Specialty Surgery at Bond Vet

We’re thrilled to share that in addition to our standard surgery offering, Bond Vet is proud to introduce Specialty Surgery services in our Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, clinic. We know that wait times for specialty surgeries are skyrocketing (currently in the 4-12 week timeline) in the area, and we are excited to offer our community’s pets and pet parents the surgical services they need.

Read on for more information about specialty surgery and what to expect if it’s recommended for your dog or cat.

Meet Dr. Pavia

Dr. Philippa Pavia is our Director of Medical Excellence and a Board-Certified Surgeon. A New York City native, Dr. Philippa Pavia earned her undergraduate degree at Yale University and attended the University of Pennsylvania for veterinary school. She was happy to come back home to NYC to obtain advanced training, completing a rotating internship followed by a 3-year surgical residency at the Animal Medical Center. She was subsequently board-certified as a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2015.

Before joining Bond Vet, Dr. Pavia accrued years of experience in both clinical and leadership roles — as a specialist surgeon in Manhattan and a Medical Director of a specialty and emergency hospital. Dr. Pavia’s focus is advancing medical quality (with an emphasis on surgical training and outcomes), and she is passionate about making veterinary medicine a sustainable long-term career for vets, nurses, and all members of the hospital team.

Meet Dr. Renee McDougall

Dr. Renee McDougall earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Pennsylvania and her degrees in veterinary medicine (DVM) and public health (MPH) from Cornell University. Following her DVM/MPH, she returned to NYC to pursue advanced training, beginning with a rotating internship at the Animal Medical Center (2016-2017), an orthopedic surgical internship with the Veterinary Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Group (2017-2018), and a surgical residency at the Animal Medical Center (2018-2021).

Over the past year Dr. McDougall has been practicing as a boarded surgeon in New Jersey, not far from her home state of New York.As a surgeon, Dr. McDougall has a special interest in orthopedic and minimally invasive surgery and a passion for using research and teaching to improve population health. With these tools she believes we can build a healthier community with less need for surgeons like her.

What is a board-certified veterinary surgeon?

Much like in human medicine, specialists are clinicians who have undergone additional training after veterinary school. This training consists of a minimum of a 1-year internship followed by a 3-year residency program that meets guidelines established by their national governing body (for surgery, this is the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, or ACVS).

During the residency there are specific training and caseload requirements that must be met. In addition to these requirements, applicants must perform research that is published in a scientific journal and then pass a rigorous test known as the “Board Exam” to be deemed a “Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons.” Dr. Pavia and Dr. McDougall are board-certified surgeons.

When should my pet see a specialist surgeon?

Board-certified surgeons are trained to perform more complex procedures and partner with highly skilled anesthesia nurses, enabling them to care for pets who may have higher risks with surgery and anesthesia.

Specialists act as a resource for your primary veterinarian by providing consultations on difficult or unusual cases. You can also benefit from the close professional network of other specialists with whom they can consult about complex cases.

In addition to a highly trained board-certified surgeon, the Specialty Surgery team is composed of nurses and assistants with particular training and skill sets honed over years in a specialty environment, caring for pets with higher anesthetic risk and performing procedures that are less common and more technically demanding.

Our Specialty Surgery service also has access to state-of-the art surgical and anesthetic equipment that is not commonly available in a general practice setting.

Need a vet? Book a visit.

If I don’t see the specialist, am I not getting the best care for my pet?

For the vast majority of surgical needs, dogs and cats do not need to see a specialist — we are proud to offer Specialty Surgery as an additional service for those pets who need it, but all of our veterinarians and nurses are experienced and qualified to skillfully perform surgery and safely administer anesthesia on your pet.

How do I schedule a special surgery?

Clients can reach out for more information at [email protected], or at bondvet.com/surgery. From there, our surgery concierges guide you through the process of scheduling a consultation with Dr. Pavia, Dr. McDougall, or one of our other highly-qualified general practice veterinarians.

All patients seeing our surgical specialist will have an initial consultation consisting of a detailed physical examination, evaluation of prior medical records, and discussion of the diagnosis, along with recommendations for next steps. A detailed medical note will be generated for you and your primary veterinarian. Our Surgery Concierge will then generate an estimate and schedule the procedure.

The surgeries we offer:

Soft Tissue