Dog and Cat Surgery in Silver Spring, MD
Most pets go home the same day. We make sure they're ready before they leave.
Surgery is one of the more stressful things a pet owner faces. Whether the procedure is planned (like a spay or neuter) or more urgent, the questions are usually the same. Is this the right call? Is my pet going to be okay? What happens while they're under anesthesia, and what does recovery look like?
At Layhill Animal Hospital, surgery isn't scheduled until your questions are answered. Dr. Adelman walks through what the procedure involves, what the risks are, what the recovery typically looks like, and what alternatives exist if there are any. The decision to move forward is yours. Nothing gets scheduled until you're ready.
Before Surgery
If a procedure is outside the scope of what Layhill handles in-house, Dr. Adelman will tell you directly and refer you to the right surgeon. We also have relationships with specialty surgeons who can perform your pet’s surgery at Layhill Animal Hospital.
Before surgery, an exam and a conversation come first. Dr. Adelman examines your pet, reviews their history, and determines whether surgery is the right course of action and whether your pet is a good candidate for the procedure.
Pre-surgical bloodwork is standard. It gives us valuable information on the patient’s health prior to the procedure and identifies underlying conditions.
During Surgery
Most pet owners say the hardest part isn't the decision to do surgery. It's the hours in between drop-off and the phone call saying everything went well. At Layhill, your pet is monitored continuously throughout every procedure: ECG, blood pressure, and pulse oximetry from induction through recovery, with a dedicated assistant present the whole time. Most pets go home the same day, once they're fully awake and stable.
After Surgery: What to Expect
After the surgery is complete, Dr. Adelman will call you directly to let you know how the surgery went. Before your pet goes home, Dr. Adelman or a member of the team will go through discharge instructions with you: exercise and activity restrictions, incision care, diet, medications, what to watch for, and when to call. We’ll always call you the day after surgery to check in on how your pet is recovering.
Signs that warrant a call include excessive swelling or redness at the incision site, discharge, your pet not eating by the following day, or anything that seems off. When in doubt, call us!
Procedures Performed at Layhill Animal Hospital
Layhill Animal Hospital performs a range of soft tissue surgeries for dogs and cats, including:
- Spay and neuter
- Mass removal
- Laceration and wound repairs
- Bladder stone removal
- Foreign body removal
- Intestinal biopsy
- Gastropexy
- Splenectomy
For procedures that require specialist-level expertise (complex orthopedic cases, neurological surgery, advanced oncology, etc.) Dr. Adelman will refer you to a different surgeon and help coordinate next steps.
Spay and Neuter
Spaying and neutering are among the most common procedures in general practice. Recommendations on timing have shifted in recent years, particularly for larger dog breeds, and Dr. Adelman will give you a recommendation based on your pet's size, breed, and individual health picture rather than a one-size-fits-all protocol.
The procedure is performed under general anesthesia with full monitoring. Most pets are home the same day and back to normal activity within a week or two.
Mass Removal
Not every mass needs to come out immediately, and not every mass needs to come out at all. When Dr. Adelman finds or is shown a mass, the first step is an assessment: how long has it been there, how fast is it growing, what does it look and feel like. Fine needle aspirate cytology can often give a preliminary picture of what the mass is before any surgical decision is made.
If removal is recommended, Dr. Adelman will explain what the procedure involves, what will be done with the tissue afterward, and what the recovery looks like. If the mass warrants specialist evaluation before or after removal, that conversation happens before anything is scheduled.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Surgery
For most dogs, somewhere between six months and a year is typical, but the right timing depends on breed and size. Large and giant breeds have different considerations than small breeds, and the research on optimal timing has evolved. Dr. Adelman will give you a specific recommendation at your pet's first wellness visit or when you call to discuss it.
Cost varies depending on the size of the dog and what the pre-surgical exam and bloodwork show. We're happy to give you a range when you call.
Talk to us. Layhill works with CareCredit for financing. If a procedure can safely be monitored rather than addressed immediately, Dr. Adelman will tell you that too.
For healthy pets undergoing a properly managed procedure, the risk is low. Pre-surgical bloodwork identifies any conditions that need to be accounted for beforehand. Throughout the procedure, your pet is monitored continuously with ECG, blood pressure, and pulse oximetry. A dedicated assistant watches throughout.
Most dogs and cats are back to normal energy within a day through one to two weeks. The main restriction during that time is limiting activity that could stress the incision..
Not necessarily, and not right away. The first step is an assessment of what it is and how quickly it's changing. Some masses are benign and can be monitored safely. Others warrant removal or biopsy. Dr. Adelman will tell you what he sees and what he recommends, and why.
New clients are welcome at Layhill Animal Hospital. Call (301) 598-7300 or request an appointment online.