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The place to be when your dog hurts their knee™
410.788.4088

Your Visit

As animal lovers, we know that the prospect of surgery for a beloved companion can be stressful. We work hard to make your experience with Dr. Walesby and the staff of Maryland Veterinary Surgical Services as pleasant and positive as possible. The following information will help you know what to expect during your visit:

APPOINTMENT SCHEDULING FOR NEW CASES

Although we encourage referrals from your primary care veterinarian, a referral is not required for an appointment. You may schedule your companion’s appointment with Dr. Walesby over the phone. We will ask you for basic information relating to you and your companion, as well as a brief description of your companion’s medical condition. Generally, we are able to schedule an appointment with Dr. Walesby within one to three weeks.

New appointments are available Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 7:00 am to 9:30 am. We allot 30 minutes for your initial consultation. Second opinion appointments are available on Thursday from 8:00 am to 11:30 am upon request.

NEW PATIENT FORM

Maryland Veterinary Surgical Services offers our patient form(s) online so you can complete it in the convenience of your own home or office.

  • If you do not already have AdobeReader® installed on your computer, You can download it from Adobe for FREE.
  • Download the necessary form(s), print it out and fill in the required information or use our fillable PDF form.
  • Please e-mail, fax, or mail your completed form at least 72 hours prior to your appointment. .

This form allows us to record companion guardian and companion information into our management software so that we can effectively and efficiently provide the service you deserve!

SURGICAL CONSULTATION

Dr. Walesby is dedicated to spending time with you and your companion. Dr. Walesby is both available and approachable and encourages open communication. Each appointment begins with listening to you and your companion’s history. Dr. Walesby will obtain a thorough history and once your companion has had time to acclimate to the surroundings, she will perform a complete physical exam. Based on her assessment and decades of clinical experience, Dr. Walesby will make a diagnosis. She will then educate and guide you through the decision making process. She wants to be sure that you understand your options, the available procedures, the prognosis and after-care associated with each option.

Occasionally, additional diagnostics may be recommended to enhance or confirm our diagnosis. Many of these diagnostics (radiographs, blood work) can be performed in-house, at the time of your consult. Maryland Veterinary Surgical Services is equipped with digital radiography, and often times we are able to obtain high quality digital radiographs at the time of evaluation without the need for sedation. The radiographs are reviewed by Dr. Walesby at the time of your appointment.

FASTING

Fasting is required for new appointments planning to have surgical procedures performed the same day. Food should be withheld for 12 hours prior to the scheduled appointment. Typically, this means no food or treats after midnight the night before your appointment. Water should be withheld 6 hours prior to surgery. Best timing for this is to pull any water sources up in the morning by 6:00 am the day of your surgical appointment. Fasting is critical to preventing complications associated with anesthesia and anesthetic recovery. Food and water in the stomach can impair your companion’s ability to breathe under anesthesia. In recovery, food and water can move from the stomach into the mouth resulting in aspiration pneumonia. Fasting is needed to keep your companion safe.

MEDICAL RECORDS

Please bring all pertinent medical history to the consultation, including information about medications, previous laboratory results and radiographs (x-rays). This information can be faxed or emailed by your referring veterinarian prior to your appointment, or you may bring them with you. We recommend calling your referring veterinarian’s office the day prior to your visit at the Maryland Veterinary Surgical Services to confirm that all available radiographs, lab work, and pertinent medical records have been sent to our office. If you are unable to contact your primary care veterinarian, then please let us know so that we may contact them to obtain your companion’s medical records and communicate with them at the time of the consultation.

YOUR COMPANION’S OVERNIGHT

You may leave personal items with your companion. Please make sure that the items are well marked. Please realize that clothing and bedding can become soiled especially during recovery from anesthesia. We will wash the soiled items, but this can sometime result in loss of the item. The staff at Maryland Veterinary Surgical Services will make every attempt, but cannot guarantee, that personal items will be returned to you at the time of discharge.

While hospitalized, your companion will receive Science Diet canned turkey and rice. Many of our patients have specific dietary needs and food allergies. If your companion has special dietary needs, then please be sure to provide this diet at the time of admission to Maryland Veterinary Surgical Services. Please bring any medications your companion is currently receiving, as well as a brief note regarding the dose and frequency that the medications are to be given.

HOSPITALIZATION

Our hospital is staffed by a dedicated and compassionate team of highly trained technicians. Each patient is continuously monitored and handled with the utmost care and devotion. Maryland Veterinary Surgical Services has veterinary technician on staff overnight to attend to each patient during their hospital stay.

UPDATES DURING HOSPITALIZATION

The telephones are staffed from 7:00 am until 5:00 pm, Monday through Wednesday and 7:00 am until 12:30 pm Thursday. You will be called prior to anesthesia and once your companion has recovered from anesthesia. Dr. Walesby will call in the evening on the day of the surgery to review surgical findings and answer any questions you may have. You will be called each day your companion is hospitalized with a progress report. Please feel free to call and check on your companion during the day. The overnight technician will answer the phone as her schedule allows. She can provide updates and answer questions. During the weekend, Dr. Walesby will return voicemail messages regarding existing surgical patients.

DISCHARGE APPOINTMENT

When your companion is ready to be discharged, the receptionists will set up a discharge appointment for you. Your companion will have been fed, walked, and have had a full physical examination with Dr. Walesby prior to the discharge appointment. The discharge appointment will be with a veterinary technician. The technician will review the home-care instructions and answer any questions that you may have. Although Dr. Walesby will not be meeting with you at the time of discharge, please feel free to call and speak with her if you have a question or concern about your companion.

You are not alone after the discharge. The overnight technician will answer calls and questions regarding your companion Monday through Wednesday. The receptionist is available during the day to address your at-home needs and can relay questions to Dr. Walesby. Dr. Walesby will return voicemail regarding your post-operative questions throughout the weekends and holidays. Our entire team is dedicated to ensuring that you and your companion have our support in all aspects before and after surgery.

After the surgery and post-operative period, your companion’s care should be continued by your primary care veterinarian. After your initial visit and during hospitalization, Dr. Walesby will be in close contact with your primary care veterinarian and will mail them a detailed report for your companion’s medical record.

RECHECK APPOINTMENTS

Some companions will require periodic recheck appointments at the Maryland Veterinary Surgical Services following their initial surgery. This is especially true for companions requiring orthopedic surgery, such as a torn cruciate ligament (CCL) or repair of a broken bone. The cost of your recheck visits is included in the original estimate for surgery. Any additional costs will be discussed at the time of the original estimate. If rechecks are required, we will let you know.