A Veterinary Surgical Team That Is State-of-the-Heart
To provide pets the comprehensive surgical care they deserve, Veterinary Specialists of the Rockies is pleased to share that board-certified veterinary surgeon Dana DeSandre-Robinson, DVM and Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (DACVS-SA), as well as Certified Veterinary Medical Acupuncturist (CVA), has joined our team. Dr. DeSandre-Robinson and our surgical support staff practice precise surgical techniques, including use of minimally invasive surgery (MIS), that are as delicate and non-invasive as possible. We never forget the importance of the patient on the operating table.
Meet Our Doctor
Dr. Dana DeSandre-Robinson, DVM, DACVS-SA (Surgery), CVA (Acupuncture)
When is a veterinary surgeon needed?
Your family vet will have all the information needed to make that determination. Some surgeries may be better assigned to a board-certified veterinary surgeon in a well-equipped animal hospital like Veterinary Specialists of the Rockies. Our comprehensive services in veterinary surgery include anesthesia, pain management, and minimally invasive surgical techniques as well as orthopedic, oncologic, and thoracic surgeries to help improve your pet’s health in situations such as:
- Complicated cases. Like humans, some pets may have multiple health problems. Older pets requiring surgery may also have respiratory or heart disease. In these cases, surgery and anesthesia can carry more risk, and a surgical specialist may be beneficial.
- Surgeries requiring recovery in an ICU. Veterinary Specialists of the Rockies is staffed 24/7 which allows for constant monitoring of your pet during recovery and diligent monitoring and pain management after surgery. In addition to in-person monitoring, every patient is monitored via video cameras to ensure that we are alerted to any patient changes.
- Orthopedic surgeries. Consisting of surgical procedures that address the joints, skeletal system and soft tissues (muscles, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments), these delicate surgeries can require specialized equipment and expertise. Veterinary Specialists of the Rockies is equipped to handle many types of orthopedic surgeries, including but not limited to treatment of fractures, hip dysplasia, luxating patella, disc disease, and TPLO surgery to treat torn CCL.
- Surgeries requiring specialized equipment. Veterinary Specialists of the Rockies is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and specially trained veterinary staff to provide the best care possible. This includes the latest technology for orthopedic and soft tissue surgeries and endoscopy equipment required for minimally invasive surgery.
- Uncommon surgeries. Dr. DeSandre-Robinson has experience in academic hospitals and large multi-specialty hospitals which allows her to draw on previous experiences with uncommon or rare surgical cases.
If your veterinarian recommends that your pet see a board-certified veterinary surgical specialist, you can be assured that our entire team will welcome your pet and your family and treat you like members of our family. We also commit to clear communication with you and your veterinarian during the surgical and recovery process, so you can feel confident in the care your pet is receiving.
Minimally Invasive Surgery for a Pet Can Offer Quicker Recovery
The veterinary surgeon and support staff at Veterinary Specialists of the Rockies work hard to treat your pet’s health concerns as painlessly as possible. In cases where surgery is required, we look for options such as minimally invasive surgery (MIS) which can reduce discomfort and speed recovery time for your pet.
Just like for humans, minimally invasive surgery in pets replaces the more traditional surgical method of creating a larger, open incision. Instead, surgical instruments are inserted through natural openings or through a small tube-like device, and the veterinary surgery is performed with the guidance of a video camera or scope.
Minimally invasive surgeries offer many benefits over more traditional surgical techniques, including:
- Improved surgical precision due to increased magnification of the surgical field
- Ability to reach parts of the body that may not be accessible through traditional surgical methods
- Lower risk of complications due to shorter procedure and anesthesia time which is especially helpful for geriatric patients, debilitated patients, and patients with other health concerns
- Less tissue trauma and discomfort resulting from smaller incisions
- Decreased hospitalization time and quicker recovery, with some patients even able to return home the same day as the surgery
Veterinary specialists continue to expand the applications for minimally invasive surgery in pets, and we strive to stay on the forefront of veterinary care. Procedures where minimally invasive surgery (MIS) can commonly be used include:
- Ovariectomy (spay)
- Abdominal cryptorchid neuter (removal of testicles retained in the abdominal cavity)
- Laparoscopy (scoping of the abdomen) which is used for diagnosis such as with biopsies of the liver or other organs, for spay and neuter, and for treating certain conditions including repairing hernias
- Oncologic surgery in which our surgeon and oncologist partner to diagnose pet cancer through biopsy and for cancer treatment such as removing masses or lesions
- Gastrointestinal endoscopy (scoping of the stomach and intestines) which can be used to remove foreign bodies, obtain biopsies, and diagnose gastrointestinal issues, including but not limited to vomiting, diarrhea, blood in the stool, and loss of appetite
- Gastropexy which is a preventative surgery in which the stomach is tacked to the abdominal wall to prevent future twisting
- Arthroscopy (scoping of the joints) which can be used on the knee, shoulder, and elbow joints to evaluate and treat chronic pain, lameness, instability, and swelling. For more information see our blogs on “ACL” surgery in dogs and lameness in cats
- Treatment of elbow and shoulder lesions such as a fragmented medial coronoid process (FCP) and osteochondritis dissecans (OCD)
- Thoracoscopy (scoping of the chest cavity) indicated to collect biopsies or for other specialized procedures such as pericardiectomy (removing part of the outside lining of the heart) and thoracic duct ligation (tying off a leaking duct in the chest)
- Reconstructive surgeries including fracture repair, hip replacement, open wound repair, and oral maxillofacial surgery (surgery of the face, mouth and oral cavity)
- Bronchoscopy (scoping of the airways and lungs) which can be used to remove foreign bodies, to collect biopsies, identify abnormalities, and for lung lobectomy (removal of unhealthy lung tissue)
- Cystoscopy (scoping of the urinary tract and bladder) which is indicated for patients with incontinence, chronic infections, straining during urination, or blood in the urine
- Rhinoscopy (scoping of the nasal cavity) which is commonly used to diagnose and treat nasal obstruction, nasal bleeding, chronic discharge, and other impairments of the nose and nasal passageways
To book a surgical appointment at Veterinary Specialists of the Rockies with Dr. DeSandre-Robinson or to discuss if endoscopy may be the best option for your pet’s surgery, please contact us at 303.660.1027.
Meet Our Surgery Staff
Dana DeSandre-Robinson
DVM, DACVS-SA (Surgery), CVA (Acupuncture)
Steph
Registered Veterinary Technician (Surgery)
Lindsay
Registered Veterinary Technician (Surgery)
Isabel
Registered Veterinary Technician (Surgery)
