Veterinary Surgical Instruments List: Names and Pictures

As a Completion To the Previous Article about Veterinary Equipment and Tools List, In this blog post, we will take a look at some common Veterinary Surgical Equipment List With Names, Uses, and Pictures in veterinary clinics.

Veterinary surgery is an important branch of veterinary medicine, we can’t begin learning veterinary surgery without knowing all the surgical tools you will use in any surgery that’s why we make this Veterinary Surgical Instruments List for all veterinary students to know all Veterinary Surgical Instruments List or veterinarians have come across the issue of needing to purchase surgical instruments for clinics.

???? General Surgical Instruments

General veterinary surgical instruments are the basic tools used in all operations. These instruments must be manufactured with high precision and years of experience to ensure the best results. Similarly, the user must be well-trained and experienced to achieve optimal surgical outcomes.

Below are commonly used general instruments in veterinary surgery:

Scissors

Scissors are essential tools used by surgeons to cut and dissect tissues, muscles, organs, and sutures. They allow for the fast and safe removal of obstructive tissues during procedures. Made from balanced stainless steel, surgical scissors are thinner, sharper, and pointed for precision cutting.

Instrument	Use	Image
Mayo	Soft tissue cutting
Metzenbaum	Soft tissue cutting
Spencer Stitch	Suture removal
Standard	Suture removal
Careless	Suture removal
Lister	Bandage cutting
Wire Scissors	Cut stainless steel wire
Knowles Bandage Scissors	Remove bandage and dressing

Forceps

Forceps are essential surgical tools used to hold tissues, separate structures, improve access, and assist in cutting and suturing. They are also used for tweezing and applying pressure during procedures.

Dissecting Forceps

Dissecting forceps are temporary tools used to handle skin, tissues, and organs during surgery. Surgeons also use them to guide needles or manipulate delicate structures.

Type	Use	Image
Standard plain & toothed	Handle soft tissues
Mosquito	Hold small capillaries
Adsons	Handle soft tissues
Continental Standard	Handle skin
Emmett	Handle deep tissues
Debakey	Handling of viscera

Tissue Forceps

Tissue forceps are used for delicate manipulation of tissues without causing trauma. They provide secure grip and precise handling of soft organs and structures during surgical procedures.

Type	Use	Image
Babcock	Handling viscera and soft tissue
Allis	Handling soft tissue
Duval	Handling viscera and tissue

Clamps or Hemostats

Hemostats are essential surgical instruments used to occlude blood vessels either completely or partially. They help control bleeding during surgery and are commonly used to block blood flow to internal organs temporarily to protect them during procedures.

Visceral Clamps

Used to occlude visceral organs like the stomach, intestines, or cervix.

Type	Use	Image
Doyen Mayo Robinson	Occlusion of stomach and intestine
Parker Kerr	Occlusion of cervix

Towel Clamps

Used for securely attaching surgical drapes to the patient’s skin.

Type	Use	Image
Cross Action	Attach drapes to the surgical area
Backhaus	Attach drapes to the surgical area

Scalpel

The scalpel is a long, thin surgical instrument used to make precise cuts in the skin and underlying tissues. It is an essential tool in dermatology and surgery, enabling incisions, tissue dissections, and various surgical techniques. The term “scalpel” originates from Latin, meaning “small knife.” Scalpels come in a range of sizes and shapes, each suited for specific procedures.

Type	Use	Image
Scalpel Handle	Hold surgical blades
Scalpel Blades	Make incision and tissue transection

Retractors

Retractors are used to hold open the incision or wound during surgery, allowing the surgeon better visibility and access to the surgical site. They help retract soft tissues, joints, or organs out of the way, and can be manually held or self-retaining to free the surgeon’s hands.

Manual Retractors

These retractors require manual handling to maintain exposure of tissues and surgical fields.

Type	Use	Image
Langenbeck	Soft tissue retraction
Volkman	Retraction of tendons and muscles
Hohman	Retraction of joints
Czerny	Soft tissue retraction

Self-Retaining Retractors

These retractors do not require constant holding and are designed to hold the tissue apart automatically, keeping the surgical field open.

Type	Use	Image
Gelpi	Joint and muscle retraction
Cone	Used in orthopedic surgeries
Travers	Joint and muscle retraction
Gosset	Abdominal wall retraction
Balfour	Liver retraction
Finochietto	Spread ribs

Needle Holder

A needle holder, also known as a needle driver, is a surgical instrument designed to securely hold suturing needles. It features a comfortable handle for one-handed use and a shaft with a tip that guides the needle through tissues with precision. Some types also incorporate built-in scissors for cutting sutures.

Type	Use	Image
Gillies	Hold needle and cut suture
Olsen Hegar	Hold needle and cut suture
Mayo Hegar	Hold needle
Bruce Clarke	Hold needle
McPhail	Hold needle

???? Specific Surgical Instruments

The surgical instruments used by veterinarians during operations must be of the highest quality due to the fragility of organs and bones. Even minor negligence can lead to severe damage. That’s why top-grade, specially designed tools are crucial in veterinary practice.

Orthopedic Surgical Equipment

Orthopedic instruments are used by surgeons to diagnose and treat bone fractures, cut or remove bone, and perform orthopedic procedures. These tools are precision-crafted for efficient and safe handling of skeletal structures.

Instrument	Use	Image
Chisel	Bone shaving
Gouge	Bone shaving
Osteotome	Precise bone cut
Periosteal Elevator	Raise periosteum before drilling
Rongeurs	Nibble bone pieces
Mallet	To use with chisel
Paton Bone Cutting Forceps	Cut bone
Ruskin Liston Bone Cutting Forceps	Cut bone
Ferguson Bone Holding Forceps	Prevent bone movement in surgery
Kern Bone Holding Forceps	Prevent bone movement in surgery
Hey Groove Bone Holding Forceps	Maintain tip closure
Jacob Chuck	Insert and remove pins (intramedullary pinning)

Ophthalmic Surgical Instruments

Ophthalmic surgical tools are used for carrying out eye-related surgeries. Both cornea and lens-related surgeries are done with the help of different surgical instruments.

Scissors

Instrument	Use	Image
Iris scissors	To cut iris
Castroviejo scissors	Cut lens capsule
Tenotomy scissors	For fine dissection

Forceps

Instrument	Use	Image
Chalazion forceps	Stabilize eyelid and protect globe
Benet cilia forceps	For plucking eyelashes
Catford forceps	Help in risk-free suturing
Capsulorhexis forceps	Grasp lens capsule
Micro corneal tying forceps	Tie suture material
Capsule forceps	Grabs lens capsule

Hooks

Instrument	Use	Image
Kirby expressed hook	Use for lens removal

Speculums

Instrument	Use	Image
Williams speculum	Provide access to eyeball by a retraction
Barraquer speculum	Provide access to eyeball by a retraction

Dilators

Instrument	Use	Image
Nettleship dilator	Dilate narrow canals

Needle Holder

Instrument	Use	Image
Castroviejo needle holder	Hold needle during suturing

Dental Instruments

Dental instruments are very important for every single dental surgery. They are the most common tools used by vets for the diagnosis and treatment of oral problems—such as removing dental calculus, repairing teeth, and performing extractions. Instruments like scalers, elevators, curettes, and chisels each serve specific functions. Below are commonly used dental surgical instruments:

Instrument	Use	Image
Dental elevator	To separate connection of teeth and bone
Extraction forceps	Extract tooth
Periosteal elevator	To expose bone
Subgingival curette	Remove the unwanted material from the mouth
Dental explorer	Expose the hard surface of teeth
Supragingival scalers	Remove supragingival calculus
Periodontal probe	Measure depth of periodontal pocket
Sharpening stone	For sharpening instruments

Teat Instruments

Cows play a crucial role in dairy farming by providing milk, an essential dietary component. However, their teats are prone to damage or infections, which can hinder milk production. Teat surgical instruments are used to treat these issues effectively and maintain udder health. Below are common teat surgical tools:

Instrument	Use	Image
Dilator	Open teat canal
Slitter	Clear the teat canal by incision from inside to outside
Tumor extractor	Remove fibrous material from teat canal
Udder infusion canula	Administer medicine in teat canal
Teat curette	Clean inside of teat canal
Lichty teat knife	Open stenotic teats
Milking tubes	Keep injured teat open

Plastic Surgery Instruments

Plastic surgery is a form of body modification that can be approached for a myriad of reasons – whether it is for someone who wants to improve their appearance or for someone who needs to reconstruct parts of their body that have been damaged by injury or disease…

Clamps

Instrument	Function	Image
Kelly clamp	Hold heavy tissues
Crile clamp	Hold suture ends
Rankin clamp	Clamp tissues for ligation
Rochester Pean clamp	Clamp larger vessels
Moynihan clamp	Suturing of vascular tissues
Schmidt clamp	Suturing stalk of tissues
Kocher clamp	Grasp heavy tissues

Forceps

Instrument	Function	Image
Dressing forceps	Dressing wounds
Adson forceps	Hold dressing material
DeBakey forceps	Avoid tissue damage
Jansen forceps	Remove boney septum
Wilde forceps	Stop nasal bleeding

Scissors

Instrument	Function	Image
Mayo scissors	Cut tissue and suture
Martin scissors	Cut cartilage
Joseph scissors	Cut tissues and sutures
Forman scissors	Dissect nasal cartilage
Aufrect scissors	Cut delicate tissues
Lister bandage scissors	Cut dressing and bandages

Evacuation Instruments

Instrument	Function	Image
Frazier suction tube	Remove debris and fluid from surgical spaces
Adson suction tube	Aspire blood and residues
Baron suction tube	Remove fluid and debris

Retractor and Exposure

Instrument	Function	Image
Army Navy retractor	Retract bone and skin
Murphy retractor	Retract delicate tissues
Bear claw retractor	Help in a facelift
Gilles skin hook	Retract skin
Jansen retractor	Spread tissues

Gastrointestinal Instruments

The digestive system is an important part of the body! It’s responsible for taking in nutrients from your food and turning it into energy. The upper GI tract (esophagus, liver, stomach, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, diaphragm) and the lower GI tract (small and large bowel, mesentery, appendix, rectum, omentum, anus) each require specialized surgical instruments. Upper‑GI tools are medium‑length; lower‑GI tools are long or extra‑long.

Cholecystectomy Instruments

Instrument	Function	Image
Collin gallbladder forceps	Holding and removal of gallstones
Lovelace gallbladder forceps	Grab gallstones
Mixter gallstone forceps	Manipulate stone with precision
Mayo gallstone scoop	Scoop out gallstone
Ferguson gallstone scoop	Remove stones from gallbladder
Oschner trocar	Drain fluids from cavities
Kidney stone forceps	Remove stones from bile duct

Liver & Stomach Surgical Instruments

Instrument	Function	Image
Wishbone retractor	Abdominal tissue retraction
Bookwalter retractor	Increase access to surgical site
Benson pylorus dilator	Grip organs & membranes
Esophageal dilator	Dilate esophagus
Mayo‑Robson forceps	Hold bowel
Mayo‑Noble scissors	Dissect tissues & skin
Scudder intestinal clamp	Clamp blood vessels

Lower GIT Instruments

Instrument	Function	Image
Doyen clamp	Atraumatic grasping
Dennis clamp	Hold tissues
Foss intestinal clamp	Clamp bowel
Fehland intestinal clamp	Clamp bleeding site
Bainbridge forceps	Lock bleeding vessels
Dubois scissors	Deep dissection
Busch scissors	Cut umbilical cords
Terminal end stapler	Close enterotomies
Intraluminal stapler	Seal tissues in colostomy
GI anastomosis stapler	Staple transected tube

Rectal & Anal Instruments

Instrument	Function	Image
Fergusen angiotribe clamp	Occlude veins and arteries
Buie pile clamp	Grasp hemorrhoids
McGivney hemorrhoid ligator	Remove hemorrhoids
Miller rectal scissors	Dissect tissues in anal canal
Sims scissors	Cut bandages & dead tissues
Kelly fistula scissors	Cut tissues
Quimby scissors	Cut delicate tissues
Yeoman biopsy forceps	Used for diagnosis
Buie fistula probe	View anal sac
Pratt rectal probe	Remove O‑rings
Rosser crypt hook	Remove foreign objects
Sawyer retractor	Provide access to lower rectum
Hirschman anoscope	Visualize lower rectum
Fansler‑Ives anoscope	Examine incision area
Hirschman proctoscope	Visual inspection of anal area
Rigid sigmoidoscope	Examine inside of anus
Chelsea‑Eaton anal speculum	View rectum
Pratt rectal speculum	Dilate anal area

Cardiothoracic And Vascular Surgical Instruments

In the field of cardiothoracic surgery, common procedures include coronary artery bypass grafting and aortic valve replacement. Although approaches and incisions differ, surgical training and expertise are key to outcomes. Advances in medical equipment have given surgeons specialized tools to remove vessels, repair valves, and perform bypasses with greater precision and safety.

Clamps & Related Instruments

Instrument	Function	Image
Rochester‑Pean clamp	Clamp larger vessels
Kantrowitz clamp	Grasp tissues
Finochietto clamp	Grasp tissues & blood vessels
Bulldog applicator	Apply bulldog clamp
Sweet clip applier	Ligate tubular sutures
Gluck rib shears	Cut ribs
Doyen rib stripper	Strip periosteum from ribs

Probes & Dilators

Instrument	Function	Image
Garrett vascular dilators	Perform vessel dilation

Measuring Instruments

Instrument	Function	Image
Tessier caliper	Measure anatomical structures

Installation & Evacuation Instruments

Instrument	Function	Image
Wolf suction	Remove blood from surgical site
Poole suction tube	Remove large volumes of fluid

Retraction & Exposure

Instrument	Function	Image
Allison retractor	Retract lungs
Malleable ribbon retractor	Retract during orbital dissection
Leaflet retractor	Used in cardiac surgery

Special Instruments

Instrument	Function	Image
Vessel punch	Create an opening in vessels
McIntosh suture holder	Separate sutures
Rummel tourniquet	Occlude blood vessels

Endoscopic Instruments

Endoscopy is used in animals to examine internal organs via a camera, either diagnostically (viewing the digestive tract through mouth or anus) or therapeutically (removing foreign objects, repairing abnormalities). Under general anesthesia, veterinarians can visualize the heart, lungs, stomach, intestines, and more. Endoscopy improves recovery by avoiding large incisions.

Essential Endoscopic Instruments

Instrument	Function	Image
Endoscopic trocar	Small‑puncture port
Veress needle	Establish pneumoperitoneum
“S” retractors	Retract abdominal walls
Thread sleeve	Reinforce suture connection
Balloon dissector	Separate extraperitoneal tissue
Insufflation tubing	Insufflate abdominal cavity

Viewing of Working Space

Instrument	Function	Image
Fiber‑optic light cable	Illuminate surgical field
Telescope	Magnified internal view
Camera head	Capture endoscopic images
Bipolar cord	Connect bipolar instruments
Monopolar cord	Connect monopolar instruments

Special Instruments

Instrument	Function	Image
Chitwood DeBakey clamp	Clamp lung tissues
Dennis clamp	Hold tissues
Chitwood suture cutter	Cut sutures

Other Equipment

Below are additional miscellaneous instruments commonly used in various veterinary surgical procedures.

Instrument	Use	Image
Cusco Vaginal Speculum	Exposure of vaginal tissue
Rampley Sponge Holding Forceps	Hold swabs and sponges
Hartman Crocodile Forceps	Nasal and oral use

Conclusion

There are many reasons why surgical instruments are needed in surgeries. First, they are used to cut and pierce the skin. Second, they are used to perform the operation. Third, they are used to remove foreign objects. Fourth, they are used to keep the patient from bleeding. So that’s why we need surgical instruments for surgeries. We hope you enjoyed our article about surgical instruments. You may have never thought about it, but there are a lot of different instruments that are used in surgeries. Understanding the different instruments and what they are used for will help you appreciate the skill and expertise of veterinary surgeons. Since there are so many different instruments used in surgeries, it can be difficult to keep track of them all but we have mentioned the most important ones.