Veterinary Surgery exam questions: topics, study tips and free sample questions
Updated 20 October 2026
Veterinary Surgery on the BCSE covers surgical principles, soft tissue and orthopaedic procedures, wound management and perioperative care across small and large animals.
Topics to know in surgery
- Aseptic technique and surgical principles
- Wound healing and reconstruction
- Gastrointestinal and urinary surgery
- Orthopaedic conditions and fracture repair
- Large animal surgery such as colic and abdominal emergencies
How to study surgery for the BCSE
- Learn the indication, the procedure and the main complication for each operation.
- Practise emergency triage questions.
- Use images of surgical conditions where you can.
- Read every explanation and add questions you miss to a list you clear to zero.
Free surgery sample questions
Try these practice questions. Open each one to see the answer and the explanation. They are for study only. These are not official exam questions.
Question 1. The vet has asked you to prepare for a perineal urethrostomy surgery on a 4 year-old male cat. What kind of problem does the cat have?
- Undescended testicle
- Bladder stones
- Infertility
- Kidney failure
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: B. A perineal urethrostomy is a surgery to make an opening in the urethra at the perineum (skin between anus and genitals) of a blocked male cat with urolithiasis (bladder stones and crystals) so that he can urinate.
Question 2. What condition do you treat using a Velpeau bandage?
- Hip luxation
- Early hip dysplasia subluxation
- Cranial cruciate rupture
- Elbow luxation
- Shoulder luxation
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: E. Use a Velpeau bandage for luxated shoulder (uncommon, but usu also caused by trauma/HBC). Conservatively treat hip luxation w/ an Ehmer sling. Hip luxation is the most COMMON luxation in sm an; 60% via Hit-by-car (HBC). Post- operatively, typically wrap a repaired cranial cruciate rupture (CrCL) in a bulky Robert Jones bandage w/ a cranial fiberglass splint for a month. Be sure to advise owner that 20-40% of dogs w/ unilateral rupture of CrCL will rupture contralateral CrCL w/in 17 months.
Question 3. Which one of the following is an accurate difference between povidone-iodine and chlorhexidine antiseptic agents?
- Chlorhexidine is irritating to skin
- Povidone-iodine causes acute contact dermatitis in 50% of dogs
- Chlorhexidine is inactivated by alcohol
- Povidone-iodine causes less staining
- Povidone-iodine is more effective as a surgical scrub
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: B. Povidone-iodine causes acute contact dermatitis in 50% of dogs. Chlorhexidine is superior to povidone-iodine because it is not inactivated by alcohol or organic matter, is generally nonirritating to the skin, and has been shown to be superior as a surgical hand scrub. In contrast, povidone-iodine may cause skin problems for staff. Povidone-iodine is also inactivated by contact with alcohol, blood, and lavage solutions. Both povidone-iodine and chlorhexidine are similarly effective as surgical scrubs for canine surgeries.
Frequently asked questions
How many surgery questions are on the BCSE?
The exam is built from domains with published question ranges. Check the NEB overview for the current table and prepare this subject alongside the others.
How should I study surgery for the BCSE?
Learn the indication, the procedure and the main complication for each operation. Practise emergency triage questions. Use images of surgical conditions where you can.
Where can I practise surgery questions?
VetQ has 231 surgery practice questions, including 27 with images, with explanations. You can try it free for 48 hours.
Keep reading
- Veterinary Theriogenology exam questions: topics, study tips and free sample questions
- Veterinary Toxicology exam questions: topics, study tips and free sample questions
- BCSE subjects and topics: what is on the exam?
- How to prepare for the BCSE: a practical, step-by-step guide