7699 Quarterfield Rd,
Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061 |
410-766-7387

Surgical Services

Bringing a family member in for an operation is never easy, regardless of whether they happen to have two legs or four. At Alpha Veterinary Center, we know exactly what you’re going through because we’re pet parents too. Rest assured that we’ll do whatever it takes to ensure that your pet’s procedure is as safe and stress-free as possible.

Pre-Surgical Care

The surgical care at Alpha Veterinary Center begins with thorough preoperative screening. This helps reduce the risk of complications for your pet. We’ll also create a safe, effective plan to keep your pet comfortable and pain-free – before, during and following surgery.

Should I arrive early on the day of the surgery?

On the day of the surgery, please arrive 5-10 minutes early to complete paperwork for surgical admission. Plan to spend about 10 minutes going over your pet's home care needs when you pick your pet up. We will call you to remind you of your pet's procedure. We usually perform surgeries on Mondays, and we remind patients about those appointments on Saturday. We do not call on Sunday. In the meantime, please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions about your pet's health or upcoming surgery.

Surgery

Whether routine or advanced, your pet’s procedure will be our top priority. From the moment you arrive, we’ll be there to ease your mind and help keep your pet calm and relaxed.

Once safely sedated, our team will complete the procedure as efficiently as possible. As the doctor works, our dedicated support staff will remain present at all times, assisting with surgery and closely monitoring your companion’s wellbeing.

Can you perform more than one surgery at a time?

While your pet is under anesthesia, we can perform other minor procedures, such as dentistry, ear cleaning, or implanting an identification microchip. Please inquire prior to the day of surgery if you would like an estimate for any extra services, especially if the person dropping off the pet is not the primary decision-maker for the pet's care.

Will my pet be in pain?

Animals experience pain just like humans do, although they may not show the same symptoms. Whether or not your pet will need pain medication depends on the surgery performed, as major procedures will likely require more pain relief.

We will assess each patient and provide pain relief as needed.

Will my pet have stitches?

For many surgeries, we can use absorbable sutures beneath the skin that dissolve on their own, but for others, such as tumor removals, skin stitches are required. Skin sutures will usually be removed 14 days after surgery. With both types, the incision will need to be monitored closely for swelling or discharge. Depending on the type of procedure, your pet's activity level should be limited for two weeks. It's extremely important to prevent your pet from licking excessively or chewing at the incision and to avoid bathing them for the first 14 days after surgery.

After Care

After surgery, we’ll carefully move your pet to our recovery area, where our staff will continue to offer comfort and reassurance.

When you arrive to retrieve your pet, we will go over our aftercare instructions, including a plan for post-surgical pain management.

Surgery doesn’t have to be a source of anxiety, especially if you’ve got the experienced, compassionate team at Alpha Veterinary Center in your corner. Contact us today and let’s discuss how we can help with all of your pet’s surgical care needs.

Additional resources:

Post-Operative Care for Pets

Connect with Us

7699 Quarterfield Rd
Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061
410-766-7387

Hours of Operation

Mon: 8:00 AM - 6:30 PM

Tue - Wed: 8:30 AM - 6:30 PM

Thu - Fri: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Sat: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Sun: CLOSED