Question 1

What is a travel or mobile veterinary surgeon?

Accepted Answer

A surgeon who comes to your pet rather than the other way around. Instead of transferring your pet to a large referral hospital, Dr. Lombardi brings the surgical equipment and expertise to your own veterinarian’s hospital — or performs the procedure at the surgery center in Lake Grove when that setting suits the case better. Your veterinarian stays in charge of your pet’s overall care throughout.

Question 2

How does my pet get scheduled for surgery?

Accepted Answer

Through your veterinarian. They examine your pet, decide surgery is the right step, and send the case over with the bloodwork and imaging already done. Surgery is not put on the schedule until that groundwork is complete — it is what keeps anesthesia safe and the surgical plan accurate.

Question 3

What testing does my pet need beforehand?

Accepted Answer

At minimum, current bloodwork — chemistry and a CBC — and whatever imaging the case calls for, usually radiographs. Diagnostics should be recent, generally within about a month of the surgery date, so the picture being operated on is the current one.

Question 4

How should I prepare the night before and the morning of?

Accepted Answer

Withhold food after midnight and take up water the morning of surgery, unless your veterinarian gives you different instructions — pets with diabetes and some other conditions are handled differently. Give routine medications the morning of unless told otherwise, with a small treat if that is the only way they go down. Confirm every detail with your veterinary team, since they know your pet’s history.

Question 5

What should I set up at home before surgery day?

Accepted Answer

A quiet, confined recovery space with non-slip footing, away from stairs and jumping-height furniture. For cats, keep the litter box close and consider switching temporarily to a paper or pellet litter. Plan on a second pair of hands for pickup — pets are often groggy and unsteady after anesthesia.

Question 6

Will my pet be in pain afterward?

Accepted Answer

Pain control starts before the first incision, not after. Injectable pain medication is given ahead of the procedure, and for many surgeries a long-acting local anesthetic can provide targeted pain blocking for up to about 72 hours. Your veterinarian sends you home with a medication plan — pain relief, anti-inflammatories, antibiotics or sedatives as the case requires.

Question 7

What does recovery look like?

Accepted Answer

Most pets are groggy the day of surgery and quiet the day after, then start acting more like themselves within a few days. Orthopedic recoveries take longer and come with strict activity limits. The e-collar is not optional — a single session of licking can undo a careful closure.

Question 8

How does payment work?

Accepted Answer

You do not pay the surgical team directly. Your veterinarian’s office handles the estimate and the billing, because they are providing the anesthesia, monitoring, medications and in-house care around the procedure. Some practices ask for a deposit before scheduling — ask yours what to expect.

Question 9

Can I spread the cost over time?

Accepted Answer

Payment plans are available through Cherry, which offers fast approvals, 0% APR options and no hard credit check. Ask your veterinarian’s office how they apply it to your estimate, or call us and we will point you in the right direction.

Question 10

What if my pet needs overnight monitoring?

Accepted Answer

Cases that need advanced monitoring or an inpatient stay are coordinated with trusted 24-hour facilities. The goal is always to match the level of care to what the patient actually needs.

Question 11

How do I refer a case?

Accepted Answer

Submit the case through the new case submission form, or call the practice directly if it is time-sensitive. Include your practice details, the owner’s contact information, patient signalment and weight in kilograms, a case summary and your tentative diagnosis or reason for referral.

Question 12

What records should I send with the referral?

Accepted Answer

The current problem list, relevant history, and current medications with dose and frequency. Attach full bloodwork (chemistry and CBC at minimum), radiographs, ultrasound, and any advanced imaging such as CT, MRI or endoscopy. Send prior surgical reports as PDFs, plus cytology or biopsy results if they have been run.

Question 13

How current does diagnostic work need to be?

Accepted Answer

Bloodwork and imaging should generally be within a month of the planned surgical date. Nothing is scheduled without baseline bloodwork and the imaging the case requires.

Question 14

Where does the surgery happen — my hospital or your center?

Accepted Answer

Either. Mobile cases are performed in your surgical suite with your team providing anesthetic monitoring, which keeps the patient in a familiar environment and keeps the client with you. Cases better served by a dedicated surgical space are done at the center in Lake Grove.

Question 15

What do I need to have ready for a mobile surgery day?

Accepted Answer

A prepared surgical suite and a team member for anesthesia and monitoring. The surgical instrumentation, implants and specialty equipment travel with the surgeon. Confirm fasting instructions with the owner and have the patient’s file and imaging accessible.

Question 16

Who handles the client relationship and billing?

Accepted Answer

You do. Clients are not billed by the surgical team. Your practice provides the estimate, collects payment and manages in-house care — which is what keeps the client relationship, and the follow-up, with you.

Question 17

Who manages post-operative care?

Accepted Answer

You do, with as much or as little support as you want. Dr. Lombardi is glad to make recommendations on post-operative management, including pain medication and antibiotic protocols, and to talk through recheck timing, suture removal and rehabilitation planning.

Question 18

What if a case needs overnight or critical care?

Accepted Answer

Cases requiring advanced monitoring or hospitalization are coordinated with trusted 24-hour facilities so the patient gets the level of support the case demands.

Question 19

The procedure I need is not on your list. Now what?

Accepted Answer

Call. The published list covers what comes through most often, not the limit of what can be done. If it is outside the scope of what should be handled in an outpatient or mobile setting, you will get a straight answer and a sensible referral.

Question 20

Can I request a consultation before committing to surgery?

Accepted Answer

Yes — surgeon-to-surgeon conversations about whether a case is a good candidate, which approach fits, and what the realistic outcome looks like are welcome. Call or send the case through and note that you are looking for a consultation.

Answers for both sides of the referral

Talk to us about your case