Pet Surgery for Cats & Dogs in Gaithersburg
At Veterinary Referral Associates, our surgical center is a cutting-edge facility staffed by leaders in the field of veterinary surgery.
We offer comprehensive veterinary surgeries ranging from elective surgery for sports medicine patients to total hip replacement and open-heart surgery.
Veterinary surgeries are performed using the most advanced technology available, with fully-trained support staff available to our surgical patients.
Based on your pet’s problems, our veterinary surgical specialists will perform a detailed examination and discuss recommended diagnostic tests, procedures, risks and expected outcomes with you.
Our Board-Certified Veterinary Surgeon
Our veterinary surgeon has undergone four years of additional training after veterinary school to become a certified specialist. This training consists of a one-year internship followed by a rigorous three-year residency program that meets guidelines established by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS).
What to Expect From Vet Surgery at Veterinary Referral Associates
At Veterinary Referral Associates, our surgical center is equipped with cutting-edge surgical instrumentation and equipment. We offer complete care for your pet, including pre-operative testing, stringent anesthetic protocols, and expert pain management
Our board-certified vet surgeons and specialists regularly perform a wide range of routine and emergency surgery for pets. Some of the most common types of surgery we offer are:
- Orthopedic
Orthopedic surgery for pets consists of surgical procedures that address the joints, skeletal system, and their associated soft tissues, including muscles, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments. Our veterinary surgeons regularly perform orthopedic procedures including hip dysplasia surgery and broken bone repair.
Minimally Invasive Orthopedic Procedures
Recent innovations in veterinary and minimally invasive surgical technology are changing the face of veterinary orthopedic surgery. New minimally invasive surgical approaches have been developed to complement or replace traditional techniques. In many cases, quicker recovery time and superior visualization have also been demonstrated with minimally invasive techniques. Some of the minimally invasive orthopedic procedures we offer are:
Elbow Arthroscopy
- OCD removal and debridement
- Exploratory arthroscopy
- Arthroscopic debridement
- Subtotal medial coronoidectomy
- Ununited anconeal process removal or repair
- Arthroscopically-assisted fracture repair
- Fragmented medial coronoid process removal and debridement
- Biceps ulnar release procedure (BURP)
- Septic joint assessment, debridement and lavage
Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Exploratory arthroscopy (intraarticular tendon evaluation)
- Biceps tenectomy
- OCD lesion removal and debridement
- Arthroscopically-assisted fracture repair
- Septic joint assessment, debridement and lavage
Stifle Arthroscopy
- Exploratory arthroscopy
- Meniscectomy
- OCD lesion removal and debridement
- Arthroscopically-assisted fracture repair
- Septic joint assessment, debridement and lavage
Tarsal Arthroscopy
- OCD lesion removal and debridement
- Arthroscopically-assisted fracture repair
- Septic joint assessment, debridement and lavage
- Reconstructive
In veterinary medicine, reconstructive procedures are used to change the anatomy to alleviate discomfort and dysfunction whether from injury, illness, or congenital abnormalities.
At our hospital, we have a special interest in these quality of life procedures, and our experience and standards mean your pet will be getting the best care possible. Some of the reconstructive pet surgeries performed include:
- Oral and Facial Procedures
- Airway/Respiratory Management
- Wound Management and Skin Reconstruction
- Nasal alar fold rhinoplasty (aka. Widening the opening the nostrils)
- Cheiloplasty
- Soft Tissue
Our vet specialists offer soft tissue surgical procedures for dogs and cats suffering from a range of conditions, including ear, nose, and throat disorders, as well as cardiothoracic, hepatic, gastrointestinal, urogenital, skin and oncological disorders.
Minimally Invasive Soft Tissue Surgery
Recent innovations in veterinary and minimally invasive surgical technology are changing the face of veterinary soft tissue surgery. New minimally invasive surgical approaches have been developed to complement or replace traditional techniques. In many cases, quicker recovery time and superior visualization have also been demonstrated with minimally invasive techniques. Some of the minimally invasive soft tissue procedures we offer are:
Urogenital
- Laparoscopic kidney biopsy
- Laparoscopic assisted ovariohysterectomy (spay)
- Laparoscopic ovariectomy
- Laparoscopic assisted cystoscopy (bladder stone removal)
- Laparoscopic assisted cystopexy
- Laparoscopic assisted cystostomy tube placement
Gastrointestinal/Abdominal
- Exploratory laparoscopy with multiple biopsies
- Laparoscopic assisted gastropexy
- Laparoscopic liver biopsy
- Laparoscopic pancreatic biopsy
- Laparoscopic abdominal mass explore and biopsy
- Laparoscopic assisted colopexy
- Laparoscopic adrenalectomy
- Laparoscopic assisted feeding tube placement (low-profile gastrostomy, gastrostomy, jejunostomy
- Laparoscopic assisted cholecystectomy - coming soon
Thoracoscopy
- Exploratory thoracoscopy (Indications: spontaneous pneumothorax, acute pyothorax)
- Partial lung lobectomy
- Pericardiectomy
- Laparoscopic pancreatic biopsy
- Complete lung lobectomy (with one lung ventilation) - coming soon
- Pericardioscopy
- Pleural biopsies
- Ocular
Some of the most common ocular procedures our board-certified ophthalmologist performs for cats and dogs at Veterinary Referral Associates include cataract surgery, entropion surgery, ectropion surgery, eyelid tumor removal, cherry eye surgery, and exenteration of the orbit.
- Bone & Tissue Biopsies
Our vet surgeons offer this procedure to aid in the diagnosis of bone or soft tissue tumors, infections, or cysts.
- Oncology
Often, surgery is a key element of cancer treatment in pets. Our board-certified veterinary surgeons are skilled in performing cancer-related surgeries, such as tumor removal.
- Neurological
Our board-certified neurologists perform surgeries that treat neurological and spinal conditions in pets, such as brain or spinal tumors and IVDD (intervertebral disk disease).
