Orthopedic Surgery for your Pet

Full Time Surgeon Available | Pre and Post Surgical Care Provided On-Site

Advanced Orthopedic & Soft Tissue Surgery

The Tier 1 team is fully equipped to handle your pet's needs.

When your pet needs surgery, you want a veterinary team you can trust. Most animal hospitals offer routine surgeries, but more complex procedures require additional expertise.

  • Medial and lateral patella luxation correction,
  • Fracture repair of all types using various implant techniques,
  • Treatment of hip dysplasia via juvenile pubic symphysiodesis (JPS), double/triple pelvic osteotomy (DPO/TPO) or femoral head and neck ostectomy (FHO),
  • Limb amputation for bone tumor removal,
  • Repair of traumatic and congenital joint dislocations,
  • Arthrodesis (joint fusion) for control of various underlying conditions (ligamentous damage, hyperextension injury, severe osteoarthritis),
  • Correction of muscle or tendon disorders (Achilles tendon rupture, superficial digital flexor tendon luxation, muscle contractures),
  • Ulnar ostectomy for correction of angular limb deformity,
  • Open joint debridement of osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) and fragmented medial coronoid process,
  • Frequent use of bandages, casts, and custom-made splints as needed for external support of the limbs.
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Soft Tissue Surgery

The Tier 1 team is fully equipped to handle your pet's needs.

Advanced Orthopedic & Soft Tissue Surgery

The Tier 1 team is fully equipped to handle your pet's needs.

The Residency Trained Surgeon at Tier 1 is specially trained to perform advanced orthopedic and soft tissue surgeries.

  • Skin and soft tissue mass excision of various types and locations +/- skin flap reconstruction,
  • Treatment of end-stage ear disease or mass/polyp removal via total ear canal ablation, (TECA), ventral bulla osteotomy (VBO) or pinnectomy,
  • Repair of cleft lip and hard/soft palate clefts or fistulas,
  • Mandibulectomy or maxillectomy for oral tumor removal,
  • Surgery of the nasal cavity or frontal sinus for treatment of various underlying conditions,
  • Correction of brachycephalic syndrome via alar fold resection (stenotic nares), staphylectomy (soft palate resection) and laryngeal saccule removal,
  • Unilateral arytenoid lateralization (tie-back procedure) for laryngeal paralysis,
  • External ring placement for cervical tracheal collapse,
  • Removal of parathyroid or thyroid gland tumors,
  • Excision of salivary gland mucoceles,
  • Cardiothoracic surgery including lung lobectomy, mediastinal mass resection (thymoma) and pericardectomy,
  • Correction of congenital vascular disorders such as patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and vascular ring anomalies,
  • Treatment of chylothorax via thoracic duct ligation, cisterna chyli ablation and pericardectomy,
  • Rib mass removal with chest wall reconstruction,
  • Hernia repair of all types (diaphragmatic, peritoneal-pericardial, abdominal, perineal, inguinal, scrotal),
  • Splenectomy,
  • Hepatobiliary surgery including liver lobectomy, cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal), biliary catheter placement and portosystemic shunt ligation,
  • Gastrointestinal foreign body or mass removal via gastrotomy/gastrectomy, enterotomy, intestinal resection and anastomosis, or typhlectomy (cecal resection),
  • Incisional gastropexy for treatment of gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV),
  • Colorectal surgery including mass excision, anal sac removal, and colectomy (for megacolon),
  • Removal of pancreatic and adrenal masses,
  • Urinary surgery including nephrectomy (kidney removal), urinary stone removal, cystectomy (bladder mass excision) and ectopic ureter correction,
  • Treatment of urethral obstruction via a canine scrotal urethrostomy or feline perineal urethrostomy (PU),
  • Prostatic cyst omentalization,
  • Ovariohysterectomy and cesarean section for pyometra and dystocia, 
  • Treatment of various congenital and acquired conditions of the external genitalia (urethral prolapse, paraphimosis, recessed vulva, vaginal prolapse, tumor removal).

Neurologic Surgery

State of the art veterinary medical center in Alaska with multiple surgical suites.

Advanced Orthopedic & Soft Tissue Surgery

The Tier 1 team is fully equipped to handle your pet's needs.

Our facility is equipped with state-of-the-art operating suites to provide first-rate surgical care for your pet.

  • Spinal decompression for treatment of intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) via thoracolumbar hemilaminectomy, lumbosacral dorsal laminectomy or cervical ventral slot,
  • Repair of vertebral (spinal) fractures and luxations,
  • Spinal tumor removal/debulking.

    Advanced Orthopedic & Soft Tissue Surgery

    The Tier 1 team is fully equipped to handle your pet's needs.
    When your pet needs surgery, you want a veterinary team you can trust. Most animal hospitals offer routine surgeries, but more complex procedures require additional expertise. The board-certified surgeons at Tier 1 are specially trained to perform advanced orthopedic and soft tissue surgeries. Our facility is equipped with state-of-the-art operating suites to provide first-rate surgical care for your pet.
    0+ Years of Veterinary Experience

    Orthopedic surgeries involve the bones or joints. Prior to surgery, we will conduct imaging studies to fully evaluate your pet’s injury and plan the best surgical approach. Complicated bone fractures are repaired with advanced plating or pinning methods, in sometimes saving limbs from amputation. We use the most current surgical techniques to treat cruciate ligament tears in the knee, which are the most common orthopedic injuries in dogs.

    These techniques restore greater stability to the knee and minimize arthritis development. Hip and elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation, limb growth deformities, and intervertebral disc disease are just a few of the other orthopedic conditions treated by our surgeons. For most orthopedic injuries, treatment doesn’t stop when surgery is complete. The rehabilitation services at Tier 1 will help get your pet back on their feet safely.

    Overnight Hospitalization and ICU Services

    Most other surgical procedures are considered soft tissue surgeries. This includes skin growth removals, complex wound repair, and procedures involving the internal organs. Some surgical conditions such as bloat, splenic disease, gastrointestinal foreign body obstruction, or uterine infection are treated on an emergency basis.

    At Tier 1 we are available 24-7 should the need arise for emergency surgery. In other cases, surgery is performed to remove cancerous tumors or to address medical conditions. Our surgeons collaborate with our oncology and internal medicine specialists to ensure the best possible outcome for your pet.


    Many people worry about their pet undergoing anesthesia. Our veterinarians will conduct thorough pre-surgical testing to identify potential risk factors and design safe anesthetic protocols tailored to your pet’s individual needs. Our certified technical team is highly trained to monitor anesthesia and address any complications that arise during the procedure. Most pets tolerate anesthesia well and are back to their normal selves in no time.

    Emergency Veterinary Services

    Emergencies are stressful. Tier 1 Vet is your Emergency Animal Veterinary Hospital.
    Oftentimes when an emergency strikes, pet owners are frustrated by the limited options available for care. You may be forced to take your pet to an unfamiliar facility that has limited knowledge of your pet’s medical history. When your pet is already feeling vulnerable and anxious, this can be a traumatic experience.