctors bring significant experience in soft tissue surgery across a wide range of conditions. They approach every case with the care and attention they would want for their own animals.
When your pet needs surgery, we want you to feel confident that they are in capable and compassionate hands.
Related Veterinary Services
Soft tissue surgery often connects with other diagnostic, surgical, and recovery services. Based on your pet’s condition and treatment plan, our team may also recommend related care options.
