Surgery

When you leave your pet in our hands, we know we’re caring for a beloved family member. Our goal is to help you understand exactly what will happen during the procedure, and to be with you every step of the way.

Book an Appointment 301-482-2535

A small red-coated dog resting in a grey dog bed beside potted plants.

What we do

Some of the procedures we perform.

Orthopedic and other specialty procedures are referred to the appropriate facilities, to make sure your pet gets top-notch care.

Spays and neuters for dogs and cats
Removal and biopsy of growths and tumors
Removal of intestinal foreign bodies
Wound repairs
Cystotomy to remove bladder stones
Eye surgeries, including cherry eye repair, entropion repair (eyelids that roll in), ectropion repair (eyelids that sag) and enucleation
Deep ear flushes to remove lodged debris
Caesarean sections
Aural (ear) hematoma repair

Before surgery

Preparing your pet.

When you make a surgical appointment, we’ll give you instructions for preparing your pet, dropping them off, and whether they need to stay overnight. You’ll get a digital reminder by app notification and email, and we’ll call the day before to go over the pre-operative instructions.

No food after 8pm
Make sure no food is available after 8pm the night before surgery.
Skip breakfast
No breakfast on the morning of the procedure.
Water is fine
Leave water available until the time you drop your pet off.
Medications as instructed
Give any medications as we’ve instructed before surgery.

On the day

Updates, and a call from the doctor.

About two days beforehand, we’ll email you a link with preparation details, including what to do the night before and the timing of drop-off and pick-up. We’ll call the day before as a reminder and to answer any last-minute questions.

Surgical and dental patients are generally dropped off in the morning, so they have some time to get used to the sights, smells and sounds of the hospital before surgery begins. That isn’t ideal for every patient, so we regularly make accommodations on drop-off times and procedures to minimize fear and anxiety.

For owners who would appreciate the reassurance, we can send a few updates through the day, sometimes with a photo. You’ll still get a phone call from the doctor after the procedure with a complete update, a pick-up time range and instructions for recovery.

You’ll go home with detailed written instructions that one of our crew goes over with you, and one of our team will call the next day to check in and answer any remaining questions.

Drop-offs, anxiety and what we do to help

Overnight intensive care

While we provide excellent care for your pet, we aren’t able to provide 24-hour intensive care. For any procedure likely to need that kind of monitoring afterwards, we’ll refer you to an appropriate veterinary specialty facility.

FAQ

Questions about surgery

Still have a question? Call us at 301-482-2535.

What kinds of surgery do you perform?

Some of the procedures we perform are spays and neuters, removal and biopsy of growths and tumors, removal of intestinal foreign bodies, wound repairs, bladder stone removal, eye surgeries such as cherry eye and eyelid repairs, deep ear flushes, ear hematoma repairs and Caesarean sections.

Do you perform orthopedic surgery?

No. We refer orthopedic and other specialty procedures to the appropriate facilities, so your pet gets top-notch care.

Can my pet eat or drink before surgery?

Make sure no food is available after 8pm the night before, and don’t give breakfast on the morning of the procedure. Water is fine: leave it available until you drop your pet off, and give any medications as we’ve instructed.

Will my pet need to stay overnight?

When you make a surgical appointment, we’ll tell you whether your pet needs to stay overnight. We aren’t able to provide 24-hour intensive care, so if a procedure is likely to need that kind of monitoring afterwards, we’ll refer you to an appropriate veterinary specialty facility.

How will I know when to pick my pet up?

The doctor will call you after the procedure with a complete update, a pick-up time range and instructions for recovery. We can also send a few updates through the day. See drop-offs and worries for more ways we help.

What happens when I take my pet home?

You’ll go home with detailed written instructions, and one of our crew will go over them with you. A member of our team will also call the next day to check in and answer any remaining questions.