Keyboard Accessible Menu

Annapolis
410.224.0121

Hunt Valley
410.828.0911

Scroll to top

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:

aavec
avimo-oncology
acva-cardiac-pet-specialist
eye-specialist-veterinarian
pet-emergency-maryland
veterinary-imaging-partners
veterinary-neurology-specialist
radiology-oncology
Excellent
4.8
Based on 945 reviews
See all reviews
review us on
Charine A.
3 days ago
Surgery for torn ACL. Dr. Fox and team were wonderful. Kept us updated pre and post surgery. This place is awesome! I do however highly recommend getting g pet insurance.
Catherine E.
4 days ago
Excellent care for a critical condition. All doctors and staff or professional.
Response from the owner:It's always a pleasure to serve clients like you and thank you for your kind review. We’re grateful that you trusted our team to care for your pet during such a critical time. Our doctors and staff are dedicated to providing compassionate, professional, and attentive care when pets need it most. We truly appreciate your feedback and the opportunity to support you and your family.
Michelle F.
4 days ago
All the questions we had were answered.
Response from the owner:We’re glad to hear that our team took the time to answer all of your questions and provide the information you needed. Clear communication and making sure pet families feel supported and informed are important parts of the care we provide. We truly appreciate your trust in our team.
Holly R.
4 days ago
Amazing staff and appreciate how wonderful they were with my vet-averse dog! She was the happiest she had ever been at a vet office and the team made everything so easy. I appreciate them answering all my questions and being able to help so quickly with the consult.
Response from the owner:We’re so glad to hear that our team helped make your dog feel comfortable and at ease during her visit. We understand that vet visits can be stressful for some pets, so it’s especially rewarding to know she had such a positive experience. We’re also happy we could answer your questions, provide a timely consultation, and make the process as smooth as possible. Thank you for trusting us with your pet’s care!
William S.
4 days ago
Response from the owner:We’re happy to hear you had a positive experience and appreciate you allowing us to care for your pet. Thank you for the great feedback!
Shy N.
6 days ago
Dr Liu and the staff was just beyond kind to Tesla our beagle. We walked in without an appointment and only waited around 30 minutes which is amazing. The staff was friendly and efficient. Loved that they took care with the urgent needs of some pets before us. Dr Liu explained and took the time to answer our questions. It's a very honest practice, not pushy at all with your pets comfort first. I'll definitely go back.
Response from the owner:We're so glad our team was able to provide prompt attention and make your visit a positive experience. It means a great deal to hear that you felt supported through clear communication, compassionate care, and a focus on your pet's comfort. We also appreciate your understanding of our commitment to prioritizing the most urgent cases while caring for every patient with kindness and respect. Thank you for your recommendation, we look forward to being here whenever you and your pet need us.
Jim L.
1 week ago
Met with the surgeon for our dog. After he examined our dog in a different room, he came and sat down and talked to us and spent the necessary time to help us make a decision. My wife and I both felt comfortable after we left knowing it’s gonna be taken care of properly. Surgery is scheduled for a week out. Full 100% recovery for our black lab. I can not say enough good of how they took care of things. Truly trust them for our family pets
Response from the owner:We’re really glad to hear you felt comfortable and supported after meeting with the surgeon and that he took the time to carefully explain everything and answer your questions. Making decisions about surgery for a pet can be stressful, and it means a lot to know you left feeling confident in the plan and the care your dog will receive. We’ll be here to support you both through the process and wish your dog a smooth surgery and recovery next week. Thank you for sharing your experience.
DL B.
1 week ago
Response from the owner:We’re happy to hear you had a positive experience and appreciate you allowing us to care for your pet. Thank you for the great feedback!
Mark W.
2 weeks ago
Everyone was very pleasant to help with my dog. Really appreciated the information that pertained to her issues.
Response from the owner:We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. We're so glad to hear that our team provided compassionate care and took the time to explain your dog's condition in a way that was helpful and easy to understand. Keeping families informed is an important part of the care we provide, and we're grateful for the opportunity to support you and your dog. Thank you for trusting us with her care.
Eloise H.
2 weeks ago
When we brought Rosco in, his injury had become so stiff and sore he hadn’t moved in over a month. Previous vets had diagnosed it as arthritis. Dr McClain and her incredible worked with us and him to properly diagnose him and while that took a while they also used different therapy techniques to help build back muscle and bring pain relief. Thanks to your team Rosco is back up and running, we can’t thank you enough for bringing him back to life and for your patience to walk us through options and explaining it all to us. While not all cases can end like this, your team is magic.
Response from the owner:We’re so grateful you shared your experience with us. We’re thrilled to hear that your pet is feeling better, moving comfortably, and enjoying life again. We truly appreciate your patience and trust throughout the diagnostic process, and we’re glad our team could provide guidance, pain relief, and supportive care along the way. Helping pets regain their quality of life is incredibly rewarding, and we’re honored to have been part of your pet’s recovery. Thank you for your kind words and for trusting us with your pet’s care!
Paige
2 weeks ago
Update: My dog is 2 months post-op TPLO surgery been doing famously! Dr Burgess and his team are absolutely fantastic. I've gone back for check-ups and x-rays and it is always a pleasant experience. I appreciate, too, that they are quite responsive over email for my many questions. Hands down best surgical veterinarian. -------- I’ve only had my initial consultation visit so far for TPLO surgery for my dog, but it was a wonderful first experience—not only with the surgeon, but also with the front office staff. They spent a lot of time answering my preliminary questions, responded promptly to my emails, and were always professional and courteous on the phone. The entire team was very professional and truly made me feel like they had my dog’s best interests at heart. Unlike some other veterinary specialists I’ve visited, I never felt like they were treating me as just an open checkbook. That meant a lot to me and gave me real confidence in moving forward with them. I’m happy to give them five stars based on this first visit, and I’m hopeful that the level of care and communication continues through the post-operative process.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your thoughtful review and for trusting us with your dog’s care. We’re delighted to hear that your initial consultation experience was a positive one and that our surgeon and front office team made you feel supported, informed, and cared for throughout the process. Providing compassionate care, clear communication, and treatment recommendations that truly prioritize each patient’s well-being is incredibly important to us. Your kind words and confidence in our team mean a great deal, and we look forward to continuing to support you and your dog through a smooth and successful surgical and recovery process.
Javiera K.
3 weeks ago
CVSS was wonderful! We are still working with them to find a path forward for our dogs cancer, but I would recommend this place over and over. They were able to get us seen within a week of our primary vet's referral, and get us in for a CT scan the very next day. We are so lucky to have found this place and to be working with the great care team here.
Response from the owner:We know this is a challenging time, and we're honored that you chose our team to be part of your dog's care. We're glad we could see you quickly and help move the diagnostic process forward without unnecessary delays. Providing timely, compassionate care while working closely with families to determine the best path forward is our priority. Thank you for your trust, your kind recommendation, and for allowing us to be part of your pet's care journey. We’re wishing you and your dog all the best as you continue treatment together.
Vincenzo I.
3 weeks ago
Response from the owner:We’re happy to hear you had a positive experience and appreciate you allowing us to care for your pet. Thank you for the great feedback!
Terri P.
3 weeks ago
I have one word to say and that's Exceptional from every single staff member from start to finish. Our 4 yr old Rottie is very fearful and they went above and beyond to make sure her stress level remained low. I just can't say enough good things. It's been a pleasant experience. Don't hesitate, especially if you have a dog that is fearful. This is the place and the only place I would recommend! And thank you Dr. Boszko and your amazing team for all the love and care everyone gave to our special girl, Frankie
Response from the owner:We’re truly grateful for your kind words and for trusting our team with your special companion. We understand that visits can be especially stressful for fearful pets, and we’re so glad our team was able to provide a calm, compassionate, and supportive environment. Helping pets feel safe and comfortable while receiving the care they need is incredibly important to us. We appreciate your recommendation and will be sure to share your wonderful feedback with our team. Thank you for allowing us to be part of your pet’s care journey.
Jill S.
3 weeks ago
Response from the owner:We’re happy to hear you had a positive experience and appreciate you allowing us to care for your pet. Thank you for the great feedback!
Mary W.
3 weeks ago
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback. We're thrilled to hear about your positive experience at Chesapeake Veterinary Surgical Specialists - Hunt Valley.
Cindy G.
3 weeks ago
We had a third surgery completed for one of our pets this week by Dr. Gauthier. Dr. Gauthier and his staff are very caring, personable, and professional. Because of the detailed information provided during the consultation appointment, the day of surgery is met with confidence that our pets are always in the best hands. With every surgery we have had with Dr. Gauthier, he has always called after the surgery to update us. On the day of release, detailed verbal and written instructions have always been provided for our pets. And as always, we are informed to call if we have any questions or concerns. I highly recommend Chesapeake Veterinary Surgical Specialist, as I have no doubt all the doctors and staff at the facility in Hunt Valley share the same level of excellence.
Response from the owner:We’re so grateful for your continued trust in our team and are honored to have been part of your pets’ care journeys. Providing thorough communication, compassionate support, and detailed guidance before and after procedures is a priority for us, and we’re glad to hear that it has helped you feel confident throughout each experience. We truly appreciate your recommendation and kind words about our team. Thank you for allowing us to care for your beloved companions.
Carolyn T.
3 weeks ago
Every staff member we interacted with was kind, attentive, and patient with us and our dog.
Response from the owner:We’re so glad to hear that our team provided a caring, attentive, and supportive experience for both you and your companion. We understand how important it is for families to feel comfortable and informed, and we truly appreciate your trust in us.
Shaun S.
4 weeks ago
Dr. Moore was quite knowledgeable, and compassionate to my pet Burke and myself. She was pleased with the care we were already rendering to him and gave great recommendations as to the continued care for our 13yo dog. She felt that continued medical management was much more advantageous than surgery that wouldn't really correct his osteoarthritis. I greatly appreciated this advice because we wouldn't want to put our little guy through any unnecessary surgical procedures. We are pleased with the overall care that we received.
Response from the owner:We’re so glad to hear that you felt supported and well informed during your visit. Providing compassionate guidance and helping families make the best decisions for their pets’ individual needs is a priority for our team. We appreciate your trust in our recommendations and are grateful for the opportunity to help support your dog’s comfort and quality of life.
Thomas B.
4 weeks ago
Excellent experience all the way around. We were greeted in a friendly and professional manner by the receptionist staff upon arrival. Gracie was seen quickly and the staff was so sweet and friendly to our dog, they genuinely love animals and it shows. In my experience a lot of places seem to do unnecessary test and procedures to maximize profit. Gracie was there to see if she was going to need hip surgery, and after exam and X-Rays we were told that Gracie would not need surgery. Kaitlyn was just absolutely fantastic, she took great care of Gracie and emailed us information on some of the stuff the Vet recommended for us and even sent us links to the best priced sites to purchase from. Thank you to the entire staff for taking such great care of our dear Gracie and a special shout out to Kaitlyn.
Response from the owner:Your feedback is incredibly valuable, and we sincerely appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. We're thrilled to hear about your excellent experience with Gracie at Chesapeake Veterinary Surgical Specialists - Hunt Valley. We're glad our team's genuine love for animals shone through in their interactions with your dog. We're also pleased that we were able to provide an accurate assessment of Gracie's condition without unnecessary tests or procedures. It's great to hear that Kaitlyn went above and beyond by emailing you information and links to help with the vet's recommendations. We'll be sure to pass along your special shout-out to Kaitlyn and commend the entire staff for their exceptional care. Thank you again for choosing our facility and for your kind words about our team's dedication to animal care.
Accessibility by WAH