FAQs

Having a pet with BOAS can be intimidating. Here are some lifestyle tips to keep your pet safe:

• Maintain a healthy weight
• Avoid over-exertion, especially in the heat!
• Monitor your pet closely when swimming or around water. Pets with BOAS are at increased risk of aspiration pneumonia. If they are in the water, apply a life vest that keeps their chin above the water.
• Use a harness. Attaching leashes to collars can put pressure on your pet’s airway, and brachycephalic pets are predisposed to airway obstruction.

Most pets experience significant improvement in their breathing, increased tolerance to exercise, and an overall better quality of life. While palate surgery addresses a major component of BOAS, additional corrective procedures may be necessary to address anatomical abnormalities and achieve optimal results.

Earlier detection and surgical intervention lead to better outcomes. Soft palate surgery is often done at the time of a spay or neuter procedure, reducing the cost to pet owners and the number of visits for the pet.

A stenotic nares resection is beneficial to widen the nostrils and further increase air flow. The nares procedure is commonly done in addition to soft palate surgery. Alone, a nares resection would be unlikely to provide significant relief.

Microchip identification is strongly recommended and may be required for official OFA certification.

The OFA application fee is paid directly to OFA using the payment section of the form. Our clinic charges separately for: exam, sedation if needed, radiographs, and submission services.

Final hip and elbow certifications are performed at 24 months+. Preliminary evaluations may be done earlier.

Sedation is usually required for hip and elbow radiographs to ensure proper positioning, comfort, safety, and the most accurate diagnostic-quality images that meet OFA standards. Basic cardiac and patellar luxation exams generally do not require sedation.

No. Please do not come directly to the clinic unless the triage team has instructed you to do so. Our clinics are not staffed 24 hours a day, and the on-call team must be contacted and prepared before an after-hours visit.

GuardianVets is a third-party veterinary triage service. When you call after hours, a licensed veterinary technician or trained veterinary triage professional will assess your pet’s condition and help determine the next step.

In many cases, care may be provided by a Cascade veterinarian. However, our community of veterinarians also works together to support after-hours coverage, so the on-call veterinarian may sometimes be from another local clinic.

After-hours care requires doctors and support staff to be available outside regular business hours. Limiting this service to active clients helps us provide continuity of care, maintain high standards, and keep the service sustainable for our team and patients.

Call our main phone number at (509) 663-0793. Your call will be directed to the appropriate after-hours triage support.

No. Cascade Veterinary Clinics is not staffed as a 24-hour emergency hospital. We provide after-hours urgent care for active clients through a triage-based on-call system.

Your pet must be an active Cascade Veterinary Clinics patient, meaning they have been seen at one of our locations within the last 12 months.

No. New clients cannot be seen through Cascade’s after-hours urgent care service. Please contact your regular veterinarian to ask what after-hours services are available through their clinic, or contact a 24-hour emergency hospital if your pet needs emergency care.

Yes. Otoscopy helps identify underlying causes of recurring infections such as trapped debris, foreign bodies, masses, or deeper inflammation.

A routine ear exam evaluates the outer ear and visible canal. Otoscopy provides a closer, more detailed view deeper inside the ear canal and toward the eardrum. This is especially helpful for pets with chronic or difficult ear cases.

Not always. Sedation may be recommended if the ears are very painful, inflamed, or if a more complete exam and cleaning are needed.

Video consultation with a board-certified veterinary oncologist, followed by local treatment at Cascade.

Yes — most chemotherapy and rechecks are performed right here in Wenatchee.

Usually within 1–2 weeks. Urgent cases often seen within days.

Neither approach is automatically safer for every dog. Laparoscopy may reduce incision length and tissue handling, but both approaches require general anesthesia and carry risks such as bleeding, infection, anesthetic complications, and the possibility of converting to an open procedure. Your veterinarian will recommend an approach after evaluating your dog.

Possible risks include anesthetic complications, bleeding, infection, injury to nearby structures, incision problems, and complications related to abdominal insufflation or instrument placement. If visibility or safety becomes a concern, the surgeon may need to use an open approach.

Many healthy dogs may be candidates, but the decision is individualized. Age, breed, anatomy, reproductive status, overall health, prior abdominal procedures, and possible uterine disease can all affect the recommendation. A preoperative evaluation is required.

It may be appropriate for some dogs at increased risk of GDV. Gastropexy helps prevent the stomach from twisting but does not prevent stomach dilation. Ask the veterinarian to assess your dog’s breed, chest shape, family history, and other risk factors.

Not always. Some fractures can be managed with splints or casts, depending on the location and severity of the break. However, many fractures require surgical stabilization to ensure proper alignment and healing. We will recommend the safest and most effective option for your pet’s specific injury.

Healing time varies depending on your pet’s age, overall health, and the type of fracture. In general, most fractures take 6–12 weeks to heal, with regular rechecks to monitor progress.

Pain management is a priority. We provide advanced pain control during and after surgery, along with take-home medications to keep your pet comfortable throughout recovery.

Many pets regain excellent function following proper fracture repair and rehabilitation. Outcomes depend on the type of fracture and overall health, but our goal is always to restore comfort, stability, and mobility.

Untreated fractures can lead to improper healing, chronic pain, joint instability, infection, or long-term mobility problems. Prompt treatment significantly improves outcomes and reduces complications.

Limit your pet’s movement immediately and seek veterinary care as soon as possible. Avoid manipulating the limb, and transport your pet carefully to prevent additional injury.

Laryngeal tie-back surgery is used to treat laryngeal paralysis, a condition that prevents the airway from opening normally during breathing.

In many cases, yes. The goal of surgery is to improve airflow and reduce the breathing effort caused by laryngeal paralysis, helping many dogs feel more comfortable and active.

Yes. It is an advanced airway procedure that requires anesthesia, careful surgical planning, and close post-operative care.

Yes, most dogs have a softer, hoarser bark after surgery. This is permanent but not painful.

One of the most important long-term considerations is the risk of aspiration because one side of the airway is permanently opened. We discuss this risk carefully and provide detailed recovery guidance.

Dogs usually feel much better within days, but strict activity restriction is needed for 2-4 weeks. Feeding changes are lifelong.

If your dog has noisy breathing, exercise intolerance, trouble in warm weather, or any episodes of respiratory distress, it is a good time to schedule an evaluation.

No unsupervised swimming is recommended. Water can enter the airway more easily and cause coughing or aspiration pneumonia.

In many cases, yes. Even after surgery, some dogs benefit from careful feeding habits, weight management, and avoiding excessive heat or overexertion. We will review long-term recommendations with you.

Excellent for most dogs! Breathing and quality of life dramatically improve when aspiration risk is managed properly.

Yes. If we identify concerns on exam or X-rays, we'll discuss recommendations so you can make informed decisions about treatment and next steps.

Most dentals are day-stay procedures. Timing varies based on findings and whether extractions or additional treatments are needed.

Timing depends on your pet's age, genetics, home-care routine, and what we see on exam. We'll recommend a plan based on the grade of disease and dental X-ray findings.

Dental disease often lives below the gumline. X-rays help us evaluate tooth roots and bone, identify hidden infections, and guide the best treatment decisions (including whether extractions are needed).

We tailor anesthesia to your pet's health status and needs, and we closely monitor throughout the procedure and recovery. Pre-anesthetic screening may be recommended to help us plan safely.

Ideally between 6–18 months old, before permanent damage occurs, but we successfully correct adult dogs too.

Most snoring is dramatically reduced or eliminated. Some very mild snoring may remain – it's normal and harmless.

Most dogs go home the same or next day. Full activity resumes in 10–14 days.

No. It is a medically necessary procedure to prevent life-threatening breathing difficulty, heat stroke, and collapse.

Librela is administered as an injection under the skin once a month by the veterinary team. Before every injection, your veterinarian should review how your dog is doing, discuss the current Client Information Sheet and possible adverse events, and decide with you whether treatment should continue.

Response varies, and it may take two monthly injections to notice a reduction in pain. If your dog does not respond as hoped after the second injection—or stops responding after later injections—talk with your veterinarian about whether another pain-management approach would be more appropriate.

No. Librela is an injection administered in the clinic by the veterinary team, so there is no daily Librela pill to give at home.

Librela may be an option for some older dogs with osteoarthritis pain, but age alone does not determine candidacy. A veterinary examination is needed to review mobility, current or recently changed health problems, medications and supplements, previous or current monoclonal-antibody treatment, and individual benefit-risk considerations. Librela should not be given to dogs younger than 12 months or to dogs intended for breeding, pregnant, or nursing.

Yes. Librela requires a veterinary prescription and administration. An examination helps identify what is causing discomfort, determine whether osteoarthritis is involved, review your dog’s health history and medications, and decide whether Librela or another pain-management plan is appropriate. Further testing may be recommended if your dog has new or recently changed health problems.

8 weeks old

6 months old

Currently, we do not have in-house payment plans. However, we do accept Care Credit and Scratch Pay. You can quickly apply for these resources online. Learn more about our payment options here.

Yes. Our veterinarians do an exam prior to administering vaccines to ensure the pet is in good health.

Solensia is given as a once-monthly injection. Our team can help you determine the best schedule for your cat and monitor their response over time.

Some cats show improvement within the first few weeks, while others may benefit more gradually over the first few monthly treatments. We will help you monitor changes in mobility, grooming, jumping, and overall comfort.

No. Solensia is not a pill or liquid given at home. It is a monthly injection administered by our veterinary team in the clinic.

Yes. A veterinary exam helps us evaluate your cat’s mobility, overall health, and whether osteoarthritis may be contributing to their discomfort. This also helps us determine if Solensia is an appropriate option.

Many senior cats with osteoarthritis may benefit from Solensia. Because arthritis is common in older cats, treatment can be an important part of helping them stay comfortable and active at home.

Yes; far less invasive than traditional surgery and most pets recover the same day. 

It depends entirely on the type of endoscopy we're performing:

• Non-laparoscopic endoscopies (nose, throat, esophagus/stomach, bladder, ears) are performed through natural body openings → no surgical incisions at all.
• Every patient will have a small patch shaved on a leg for the IV catheter (required for anesthesia). A small perianal shave may also be needed in some cases.
• Laparoscopy (e.g., prophylactic gastropexy, laparoscopic-assisted spay, organ biopsies, some cystotomies/bladder stone removals) is still a form of endoscopy, but it does require 1–3 very small incisions (usually 5–15 mm) and abdominal shaving/clipping for sterility.

Even with laparoscopy, pain is dramatically reduced, recovery is much faster, and scars are tiny compared to traditional open surgery.

Typically 20–60 minutes depending on what we're examining.

Yes! We frequently retrieve socks, toys, bones, and other items without open surgery.

Most pets regain excellent, pain-free function. Cats and smaller dogs often return to near-normal activity. Larger dogs may have a mild gait abnormality during intense exercise but experience dramatic improvement in comfort and mobility.

Initial healing occurs in 4–8 weeks, but optimal muscle strength and function are achieved by 3–6 months with consistent physical therapy.

Yes—rehabilitation is crucial for the best outcome. We provide home exercise instructions and can refer to certified therapists for professional guidance.

We usually stage bilateral procedures 8–12 weeks apart for safer recovery, though simultaneous surgery is possible in select cases.

While best for cats and dogs under 50 lbs, larger dogs can still benefit significantly, especially with dedicated rehab and weight management.