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Surgery - Clinic Information

Pittsburgh Veterinary Surgical Service was founded in 1993 by Dr. Anthony Pardo, initially as a mobile veterinary surgical service. The practice, later known as Pittsburgh Veterinary Surgery, settled in Shaler Township, PA and became one of the founding practices of Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center. PVSEC Surgery provides specialty care and consultation for surgically related diseases in small animals. Our staff of experienced veterinary surgeons is dedicated to ensuring your pet has a safe, quick and comfortable experience with our practice.

All patients of the surgery practice must be referred by general veterinary practitioners or emergency services. Information from the referring doctor regarding the patient's medical history, previous treatments, lab work and x-rays will be helpful to our surgeons while treating your pet. Your veterinarian will fax or call in the pertinent information (Word Doc) about your pet's condition.

In the case of an emergency outside our regular business hours (Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM), the PVSEC surgeon on-call can be reached by contacting the PVSEC emergency service at 412-366-3400. This is to be used for emergencies only.

Appointments

Once your pet's referral information is sent, you may then call us Monday - Friday between 8:30 AM and 6:00 PM to schedule a consultation appointment. Routine appointments are seen Monday through Friday only. Daytime, evening, and weekend emergencies are accommodated as needed.

Your initial appointment will last approximately 30 minutes. The surgeon will review your pet's clinical history, perform a complete physical examination and review any pertinent x-rays and labwork. Diagnostics and treatment options will be discussed and a written estimate will be provided. If surgery is determined to be the best option, it may be scheduled for that same day or for the surgeon's next available surgery date.

Many pets may require hospitalization. In the event of a hospital stay, please be assured that every effort will be made to make your pet comfortable. PVSEC offers fleece pads, blankets and pillows to provide a comfortable surface for your pet. Cats are provided with litter boxes and dogs are walked outside if appropriate. The hospital is staffed during evenings, weekends, and holidays, guaranteeing your pet will never be without supervision and care.

Hospital visits and calls should be made during the hours of 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM unless otherwise discussed with our staff. Please do not contact the PVSEC Emergency staff during off-hours for information about your pet. All communication must be done through the PVSEC Surgery doctors and staff.

HOURS: Monday through Friday 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Visiting Hours: Monday through Friday 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Surgery Drop-Off Instructions

Pre-Surgical instructions for clients
Please follow these instructions when preparing to bring your pet in for surgery. You may download this page and fill in the appropriate information and bring it with you so that our staff will be best prepared for the care of your pet during his or her stay in the hospital.

Pre-operative instructions:

  1. Unless otherwise instructed, do not feed your pet for 12 hours prior to drop off time. Do not take away water until 2 hours before you come in to the office.
  2. If your pet is taking aspirin, please stop at least 5 days before the day of surgery.
  3. In the case of other medications, please call our office if you are not sure whether to give them the morning of surgery. Do not give any medications with food that morning.
  4. Bring any chronic medications that your pet takes regularly. For example, thyroid medication, Phenobarbital, KBr, Insulin, etc.
  5. Bring any special diets that your pet is eating. We may not have these in stock.
  6. Please do not bring blankets, towels or other personal items. We have plenty of comfortable blankets and quilts for your pet's cage or run. Any personal items may get soiled and will most likely get misplaced in the wash process.
  7. Bring any x-rays and medical records that your regular veterinarian has sent with you.
  8. The surgeon or surgical technician will call you after surgery is complete.
  9. A veterinary technician will call you between 9:00 and 10:00 AM the morning after your pet's surgery to give an update and potentially schedule a discharge time in the afternoon.


Fees

Consultations and appointments with PVSEC Surgery require a deposit at the time of admission for treatment. Full payment will be due at the time of your pet's discharge. We welcome cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express or Care Credit.