Veterinary surgical instruments are tools that veterinarians use to help animals in need. They come in different shapes and sizes, with a variety of purposes for animals such as dogs, cats, horses, and cows. All veterinary surgeons have their own preferences when it comes to the types of instruments they like to use based on how many surgeries they’ve performed and what type of animal is being operated on. This article will explore 12 different types of veterinary surgical instruments and list their main purpose.
1. Scissors
Scissors are the most common veterinary surgical instruments and it is extremely useful for cutting through tough tissue during an operation. They come in two varieties: Metzenbaum and Mayo-Hegar. Both types of scissors can be used to cut muscle, suture material, or bandages if necessary.
Another type of scissors that veterinarians use is called cruciate scissors. This instrument has two blades with the tips crossing each other like an “X” (hence its name). The cross design helps make transecting skin much easier than it would be otherwise because there is less resistance when pushing the blade across tissues compared to single-pointed scissors. Veterinarians must take extra care not to stick themselves on these sharp edges though.
The last type of scissors that veterinarians use is called end-cutting nippers. These are typically used to remove the ends of soft tissues like nerves, veins, and tendons. They come in either curved or straight varieties depending on what you need them for during an operation. Curved ones work well for removing the tips off vessels while straight ones can be used to cut bone or gristle easily without causing too much damage to other nearby structures because they have blunt edges compared to scissor blades which are sharpened at a point where it meets the handle. The main advantage with these over regular scissors is how compact they are making them easier to maneuver through tight spaces than long handles would allow otherwise.
2. Hemostats
Hemostats are specifically designed to clamp blood vessels and control bleeding during an operation. They come in two varieties: artery forceps and needle holders. Artery forceps have long handles that allow for a large amount of pressure to be applied over the vessel being clamped, thus inhibiting further blood loss from whatever site they’re being used at. If you need something more precise though, needle holder hemostats would be a better choice because their tips can fit inside small spaces compared to other instruments which may cause unnecessary trauma when trying to stop bleeding or suture the tissue back together again after surgery has been completed.
There is also another type of instrument called bulldog hemostat that veterinarians use as well. These surgical clamps have a flat jaw and short handle which makes them easier to use than artery forceps because you can get closer to the worksite before using them, thereby increasing precision and decreasing trauma caused by clumsy movements of your hands during surgery.
The last type of hemostat that veterinarians may use is called crocodile or alligator hemostats. This instrument has finger rings on each end with jaws attached in the middle like scissors (hence their name). They allow for clamping onto vascular structures without having blood squirt out everywhere when released compared to other types of instruments such as needle holders where pressure must be applied slowly over time while performing delicate maneuvers around an area rather than squeezing down hard at once and hoping for the best.
3. Suture materials
The suture material is used for closing up wounds made during an operation. Veterinarians typically use either chromic gut or polyglycolic acid (vicryl) sutures because they are absorbable which means that the animal’s body will dissolve them over time rather than having to worry about removing them later on down the road, making your job easier as a veterinary professional.
4. Biopsy forceps
Another type of instrument that veterinarians typically use is biopsy forceps which have a sharp tip with either serrated or smooth edges depending on how you want to collect the sample. Serrated ones work well for cutting through tissues because they can grip onto them better than something like metal tweezers would whereas smooth-edged ones won’t do as much damage when inserted into tissue and comparison between these two types is up to personal preference.
5. Bone nippers
Another instrument that veterinarians typically use is the bone nipper which has a sharp tip and short handles. They are used to cut through small bones like digits or toes during surgery so it’s important to have good precision with this tool when using it on animals up close rather than relying on something else further away from the patient being operated upon.
There are many different types of veterinary surgical instruments available for purchase but these examples should give you an idea as to what each one does in general terms before getting into more detail about them later down the road if you choose to do any additional research afterward. At first glance, they look complicated because there’s so much going on at once but after becoming familiarized with their functions, you should be able to use them like a pro in no time.
