Veterinarians need to have superior manual dexterity to operate on small pets.
Just as the field of veterinary medicine has advanced over the years, so has the sophistication of the instruments used during animal surgeries. As with the field of human medicine, some of the most frequently used veterinary surgical instruments include scalpels, forceps, scissors and needle holders. However, the small size of certain increasingly common household pets, such as guineas pigs and fancy mice, often requires some of the more specialized surgical tools that are available.
Scalpel
Scalpel
A mainstay of all operating rooms, for both humans and animals, the scalpel is an extremely sharp instrument used to cut through skin and tissue. The use of a scalpel signals the beginning of a surgical procedure, and there are a number of blade varieties and sizes to accommodate many surgical needs. Despite the availability of lasers designed for veterinary surgery, most practitioners still prefer the scalpel because of its ease of use and lower cost, according to an article on the Veterinary Practice News website.
Scissors
Surgical scissors
Scissors are another common surgical instrument, and they are available in a variety of sizes, with varying degrees of sharpness and curvature in the tip. Veterinarians use them during most surgical procedures, from a simple spay or neuter to more complicated operations. According to the book "Veterinary Surgical Instruments: An Illustrated Guide" by the College of Animal Welfare, they are primarily used to cut through soft tissue, not skin, and to remove sutures.
Forceps
Forceps
Veterinarians use several types of forceps, depending on what they need to do during operations. For example, artery forceps are used to tightly clamp off blood vessels. This type of forceps features a serrated blade and is designed to lock into place and maintain a closed position until manually released. Thumb forceps are more tweezer-like in appearance and are typically used to hold tissue together during suturing.
Needle Holders
Needle holders are also used in most animal surgeries because they hold the needle in place while the veterinarian sutures the incision closed. They come in a variety of sizes, designs and weights, which makes them useful for delicate procedures, such as the removal of an external tumor on the abdomen of a pet mouse. Their various dimensions and weight also make them ideal for deep tissue surgery that limits the range of motion the veterinarian can use when suturing something closed.
Specialty Instruments
Veterinarians who specialize in a particular field of medicine, such as dentistry or ophthalmology, use special instruments during delicate surgeries. For example, periodontal probes may be used during an extensive canine oral surgery, and a special speculum might be used to hold open a cat's eye during a cataract surgery.
Tags: animal surgeries, used during, used hold, used through, variety sizes
