There are seven lung lobes in our canine and feline patients which are divided into left and right sides. The principle function of the lungs is to provide adequate distribution of inspired air and pulmonary blood flow. This maintains adequate cell health by accepting the incoming oxygen from inspired air and exhaling the excess carbon dioxide. The lungs can be involved with an array of disease processes including cancer (both primary and metastatic), infection (pneumonia), trauma, lung lobe torsion, and secondarily due to intrathoracic diseases (chylothorax). In some of these diseases, a lung lobe may need to be removed to treat or cure the disease.

Dogs and cats can function normally with the removal of up to 50% of their lung volume. A lung lobectomy is the removal of the lung. These can either be partial, where only a portion is removed, or complete where the entire lung lobe is removed, usually with stapling equipment. This does require a thoracotomy. Your pet will be hospitalized for several days after surgery with a thoracotomy tube to monitor for any air leakage. This procedure requires meticulous attention to anatomy and surgical technique and is best performed by a board certified surgeon.