About Chesapeake Veterinary Surgical Specialists

about-chesapeake-veterinary-surgical-specialists-maryland

Chesapeake Veterinary Surgical Specialists, formerly Chesapeake Veterinary Referral Surgery (CVRS), was founded in Annapolis in 1992 as a component of the Chesapeake Veterinary Referral Center (CVRC).

The medical staff of Chesapeake Veterinary Surgical Specialists is composed of nine staff surgeons, three surgical residents, surgical interns, Registered Veterinary Technicians, technician assistants, and ICU technicians. All of our staff surgeons are boarded or board-eligible by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Chesapeake Veterinary Surgical Specialists is associated with emergency care facilities that have 24 hour doctor care in our intensive care units at all of our locations:  AAVEC in Annapolis and Pet+E.R. in Hunt Valley.  Our two locations have doctors on premises 24 hours a day to ensure that all of our patients receive the highest quality care.

If you would like to learn more about our practice, see our surgical informational brochure or our pet rehabilitation brochure.

Collaboration with Referral Specialists


Our direct access to a multitude of other veterinary specialists in all three of our locations means that we are able to offer cross-specialty care for the most complex cases. Our practice is co-located within the Chesapeake Veterinary Referral Center, a coalition of board-certified veterinary specialists in the disciplines of emergency medicine and critical care, surgery, canine rehabilitation, internal medicine, oncology, cardiology, eye care, neurology and advanced imaging.

We regularly collaborate with:

Excellent4.8 Based on 844 reviews fromSee all reviews review us onJill S.Jill S. ★★★★★ My husband and I brought our yorkie in to see Dr J for an evalutation We had an outstanding experience at Chesapeake Veterinary Surgical SpecialistsAfter a very thorough examination and x rays , Dr. J diagnosed that our little guy will need TPLO surgery along with MPL repair on both hind legs, and she also discussed using Nocita for extended pain control after surgery. While hearing that your dog needs multiple procedures is overwhelming, Dr. J explained everything so clearly and patiently that we left feeling informed and reassured.She took the time to walk us through the diagnosis, why these procedures are necessary, what the surgical process will involve, and what recovery will look like. She answered every question thoughtfully and never made us feel rushed.What really stood out was her compassion and expertise. She clearly cares deeply about the animals she treats and understands how emotional these decisions can be for pet owners. Our Yorkie was treated with such kindness during the visit.Although facing surgery on both hind legs is scary, we feel confident knowing our dog will be in the hands of such a knowledgeable and caring surgeon.I’m incredibly grateful to Dr. J , Erin and the team at Chesapeake Veterinary Surgical Specialists and would highly recommend them to anyone whose pet needs specialized orthopedic care.Response from the ownerThank you so much for sharing your experience with us. We’re truly glad to hear that your visit felt thorough, supportive, and informative from start to finish. Learning that your pup needs multiple orthopedic procedures can be overwhelming, and it means a great deal to know that the doctor’s clear explanations, patience, and compassion helped you leave feeling confident and reassured. Our team is dedicated to providing thoughtful guidance, gentle handling, and the highest level of care, and we’re grateful that this came through during your appointment. Thank you for your trust and for recommending us so highly. Gary B.Gary B. ★★★★★ Our experience was wonderful, Dr. "P" was great, he was very informative and was willing to address all our questions and we never felt like we were being rushed.Response from the ownerGary, we’re so glad to hear your experience was such a positive one. It’s wonderful that our doctor took the time to explain everything clearly and made sure all your questions were answered without ever feeling rushed. Thank you for sharing your feedback and for trusting our team with your pet’s care. Tiffany T.Tiffany T. ★★★★★ Dr. Moore and the staff are friendly, caring, knowledgeable, and easy to work with! We drive almost 3 hrs each way…that should say a lot about how we feel about the service our pup receives!Response from the ownerDriving nearly three hours each way really speaks volumes, and we’re so honored that you trust us with your pup’s care. It means a lot to hear that our doctor and staff are friendly, caring, and knowledgeable — providing excellent care that makes the trip worthwhile is exactly what we strive for. Thank you for sharing your experience! Narendar K.Narendar K. ★★★★★ I am incredibly grateful to Dr. Burgess for the exceptional care provided to Lava my soulmate rotty. From the first consult through surgery and recovery, everything was handled with professionalism, compassion and expertise. Dr. Burgess explained the procedure clearly, answered all my questions patiently and treated her with genuine kindness. The surgery was a success and the recovery was smooth. I highly recommend Dr. Burgess to anyone looking for a skilled caring veterinary surgeon.Response from the ownerWe’re truly honored to have cared for Lava — she sounds incredibly special, and it means so much that you trusted us with your soulmate. From consultation through surgery and recovery, our goal is always to combine expertise with compassion, and we’re thrilled to hear that you felt supported, informed, and confident every step of the way. Knowing her surgery was a success and that her recovery has been smooth is the best news we could hope for. Thank you for your recommendation and for allowing us to be part of Lava’s journey. Jill B.Jill B. ★★★★★ Outstanding staff and doctors. They are very knowledgeable and helpful with any concerns. My baby Boh had a very extensive surgery and I knew I could trust them from the start after our initial consultation appointment. Dr. Jey and her staff are beyond amazing. Highly recommend!Response from the ownerWe’re honored you trusted us with Boh’s extensive surgery and that you felt confident in the team from your very first consultation. Knowing that our doctors and staff provided knowledgeable, supportive care throughout the process truly means the world to us. Please give your sweet Boh some extra love from all of us! Thank you so much for your kind words and recommendation! Daniel D.Daniel D. ★★★★★ Staff is very professional and personable. They made me feel comfortable that my pet was in good hands during a stressful time.Response from the ownerWe're thrilled to hear that our staff made you feel comfortable during a stressful time. Thank you for sharing your experience with us, Daniel! Diane B.Diane B. ★★★★★ Caring and attentive to my dog's needs. Surgery went smoothly. Updates provided. Flexible to accomodate pick up needs.Response from the ownerThank you for your thoughtful review! We’re so glad to hear that you felt your dog’s needs were met with care and attention, and that the surgery went smoothly. Keeping you updated throughout the process and being flexible with pick-up arrangements are both important parts of the experience we strive to provide. We truly appreciate your trust in our team and your kind words! Christopher C.Christopher C. ★★★★★ Great experience with TPIL surgery for a cruciate tear. My dog recovered in no time and is back to his old self.Response from the ownerWe’re thrilled to hear your dog recovered quickly and is back to his old self after TPLO surgery. We appreciate you trusting us with his care! Thank you for sharing your experience! Dorothy Jo-Ann M.Dorothy Jo-Ann M. ★★★★★ Every step, from making the appointment to the consultation was everything one would want. Excellence at every stepResponse from the ownerIt's always a pleasure to serve clients like you. We’re thrilled to hear that every step—from scheduling to consultation—met your expectations. Excellence in care is what we strive for, and your kind words mean a lot to our team. Thank you for sharing your experience! Patricia S.Patricia S. ★★★★★ they were super nice. Very gentle with Abby.Response from the ownerThank you for your kind words! We’re so glad Abby felt safe and cared for, and that our team could be gentle and compassionate with her. 🐾💙 We appreciate you trusting us with her care! Patti G.Patti G. ★★★★★ The level of care our Italian greyhound received was way beyond anything I expected! Dr. Moore gave our boy exceptional care and the assistants were amazing. They kept in contact twice a day! I was able to go visit the day after his surgery for 15 minutes and that meant the world to me! I highly recommend them. Surgery was preform the very next day after the necessary test were preformed. Thank you to all involved in the care of our boy, Amico!Response from the ownerPatti, thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re so glad Amico received the care he needed and that our team, including Dr. Moore and the assistants, could keep you informed and supported throughout his surgery and recovery. It’s great that you were able to visit him—that connection is so important. We truly appreciate your trust and recommendation. J QJ Q ★★★★★ Very knowledgeable and experienced staff. Very good with the animals. Great communication and options provided. To anyone that has an issue with the price, they need to understand these people are experts in their field. Board certified & no different than a human specialist doctor.Response from the ownerThank you for your thoughtful review and kind words. We’re glad you felt well informed and supported by our knowledgeable team, and we truly appreciate your recognition of the expertise and care that goes into what we do. Your understanding and trust mean a great deal to our staff, and we’re honored to care for your pet. Mary S.Mary S. ★★★★★ Went there w a very sick dog they did a complete work up and sent us to an er vet. They were great!Response from the ownerMary, we’re glad our team could provide a thorough evaluation and guide you to the care your dog needed. Thank you for sharing your experience! Beth M.Beth M. ★★★★★ Our pup had CCL surgery with Dr. Jey. The staff and Doctors were AMAZING! It was never an inconvenience when I called 10 times a day to check on my baby boy. The Doctors called numerous times to check on Apollo when he came home. They also called numerous times just to let me know he was ok and what was going on. I would ABSOLUTELY RECOMMEND Chesapeake Veterinary Services. Dr. Jey and staff get a 110 out of 100 from me.Response from the ownerBeth, thank you so much for this wonderful review! We’re thrilled Apollo’s CCL surgery went well and that our team could provide the support and care you needed throughout his recovery. Checking in and keeping you informed is something we take very seriously, and it means so much to hear that it made a difference. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with the doctor and the entire team—they’ll be over the moon! Apollo is lucky to have such a loving owner. Rebecca H.Rebecca H. ★★★★★ Dr. Minihan preformed orthopedic surgery on my pet following an injury.sustained in an accident, following a stay at the Per ER where my pet also received extraordinary care, Dr Minihan is an extremely skilled surgeon and was able.to save my pet’s limb from amputation. She has been tremendously kind, patient and absolutely available to us during this stressful time. The staff are polite, knowledgeable and efficient , keeping in touch with us even after hours and during the snow storm to ensure that our pet was well taken of. We are so very grateful to Dr. Minihan, as well as the techs and staff who cared for and continue to monitor and care for our boy.Response from the ownerRebecca, We’re so grateful you trusted us with your pet during such a stressful time. Dr. Minihan and our entire team are dedicated to providing skilled, compassionate care, and we’re thrilled we could save your pet’s limb and support you throughout the process. Your kind words about our staff mean so much—thank you for allowing us to care for your boy. Thank you for sharing your experience. Kathy W.Kathy W. ★★★★★ Response from the ownerThank you for the great feedback! We’re happy to hear you had a positive experience at Chesapeake Veterinary Surgical Specialists - Annapolis and appreciate you allowing us to care for your pet. svanzijl1svanzijl1 ★★★★★ Prompt and caring. No complaints. Clean facility , very competent veterinarians.Response from the ownerThank you for your kind words! We’re glad you found our care prompt and compassionate, and that our team and facility met your expectations. Your trust means a lot to us! A C (.A C (. ★★★★★ They took wonderful care of our sick cat and were helpful and transparent in the care they were providing her.Response from the ownerWe’re glad we could provide transparent, compassionate care for your cat during her illness. Your trust and kind words mean a lot to our team. Thank you for sharing your experience. Lauren K.Lauren K. ★★★★★ This is my second experience with this facility in Annapolis. I’ve been very pleased every time. the first time he went in for a neurological MRI for an FCE event. The vet recommended that I spend my money on treatment. . She was sure it was an FCE. My boy was mostly recovered until He started limping and hopping! Evaluated for surgery for the TPLO. Good follow up good updates.Response from the ownerLauren, thank you for sharing your experience and for trusting our Annapolis team with your boy’s care. We’re glad we could provide clear recommendations and thorough follow-up, from his FCE evaluation to his recent TPLO assessment. Our goal is always to provide compassionate, informed care and keep you updated every step of the way. It means a lot to hear that you’ve been pleased with both visits, and we’re grateful to support you and your pup through his recovery journey. Tammy RTammy R ★★★★★ My best friend had to have surgery on his spleen. They were very knowledgeable, compassionate and caring with him. They answered all questions and fully explained all options. They even called several times when we got home to check on him and listen as I was scared or had a million questions. At the worst time they made things not feel as horrible as it is.Response from the ownerTammy, we know how frightening and emotional it can be when a beloved pet needs surgery, and we’re honored you trusted us during such a difficult time. Our team strives to be not only knowledgeable, but truly compassionate and present for both pets and their families. We’re glad we could answer your questions, explain options clearly, and continue to support you once you were home. Please know we’re always here for you and your best friend—wishing him a smooth and continued recovery. Thank you so much for sharing this heartfelt review. js_loader