SurgiPet FAQ

Our veterinary surgery center is veterinarian-owned and operated. Our first priority is to give our pet patients and their parents exceptional care. Because we are independent and own our facility, we can easily and quickly make any necessary changes to ensure your pet’s optimal care and your satisfaction. We also reschedule or delay operations less frequently than a large specialty hospital because we have complete scheduling flexibility.

Small veterinary centers are much more cost-efficient than large specialty hospital facilities. We can provide advanced surgery services to pets and their parents at significant cost savings without sacrificing quality. On average, we can offer 30-50% cost savings.

We will try our best to give you an appointment at a time and date that suits you with the shortest possible waiting time. To find out when the next available appointment is for the service you are interested in, please phone 858.758.0661 or email info@surgipet.com

Appointments can be made by phone at 760.290.8290, by emailing info@surgipet.com, or submitting a contact form – whichever is easiest for you.

Yes. All consultations and surgery appointments (including emergency surgery) must be scheduled with our patient care coordinator.
Please call us at 760.290.8390, send email to info@surgipet.com, or submit a contact form to make an appointment – whichever is easiest for you.

Weekend emergency surgery must be admitted through our Urgent Care Service; please call the center at 858.744.0074 for a quote and instructions.

Unfortunately, we do not offer oral health services or other routine care. However, our anesthesiologist, Dr. Margaret E. Wypart, has partnered with Carlsbad veterinary dental specialist office, Pacific Coast Veterinary Dentistry & Oral Surgery. This partnership created a unique opportunity for older or more fragile pets to receive sophisticated dental care in the safest way possible. While a board-certified dentist takes care of your pet’s dental disease, a board-certified anesthesiologist monitors your pet at all times to provide safe and smooth anesthesia.

We are happy to share your pet’s surgical records upon request. Please provide your family veterinarian information during the registration process. All pertinent medical records will be emailed to your vet’s office within 2 business days..

Surgipet Surgery & Anesthesia Center treats dogs and cats only. We do not see birds, guinea pigs, lizards, or other exotic pets.

Each patient’s situation and treatment plan are unique, so it’s impossible to provide a definitive answer here. However, based on medical records and radiographs, we can generally give a detailed, transparent, all-inclusive quote for the surgery. All pet surgery quotes include pet surgery consultation, pre-operative radiographs, and post-surgery rechecks and radiographs.  Please call 858.758.0661 or email info@surgipet.com to learn more.

Yes, we accept all of the major pet insurance plans.
We are a participating provider of Trupanion Pet Insurance, and we may be able to bill them directly in selected cases.
We also work alongside a range of other insurance companies to make claims quick and easy.

We collect payment for services at admission.
We accept cash and all major credit cards, including CareCredit.

Yes, we provide financing options through CareCredit and Scratchpay.
You can find more details on our Payment & Financing page.

Restlessness and crying/vocalizing are usually an after-effect of the anesthesia. Your pet may feel disoriented or still groggy from the drugs they received during surgery. It is common for these symptoms to last for several hours. We can advise you on which medications may reduce these signs.

The most helpful thing you can do is stay very close to your pet and comfort them as needed. If your pet seems agitated the following day, please get in touch with us for additional help.

It often takes 4-5 days before your pet has its first bowel movement. This is normal as long as your pet isn’t straining or crying when trying to defecate.

Most patients will need to be on a leash, even to go outside to go to the bathroom, for anywhere from 2 to 12 weeks. This means no running, jumping, or playing with dog friends. Your discharge instructions will provide more information.
You can substitute brain games for physical activity. There are great online resources for games you can play at home while your pet is recovering.

Some pets develop loose stool after anesthesia. If your pet is prone to upset stomach or diarrhea, we recommend feeding a bland diet for a few days after surgery. This may also encourage your pet to eat.

A bland diet should consist of 80% carbohydrates, such as white rice, boiled potato without the skin, or reconstituted potato flakes, oatmeal, or pasta.

The remaining 20% should be easily digestible protein like strained meat baby food (e.g., chicken with chicken gravy), low sodium broth, finely chopped chicken or turkey deli meat, or scrambled egg. This will provide just enough taste to make the meal more palatable.

You can warm this in the microwave to bring out the odor and make it seem like something special. Always check the temperature before giving it to your pet. Your pet may also need to be hand fed if they are extra sensitive to change.

It’s best to feed small, frequent meals throughout the day. If you usually feed ½ cup of kibble twice daily, try feeding ¼ cup of bland diet every 6 hours instead.

If your pet has food allergies, let us know, and we can suggest what you can substitute.

In most cases, your pet will return home the same day. Your pet will be discharged fully awake and able to walk unless your pet’s injury prohibits mobility. They will recognize and respond to you.

Here are a few things to consider to help your pet’s recovery process:

•  It is best to arrange to have a responsible adult with your pet for the first 24 hours after surgery.
• Follow all activity restrictions listed on your discharge papers. Complications secondary to excessive explosive activity can be severe and, on occasion, require a second surgery.
• Please provide your pet with a comfortable, quiet place near you to rest.
• Give your pet adequate time to rest and recover. Most pets need 4-5 days to fully recover from the effects of anesthesia and surgery. During this time, they will look tired and have less appetite.
• Always use an E-collar or Lick Sleeve to prevent your pet from damaging the incision and causing infection. E-collars typically must be worn for a full 2 weeks.
• Minimize discomfort by giving pain medication as directed by the surgeon. Use small treats or paste-like foods to help. To avoid nausea, do not give these medicines on an empty stomach.