717-599-6131 info@hrvss.com
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Harrisburg Regional Veterinary Surgical Specialty
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Graceful Giants: Discovering Giraffes in South Africa

Graceful Giants: Discovering Giraffes in South Africa

by Harrisburg Regional Veterinary Surgical Specialty | Apr 2, 2025 | Blog

I was very fortunate to recently visit South Africa and Zimbabwe after a veterinary conference. Since 100% of the pet owners we meet are animal lovers, I thought I would share some information and pictures about his incredible trip. South Africa, a land renowned for...
Why Willie needed surgery for a deranged knee

Why Willie needed surgery for a deranged knee

by Harrisburg Regional Veterinary Surgical Specialty | Mar 5, 2025 | Blog

Willie, a 12-year-old kitty, was limping on his left back leg after trauma of unknown origin. His owner explains: “That evening, Willie didn’t come home at his usual time. I had a bad feeling, so I tracked him down with the radio-tracking device fitted to his collar....
South Africa’s Rhinoceros: massive yet endangered

South Africa’s Rhinoceros: massive yet endangered

by Harrisburg Regional Veterinary Surgical Specialty | Feb 4, 2025 | Blog

I was very fortunate to recently visit South Africa and Zimbabwe after a veterinary conference. Since 100% of the pet owners we meet are animal lovers, I thought I would share some information and pictures about his incredible trip. In the heart of South Africa and...
Chewy’s screw tail surgery, from “very bad” to “great energy”

Chewy’s screw tail surgery, from “very bad” to “great energy”

by Harrisburg Regional Veterinary Surgical Specialty | Jan 7, 2025 | Blog

Chewy, a 3 year old Bulldog, was in a strange situation. He also had a strange condition: a “screw tail.” What is that? Also called corkscrew tail, ingrown tail or tail fold dermatitis, it involves a convoluted, infected, smelly, and painful skin fold around the tail....
5 (more) important questions about postop care

5 (more) important questions about postop care

by Harrisburg Regional Veterinary Surgical Specialty | Oct 9, 2024 | Blog

← 5 important questions about postop care This week we share answers to 5 more common questions you should know about if your dog or your cat is having surgery. 1. It’s OK to let my pet lick the sutures, right? Of course not! Pets, not knowing any better, have a...
5 important questions about postop care

5 important questions about postop care

by Harrisburg Regional Veterinary Surgical Specialty | Aug 6, 2024 | Blog

Whether your cat or your dog has a minor lump removal or major surgery, there are some basic things you should know. After your pet has surgery, the surgeon & nurse team will answer many of your questions spontaneously. Still, it is useful to know what to expect...
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20 Questions to Ask Before Your Pet’s Surgery

Trusting your vet or a surgeon with doing surgery on your beloved pet is not as easy as it sounds. It requires a lot of trust.
To help you establish that trust, here are some questions I feel are reasonable to ask your vet or your surgeon.

  • Are you a board-certified surgeon, i.e. a true specialist?
  • What’s my pet’s exact diagnosis?
  • What are ALL of the treatment options?
  • What is the name of the specific surgery you recommend?
  • What is the purpose of the surgery?
  • Why do you think this surgery is a better option than the other ones?
  • Is my pet a good candidate for this surgery?
  • Who is the best person to do the surgery?
  • How many of these surgeries have you done in your career?
  • How many of them have you done in the last year?
  • What are the possible risks and complications?
  • How common are they in general? How about in your hands?
  • What is your success rate?
  • Are there additional tests required before surgery?
  • How will my pet be monitored during and especially after surgery?
  • How long will the surgery take, and how long will my pet need to stay at the clinic?
  • If there is an overnight stay, who will supervise my pet?
  • How will pain be assessed and addressed?
  • How long will it take for my pet to fully recover?
  • What are the postop care instructions and restrictions?
Even though this list looks long, and seems like it would take hours to answer, a good surgeon should answer many of these questions during the consultation anyway.

So check those questions off as they go, and ask the remaining questions after that.

It’s critical to have open and transparent communication with your surgeon to ensure you make an informed decision about your pet’s surgery.

If you would like to learn how we can help your pet with safe surgery and anesthesia, please contact us using the button below

Contact Us

We help your pet get back to feeling their best.

Privately owned Harrisburg Regional Veterinary Surgical Specialty is the first and only local veterinary surgery center in the Harrisburg area. We partner with your family vet to provide your pet with surgical expertise in orthopedic, “soft tissue” and cancer surgery. All we do is surgery!

We proudly serve pets in Pennsylvania (Dauphin County, York, Lancaster, Lebanon, State College, Reading, Wilkes-Barre & Scranton, Progress, Colonial Park, Hershey, Elizabethtown, Carlisle, Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Stroudsburg, Enola, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg, Good Hope, Camp Hill, Dillsburg, Boiling Springs, York, Gettysburg, Lancaster, Lititz, Middletown), New Jersey (Phillipsburg, Blairstown, Morris Plains, Trenton), New York (Manhattan, Buffalo), Washington DC, Delaware, Maryland (Baltimore, Gaithersburg), West Virginia, Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina, and even Florida!

Need a hotel? We have so many clients from out of town and out of state that we created a list of nearby pet-friendly hotels.
Simply ask for it, so you don't have to reinvent the wheel.

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Location

989 East Park Drive, Suite A
Harrisburg, PA 17111

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Contact Info

P: 717-599-6131
E: info@hrvss.com

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