Veterinary Surgery in North Bethesda, MD
When a pet needs surgery, the quality of care surrounding the procedure matters as much as the procedure itself. At Veterinary Park Potomac in Potomac, MD, we offer soft tissue surgical services in-house alongside access to visiting board-certified surgeons for more complex procedures, all performed at our facility by a team your pet already knows. For North Bethesda families, that means your pet does not have to be sent somewhere unfamiliar at a time when consistency and comfort matter most.
Veterinary Park Potomac is an independent, owner-operated practice led by Dr. Katie, a University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine graduate with a personal interest in soft tissue surgery and a commitment to honest communication about what care involves and why. Our surgical services reflect Dr. Katie’s founding vision: specialty-level surgical capability delivered inside a community practice that still feels personal and consistent.
Surgical Services Available at Our Practice
Soft Tissue Surgery
Soft tissue surgery covers procedures involving the skin, muscles, and internal organs, distinct from orthopedic bone work. Dr. Katie performs the following soft tissue procedures in-house:
- Spay and neuter procedures
- Mass and tumor removal, including skin masses and internal growths
- Gastropexy, which permanently attaches the stomach to the abdominal wall to prevent life-threatening bloat, particularly relevant for large and deep-chested breeds
- Soft tissue surgery for a range of abdominal and soft tissue concerns
- Pre-surgery consultation and anesthesia services for every procedure
Cruciate Ligament and ACL / TPLO Surgery
Cruciate ligament tears, often called ACL injuries, are among the most common orthopedic problems in dogs. A torn cranial cruciate ligament causes pain, instability, and progressive joint damage if left untreated. For dogs requiring cruciate ligament repair or TPLO surgery, a procedure that stabilizes the knee by modifying the angle of the tibial plateau, we bring visiting board-certified surgeons directly to our facility. Your North Bethesda pet receives specialized orthopedic surgical care on-site, with the support of our full team and equipment throughout the procedure and recovery.
This same model applies to other complex surgical cases that fall outside routine soft tissue scope. Rather than sending you somewhere else entirely, we work to keep your pet’s care anchored here whenever possible.
What Makes Our OR Different
Our operating room is equipped with a vessel sealer, a surgical tool that uses energy to close blood vessels during soft tissue procedures. Vessel sealers are standard in specialty hospitals but uncommon in general practices. Their presence in our OR is a direct result of Dr. Katie’s founding vision: to bring the diagnostic and surgical capability of a specialty facility into a community practice that still feels like home.
Anesthesia safety is central to how we approach every procedure. According to the American Animal Hospital Association, safe anesthesia begins well before the operating table and continues through recovery. We conduct pre-anesthetic bloodwork before every procedure, monitor vital signs continuously throughout, and provide appropriate pain management before, during, and after surgery. While we do not have a board-certified anesthesiologist on staff, our monitoring protocols and equipment reflect the standards that responsible anesthetic care requires.
Why the Quality of Surgical Care Matters
Dr. Katie has this conversation regularly in exam rooms: there is a meaningful difference between surgical care at a full-service practice and what lower-cost spay-neuter or discount clinics offer, and that difference is not arbitrary. It shows up in the pre-surgical bloodwork that identifies risks before a patient is sedated, the continuous anesthesia monitoring that catches complications before they escalate, and the post-operative pain management that shapes how your pet heals. We are not the least expensive option for North Bethesda families. We are the option that treats your pet the way you would want them treated if you could be in the room with them.
Before and After Your Pet’s Surgery
Before any procedure, we conduct a pre-surgical consultation and walk you through the plan in detail. You will know what we are doing, why, and what to expect during recovery before your pet is ever sedated. After surgery, your pet is monitored carefully as they come out of anesthesia. You receive thorough discharge instructions before you leave, and we call the next day to check in. If questions come up during recovery, we are here.
Visit our patients page to learn what to prepare before a surgical appointment. For urgent situations involving established clients, our emergency page has guidance on how to reach us quickly. To learn more about Dr. Katie and our full team, visit our about page.
Schedule a Surgical Consultation
Veterinary Park Potomac is located at 12525 Park Potomac Ave, Bldg G Suite E, Potomac, MD 20854, just minutes from North Bethesda. We serve North Bethesda, Rockville, and surrounding communities with surgical care that is thorough, transparent, and performed by a team your pet already trusts. Our 546 Google reviews at 4.9 stars reflect what that standard looks like in practice. When you are ready to schedule, reach out through our contact form and we will be in touch.
