Pet Surgery & Orthopedics in Plantation, FL
South Florida's destination for pet surgery — highly experienced veterinarians, advanced anesthetic monitoring, and modern orthopedic care.
Veterinary Surgery & Orthopedics
PAWS Veterinary Center is the South Florida destination pet parents trust for surgery and orthopedics. Our highly experienced veterinary team performs everything from routine soft tissue procedures to complex orthopedic repairs, using the same anesthetic monitoring and pain-control standards found at top referral hospitals. Every surgery is backed by a clear plan, a dedicated technician, and the compassionate follow-up your pet deserves.
Every surgical patient receives a pre-anesthetic exam and full bloodwork panel, an IV catheter with fluid support and warming, and dedicated anesthetic monitoring (heart rate, ECG, blood pressure, pulse oximetry, capnography, and temperature). A licensed veterinary technician stays with your pet from induction through full recovery — never split between cases.
Dr. Blake Hefter performs a wide range of soft tissue surgeries — mass removals, biopsies, bladder stone (cystotomy) surgery, foreign body removal, splenectomies, enucleations, wound reconstruction, and more — as well as orthopedic procedures including fracture repair and TPLO consultation for cranial cruciate ligament disease.
Pain control is multi-modal and starts before the first incision: local nerve blocks, NSAIDs, opioids when appropriate, and CRI (constant rate infusion) techniques for bigger cases. Most patients are eating, comfortable, and resting quietly within hours of waking up.
We discharge most patients the same day with detailed written home-care instructions, a recovery cone or surgical suit, and a complimentary post-op recheck. For more complex cases, we coordinate seamlessly with board-certified specialists when a referral is the right call — your pet's outcome always comes before doing the procedure in-house.
We treat your pet the way we'd treat our own: full diagnostics first, a clear written estimate before anesthesia, and a phone call from Dr. Hefter the same day with photos and findings.
What's Included
- Pre-surgical exam & full bloodwork panel
- IV catheter, IV fluid support & active warming
- Advanced anesthetic monitoring (ECG, BP, SpO₂, capnography, temperature)
- Dedicated veterinary technician through full recovery
- Multi-modal pain control — local blocks, NSAIDs, opioids, CRIs as needed
- Soft tissue surgery: mass removals, biopsies, cystotomy, foreign body, splenectomy
- Orthopedic procedures: fracture repair, TPLO consultation
- Same-day discharge for most cases
- Surgical suit or e-collar at discharge
- Complimentary post-op recheck
Why Choose PAWS for Veterinary Surgery & Orthopedics
Highly Experienced Surgical Team
Our veterinarians bring years of hands-on experience in soft tissue and orthopedic surgery, with advanced training and a commitment to excellent outcomes.
Modern Surgical Suite
Advanced anesthetic monitoring, IV fluid support, active warming, and multi-modal pain control for every patient.
Seamless Referral Partnerships
When a case is best handled by a board-certified specialist, we coordinate the referral seamlessly — your pet's outcome always comes first.
Frequently Asked Questions
How safe is anesthesia for my pet?+
Modern veterinary anesthesia is very safe when paired with pre-op bloodwork and dedicated monitoring — both of which we include for every patient. Risk is further reduced by tailoring drug protocols to your pet's age, breed, and health status. A licensed technician monitors your pet continuously, not just at induction.
Will my pet be in pain after surgery?+
We use multi-modal pain management (local nerve blocks, NSAIDs, opioids when needed, and CRIs for bigger cases) so most pets are comfortable and eating within hours of going home. You'll go home with oral pain medication and clear instructions for the first 7–14 days.
How long is recovery?+
Most soft tissue surgeries require 10–14 days of restricted activity until suture removal. Orthopedic recoveries are longer — typically 8–12 weeks of controlled exercise with progressive return to normal activity. We provide a written recovery plan at discharge and a complimentary post-op recheck.
What types of surgery do you perform in-house?+
Soft tissue: mass and lump removals, biopsies, bladder stone removal (cystotomy), foreign body removal, splenectomy, enucleation, wound reconstruction, spay and neuter. Orthopedic: fracture repair and TPLO consultation. For procedures best done by a board-certified specialist (advanced neurosurgery, certain cardiac procedures, etc.), we'll refer — your pet's outcome always comes first.
Will I know the cost before surgery?+
Yes — always. You'll receive a written estimate after the surgical consultation and pre-op bloodwork, and we won't proceed without your approval. If anything changes during surgery, we call you first.
Do you remove lumps and skin masses?+
Yes. Mass removal is one of the most common surgeries we perform. Whenever possible, we recommend a fine-needle aspirate or biopsy beforehand so we know what we're dealing with and can plan appropriate surgical margins.
Offering Veterinary Surgery & Orthopedics to Pet Owners Across Broward County
Schedule Your Pet's Veterinary Surgery & Orthopedics Today
📞 Call (954) 933-1935 →Mon–Fri 8a–6p