Hospitals

Comprehensive Care + 24 Hour Emergency

Soft Tissue Surgery

Agricultural Animal
Pigs

Meet Our Specialists

Farm Animal General (Soft Tissue) Surgery

The farm animal general surgery service at the Cornell University Hospital for Animals provides outstanding surgical care for farm animals with a wide range of medical conditions. Our board-certified surgeons have decades of surgical experience and use the most advanced techniques available. They are assisted by skilled surgical residents and veterinary technicians. 

The farm animal general surgery service provides both elective and emergency care. Diagnostic capabilities include high resolution radiology, CT and MRI scanning and endoscopy. Procedures are performed in state-of-the-art surgery suites fully equipped with equipment for both traditional and open surgery and for laparoscopic procedures. We work as part of a team with a broad range of specialists including anesthesiologists, internists, dentists, radiologists and other specialists to ensure our patients receive the most comprehensive care possible. Our experienced staff provides nursing care 24 hours a day. 

Farm Animal General Surgery --- Common Procedures

  • Cattle

    • Abdominal surgery including surgery for abomasal displacement or volvulus, cecal disease, hardware disease (rumenotomy) and atresia coli in calves
    • Urogenital surgery including Cesarean section, repair of calving injuries, castration and treatment of disorders of the penis and prepuce
    • Surgical treatment of umbilical hernia and navel infection
    • Wound management and reconstructive surgery
       

  • Sheep and goats

    • General surgical treatment of abdominal, urogenital systems and integument (skin)
    • Cesarean section
    • Management of urolithiasis (blocked sheep or goat) 
    • Dehorning
       

  • Swine

    • Spay of females, neuter of males
    • General abdominal surgery
    • Hernia repair
    • Dentistry
    • Hoof trimming

What to Expect During Your Appointment

Your scheduled visit to the General Surgery Service at the Cornell University Hospital for Animals begins when you pull up to the circular driveway in front of the large animal hospital. Please park your vehicle in the driveway, come into the reception area and check in at the front desk. After a small amount of paperwork, you will be given directions to the unloading area and a technician or student will help you unload and walk your animal to its assigned stall. 

After your animal is unloaded, a technician and student will work together to conduct an examination of your animal and will take a medical history. We appreciate your patience and understanding in allowing our veterinarians-in-training to interact with you and your animal.

Next, the student will leave to report their findings to a resident or faculty member, who will return with the student to perform a second, comprehensive examination. The resident or faculty member will discuss all of the findings with you. 

Working together with you, a plan for further diagnosis and treatment of your animal will be developed. Patients that require surgery or advanced tests will often be admitted to the hospital at the conclusion of their initial appointment. Patients admitted for surgical procedures often need to remain hospitalized for several days or longer. Patients with conditions that do not require hospitalization will be discharged with detailed written instructions and a summary of the exam findings. A copy will be faxed to your veterinarian.

Related Info

The American College of Veterinary Surgeons
A specialty organization that certifies veterinary surgeons and provides a source of referrals to animal owners.