CARE Hospital’s Surgery Department

Tammy & Kid 3.JPG CARE Hospital has two, fully equipped state of the art surgical suites with general, orthopedic, and neurologic surgical capabilities. The California Animal Referral & Emergency (C.A.R.E.) Hospital is proud to have Santa Barbara County’s only Board Certified Small Animal Surgeon – Dr. Támara M. Da Costa Gómez. The surgery service is directed by CARE Hospital's Chief of Surgery, Dr. Da Costa Gómez and is complemented by Dr. Deanna Purvis, Board Certified Critical Care Specialist (specializing in trauma and emergency surgery). Some of the surgeries routinely provided at CARE Hospital include: TPLO, Fracture Repair, Thoracic Surgery, Abdominal Surgery, Neurosurgery, Juvenile Pubic Symphysiodesis (JPS) and Laparoscopy/Thoracoscopy. Dr. Da Costa Gómez is certified to perform PennHIP radiographs and has had additional training in microvascular surgery.

Tamara Da Costa Gomez Dr. Da Costa Gómez and Dr. Purvis provide our community with 24 hour referral and emergency surgical services. The surgery department works closely with our emergency/critical care, internal medicine and oncology departments. All pets have a doctor and nursing staff with them 24 hours a day. Our team of over 65 employees work diligently to serve the needs of your companion, your family and your primary care veterinarian.

Call (805) 899-2273 to discuss your surgical referral or refer your clients to schedule surgical consults.

The Top Five Questions To Ask Your Veterinarian Before Your Pet Undergoes Surgery:

How often has the veterinarian performed this type of surgery?
Does the surgery require special equipment? Is it available?
Does my pet’s surgery require a specialist?
What should I expect the outcome of the surgery to be?
What follow-up care is necessary?

Surgical services available at C.A.R.E.:

Orthopedic Surgery, including
- Juvenile Pubic Symphysiodesis (JPS)
- Fracture Management
- Joint Reconstruction
- Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO)
- Osteoarthritis Management
- Arthroscopy
- Triple Pelvic Osteotomy
- Lameness Diagnosis
Spinal Surgery, including,
- Myelography
- Degenerative Disk Disease
- Wobbler’s Syndrome
- Cauda Equina Syndrome
- Exploratory Spinal Cord Surgery (Laminectomy)
- Exploratory, Reconstructive, and Fracture Fixation
- Spinal Fracture/Dislocation Management
Soft Tissue Surgery
Cancer Cytoreduction and Cancer Reconstructive Surgery
Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
Abdominal Surgery
X-Ray Review Consultation,
Penn HIP radiographs
Emergency Surgery (Available 24/7, including holidays)

What Additional Training Does A Board Certified Veterinary Surgeon Have?

Veterinarians who want to become board certified in small animal surgery must seek additional, intensive training to become a specialist and earn this prestigious credentialing. Specialty status is granted by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. A veterinarian who has received this specialty status will list the initials, “DACVS” after his or her DVM degree. Or, the veterinarian may indicate that he or she is a “Diplomate” of the ACVS. The word “Diplomate” means the specialist has achieved the following:

Obtained a traditional 8 year veterinary degree (4 years of college plus 4 years of veterinary school).
Completed an additional 3 to 6 years of advanced training, including a residency at a veterinary teaching hospital where the veterinarian will have trained with some of the best experts in the field and obtained hands on experience.
Completed an independent research study and published a veterinary article in a peer reviewed journal.
Completed the credentialing application process established by the ACVS.
Passed a rigorous general examination.

After completing and passing all of these rigorous requirements, the veterinarian is then recognized by his or her peers as a board certified specialist in veterinary surgery. When your pet needs the care of a veterinary surgeon, years of intensive training and additional education will be focused on helping him or her to recover and enjoy the highest quality of life possible.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Board Certification

What does “board certified” mean? A board certified surgeon is an individual who has completed the requirements of the ACVS to become certified as a specialist in veterinary surgery (an ACVS Diplomate).

Do I need a surgeon who is board certified? Advances in animal health care have led to a wider variety of treatment options, including highly specialized surgical procedures. Board certified surgeons spend at least four years after achieving their veterinary medical degree (DVM) focusing strictly on surgery. This concentrated training in surgery allows the ACVS Veterinary Surgeon to keep current with frequent advances in veterinary medicine. Ask your veterinarian if the procedure requires a specialist. General procedures may be less likely to require someone who is board certified.

CARE Hospital's Surgical Suites:

"Max" (the Rotty and a member of the C.A.R.E. family) with Kimberly Vazquez, Surgery Technician. Max had a bone tumor and is recovering from a limb-sparing surgical procedure.

"Macho" with Summer Gentry, R.V.T., and C.A.R.E.'s Lead Surgical Technician. Macho had a partial cystectomy and relocation of a ureter for a bladder tumor.

If you have any questions about C.A.R.E. Hospital's Surgery Department, feel free to call C.A.R.E. Hospital at (805) 899-2273 and/or speak with your family veterinarian to see if a consultation with our board certified surgeon is right for you.