Why Refer to a Veterinary Surgeon?

Your primary care veterinarian is extremely knowledgeable in caring for your pet. This also means that they know when your pet requires more advanced skill and knowledge with regard to surgical diseases than they are able to provide. This means that your veterinarian may refer you to our surgery service.

Every patient is unique – that is why we always have a consultation with our surgeon prior to scheduling any surgery. This allows the surgeon to obtain a full informed history, perform a physical examination, review all previous diagnostics, discuss the diagnosis, and provide a detailed plan for your pet. By doing so, we ensure that the highest quality of customized care is provided. We also keep your primary care veterinarian informed and up to date every step of the way to ensure continuity of care.

What is a Veterinary Surgeon? What does it mean to be "board certified"?

The American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) sets the standards for advanced professionalism in veterinary surgery. The American Board of Veterinary Specialties recognizes ACVS as the veterinary specialty organization for veterinary surgery.

A veterinary surgeon is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) who has undergone additional training and a rigorous examination to receive this prestigious credentialling. This additional training includes a minimum one year rotating small animal internship, followed by a three-to-four-year ACVS approved credentialed residency program. These programs are intense, exhaustive, and require a minimum number of surgeries to be performed in several categories. Additionally, a research and publishing component in a peer reviewed veterinary journal is required. Following completion of the program, a two-day examination is required to obtain the credentials Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Ongoing education is required to maintain this certification. There are less than 2500 Board Certified ACVS Veterinary Surgeons in the world, and only a few in all of Alberta!

Services we offer:

Advanced Orthopedic Procedures:

• Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy (TPLO) for cranial cruciate ligament ruptures
• Patella luxation repair (medial or lateral)
• Fracture repairs
• Angular Limb Deformity Correction (include 3D modelling)
• Arthroscopy of the shoulder for OCD lesions and soft tissue injuries/reconstruction
• Arthroscopy of the elbow for medial coronoid disease and ununited anconeal processes
• Arthroscopy of the stifle for cruciate ligament disease, meniscal tears, and OCD lesions

Soft Tissue Surgeries:

• Thoracic Procedures:
  • Lung lobectomy for lung tumours, torsion, or pneumothorax
  • Chylothorax repair (thoracic duct ligation, cisterna chylli ablation, subtotal pericardiectomy)
  • Thymoma removal
• Abdominal Procedures:
  • Liver lobectomy for liver tumours or torsions
  • Portosystemic shunt ligation
  • Adrenalectomies for adrenal tumours
  • Cystotomy for bladder stones or masses
  • Intestinal surgery including foreign body removal, intestinal mass removal, or gastrointestinal biopsies
  • Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (GDV)
• Oncological Surgery:
  • Large skin tumour removals with reconstruction options
  • Body wall reconstruction (rib and abdominal)
  • Amputations
• Head/Neck Procedures:
  • Salivary mucocele removal
  • Cervical swelling/foreign body
  • Mandibulectomy/Maxillectomy
  • Enucleation
• Advanced Wound Therapy:
  • Open wound management
  • Vacuum-assisted closure bandages
  • Flaps for wound reconstruction
  • Skin grafts
  • Tail amputations for corkscrew tail damage

Minimally Invasive Surgeries:

• Arthroscopic procedures of the shoulder, elbow, and stifle joints
• Laparoscopic Procedures:
  • Ovariectomy and ovariohysterectomy
  • Gastropexy
  • Liver biopsy
  • Abdominal mass biopsy
• Thoracoscopic Procedures:
  • Subtotal pericardiectomy
  • Thoracic mass biopsy
  • Pleural port placement for thoracic drainage

Neurosurgery:

• Hemilaminectomy for thoracolumbar intervertebral disc disease (IVDD)
• Ventral slot for cervical intervertebral disc disease (IVDD)
• Dorsal laminectomy for lumbosacral disease
• Spinal fracture stabilization

Interventional radiology:

• Tracheal stent placement
• Subcutaneous ureteral bypass
• Ureteral stent placement

Our ACVS Board Certified Surgeon

Dr. Lindsey Kurach, BSc, DVM, Diplomate ACVS-SA

Board Certified Veterinary Surgeon
Medical Director

Dr. Lindsey Kurach earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon in 2010, achieving the gold medal for her class. Born and raised in Spruce Grove, she previously studied cell biotechnology at the University of Alberta.

Her depth of experience includes a one-year small animal rotating internship at the Veterinary Emergency Clinic in Toronto and a one-year surgical internship in Edmonton. She completed her three-year residency in small animal surgery at Michigan State University from 2012 to 2015.

During her residency, she presented twice at the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) Surgery Summit, where she was awarded several national research awards for her work on tracheal collapse as well as wound healing in dogs. After becoming Board Certified as a Diplomate of the ACVS in 2016, she worked in private practice in Edmonton.

Outside of work, Dr. Kurach is an active volunteer within the veterinary community. She is currently a member of council for the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (ABVMA) and was previously on the residency credentialling committee for the ACVS. She also enjoys spending time with her husband, three young daughters and furry family members.