Dog & Cat HospitalCalabasas

Care

Surgery

From routine spays to advanced orthopedic and soft-tissue procedures — surgical care led by a board-certified surgeon, with full anesthetic monitoring at every step.

Surgery at Dog & Cat Hospital Calabasas spans everyday procedures and complex referral-level operations, all under one roof. Our team is led by Dr. Alan Schulman, a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) — board-certified expertise that most general practices have to refer out. Whether your pet needs a spay, a mass removed, or an advanced orthopedic repair like a TPLO, we pair surgical skill with modern anesthesia, dedicated monitoring, and a comfortable, family-owned environment.

What's Included

Our surgical services cover a broad range of soft-tissue and orthopedic needs:

  • Routine procedures — spay, neuter, mass and lump removal, dental surgery
  • Orthopedic surgery — cruciate repair (TPLO), fracture repair, FHO, patella and hip procedures
  • Abdominal & GI surgery — foreign-body removal, bloat (GDV) surgery, splenectomy, exploratory surgery
  • Urogenital, oncologic, endocrine, airway, and ophthalmic procedures
  • Emergency and referral surgeries that many practices can't perform on-site

Talk to us about your pet's surgery

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What to Expect

Every surgery begins with a consultation, a physical exam, and pre-anesthetic bloodwork so we can tailor anesthesia to your pet. During the procedure, a dedicated team member monitors vital signs continuously, and we use multimodal pain control to keep your pet comfortable before, during, and after surgery. You'll go home with clear written aftercare instructions, medications, and a direct line to us for questions — plus scheduled rechecks to confirm healing is on track.

Why Our Team

Board-certified surgeon.

Dr. Schulman is an ACVS Diplomate, bringing referral-level orthopedic and soft-tissue expertise in-house.

Anesthesia done right.

Pre-surgical screening, individualized protocols, and continuous monitoring keep procedures as safe as possible.

Pain managed proactively.

Multimodal pain control means a more comfortable pet and a smoother recovery.

Continuity of care.

The same family-owned team that knows your pet handles diagnosis, surgery, and follow-up — no shuffling between facilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

1Is my pet a good candidate for anesthesia?
We assess every patient individually with a physical exam and pre-anesthetic bloodwork, then tailor the anesthetic plan to their age and health. Continuous monitoring during surgery makes modern anesthesia very safe, including for many senior pets.
2Do you handle advanced surgeries or only routine ones?
Both. Alongside spays, neuters, and mass removals, our board-certified surgeon performs advanced orthopedic, soft-tissue, and other referral-level procedures on-site that many general practices refer elsewhere.
3How do you manage my pet's pain?
We use multimodal pain control — combining medications that work in different ways — beginning before surgery and continuing through recovery, so your pet stays comfortable at every stage.
4Will I get aftercare instructions?
Yes. You'll go home with written instructions, any needed medications, and a way to reach us with questions, plus scheduled recheck visits to confirm your pet is healing well.
5Does my pet need a referral for surgery?
No referral is required to schedule a surgical consultation with us. If you were referred by another veterinarian, we're happy to coordinate care and share records.
6How much does pet surgery cost?
It depends entirely on the procedure, your pet's size, anesthesia time, and any imaging or aftercare. We provide a written estimate at the consultation before anything is scheduled, so you can plan with confidence.
7Is it safe to put my senior pet under anesthesia?
For most healthy seniors, yes. We screen every patient with an exam and pre-anesthetic bloodwork, tailor the protocol to their age and health, and monitor vital signs continuously — which makes modern anesthesia very safe even for older pets.
8How long will my pet stay at the hospital after surgery?
Many routine procedures are same-day discharge once your pet is fully recovered from anesthesia; more involved surgeries may need a night of monitored hospitalization. We'll tell you the expected timeline at the consultation.

Related

ProceduresTibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO)ProceduresSpay & NeuterProceduresExcisional Biopsy & Mass Removal

Talk to us about your pet's surgery

Schedule a surgical consultation and we'll walk you through the recommended procedure, anesthesia safety, and what recovery looks like.

Book an Appointment