Chesapeake Veterinary Surgical Specialists

What Chesapeake Veterinary Surgical Specialists does

Chesapeake Veterinary Surgical Specialists (CVSS) is a private veterinary surgical specialty referral practice founded in 1992 in Annapolis, Maryland, and operating three locations across the Mid-Atlantic (Annapolis, Hunt Valley/Cockeysville, and Columbia). The practice provides advanced small-animal surgery exclusively for dogs and cats referred by primary-care veterinarians, with no routine or primary care services offered. Surgical capabilities span orthopedic (TPLO, TTA, total hip replacement, fracture fixation), soft tissue, cardiac and thoracic, neurologic, oncologic, and minimally invasive (laparoscopic, thoracoscopic, arthroscopic) procedures, all performed by nine ACVS board-certified or board-eligible staff surgeons supported by three surgical residents, registered veterinary technicians, and ICU staff.

The technology stack consists of clinical specialty equipment rather than proprietary software: on-site CT and MRI imaging at Towson/Annapolis, minimally invasive surgical platforms, an underwater treadmill, cold laser therapy, therapeutic ultrasound, dry needling, and a hyperbaric oxygen chamber housed in a 46,000 sq ft Cockeysville facility opened in 2023. The firm is co-located within the Chesapeake Veterinary Referral Center (CVRC) coalition alongside cardiology, oncology, neurology, ophthalmology, radiology, and radiation oncology, enabling cross-specialty case management. The rVetLink web portal, CareCredit financing integration, and SurveyMonkey-based client feedback round out the digital infrastructure.

CVSS generates revenue on a quote-based, pay-as-you-go model through one-time procedure fees plus ancillary charges for hospitalization, ICU monitoring, rehabilitation sessions, and PennHIP/OFA certifications; pricing is not publicly disclosed and CareCredit is accepted at all three locations. Patient acquisition is referral-driven from primary-care and emergency veterinarians across Maryland, Washington DC, Delaware, and Southern Pennsylvania, rather than direct-to-consumer. The practice runs an internship program (since 2000) and a three-year surgical residency (since 2002) with a 100% ACVS board-certification success rate, functioning as a self-replenishing talent pipeline. Ownership is held by founding surgeon Dr. Joseph M. Prostredny and co-owner Dr. Richard C. F. Burgess (since 2015), with Dr. Krista L. Evans serving as CVRC administrator and surgical director.

Name

Chesapeake Veterinary Surgical Specialists

Legal name

Chesapeake Veterinary Surgical Specialists

Website

https://cvssvets.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chesapeake Veterinary Surgical Specialists is a private, referral-only veterinary surgical specialty practice operating three Mid-Atlantic locations (Annapolis, Hunt Valley/Cockeysville, Columbia), delivering advanced orthopedic, soft tissue, cardiac, neurologic, oncologic, and minimally invasive surgery for dogs and cats referred by primary-care veterinarians.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veterinary Specialty Surgical Services

NAICS

Veterinary Services (54194), Veterinary Services (541940), Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals (622310)

SIC

Services-Hospitals (8060), Services-General Medical & Surgical Hospitals, Nec (8062), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterinary Specialty Referral Hospitals (Multi-specialty) (HLAMACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Veterinary Surgery Centers (Soft Tissue/Orthopedic/Neuro) (HLAMACAC), Veterinary Internal Medicine & Oncology Centers (HLAMACAD), Veterinary Cardiology & Respiratory Specialty Centers (HLAMACAE), Veterinary Specialty Imaging Centers (CT/MRI/Advanced Imaging) (HLAMACAL)

Keywords

• Veterinary surgical services
• Pet orthopedic surgery
• Pet rehabilitation therapy
• Veterinary specialty referrals
• Animal hospital services

Headquarters

HQ city

Annapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Veterinary Surgical Procedures: CVSS generates revenue primarily through fees for advanced veterinary surgical procedures performed on dogs and cats. These include orthopedic surgery (TPLO, TTA, hip replacement, fracture fixation), soft tissue surgery (gastrointestinal, urogenital, head and neck), cardiac/thoracic surgery, neurologic surgery, oncologic surgery, and minimally invasive/laparoscopic procedures. Revenue is procedure-based and one-time per case, with additional charges for hospitalization, medications, and post-operative care.
2. Canine and Feline Rehabilitation Services: Rehabilitation services including underwater treadmill sessions, therapeutic ultrasound, cold laser therapy, phonophoresis, and dry needling. Initial rehabilitation visits include a full assessment with muscle and joint measurements followed by individualized treatment plans. Revenue is per-session or per-treatment, typically as follow-up to surgical procedures.
3. PennHIP and OFA Certification Services: PennHIP and OFA radiographic certification services for canine hip dysplasia evaluation. PennHIP is offered at the Hunt Valley location. Fees are charged per certification/radiographic assessment.
4. Hospitalization and Post-Surgical Care: Revenue from overnight hospitalization, 24-hour ICU care, dedicated nurse anesthetist monitoring, suture removal appointments, bandage changes, recheck x-rays, sedation, labwork, and additional medication administration during recovery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Chesapeake Veterinary Surgical Specialists is a referral-only veterinary surgical specialty practice providing advanced surgical procedures (orthopedic, soft tissue, cardiac, neurologic, oncologic, and minimally invasive) and comprehensive rehabilitation therapy for dogs and cats across three Mid-Atlantic locations. Services are delivered by ACVS board-certified surgeons with onsite advanced imaging (CT, MRI), minimally invasive surgical platforms, and full post-operative rehabilitation including underwater treadmill hydrotherapy and cold laser therapy. The practice operates within the Chesapeake Veterinary Referral Center (CVRC) network and accepts PennHIP and OFA hip dysplasia certification cases.

Product overview

Chesapeake Veterinary Surgical Specialists (CVSS) is a veterinary surgical specialty practice offering a comprehensive portfolio of advanced surgical and rehabilitation services for dogs and cats. The core offering is Surgical Services encompassing cardiac surgery, neurologic surgery, minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopy/thoracoscopy), oncologic surgery, orthopedic surgery, and soft tissue surgery—all performed by board-certified veterinary surgeons. This is complemented by Pet Rehabilitation services including underwater treadmill hydrotherapy, cold laser therapy, therapeutic ultrasound, dry needling, and phonophoresis. Additional offerings include PennHIP and OFA certification for hip dysplasia evaluation, plus educational programs through their Internship and Surgical Residency programs. The practice operates three locations (Annapolis, Hunt Valley/Cockeysville, Columbia) as part of the Chesapeake Veterinary Referral Center network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Veterinary Surgical Services Comprehensive advanced surgical specialty care for dogs and cats performed by ACVS board-certified veterinary surgeons, including orthopedic, soft tissue, cardiac, neurologic, oncologic, and minimally invasive (laparoscopic/thoracoscopic/arthroscopic) surgical procedures. Services are available only via referral from primary care veterinarians.
• Cardiac Surgery for Dogs and Cats Surgical repair of congenital heart defects, acquired cardiac diseases, heart-based tumors, patent ductus arteriosis, pericardectomy, persistent right aortic arch repair, and other cardiac procedures in dogs and cats, performed in collaboration with CVCA Cardiac Care for Pets.
• Neurologic Surgery Surgical treatment for diseases and defects of the spinal cord and brain in dogs and cats, including hemilaminectomy, ventral slot, dorsal laminectomy, atlanto-axial subluxation repair, spinal fracture repair, and intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) correction, supported by onsite MRI capabilities.
• Minimally Invasive Surgery (Laparoscopic and Thoracoscopic) Laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgical procedures using specialized equipment and cameras to minimize body trauma, reduce pain, decrease blood loss, lower infection risk, shorten anesthesia time, minimize scarring, and accelerate recovery compared with traditional open surgery.
• Oncologic Surgery Tumor removal surgeries for adrenal gland, cervical, gastrointestinal, hepatic, mammary gland, mast cell, ocular, osteosarcoma, rectal/anal, soft tissue sarcomas, splenic, thoracic, and urogenital cancers in dogs and cats, complemented by co-located radiation oncology.
• Orthopedic Surgery Full-spectrum orthopedic surgery for musculoskeletal conditions in dogs and cats, including TPLO and TTA for cruciate ligament disease, extracapsular stifle stabilization, arthroscopy for OCD and joint diseases, fracture fixation (internal and external fixators), total hip replacement, femoral head osteotomy (FHO), patella luxation repair, elbow dysplasia correction, joint replacements, limb deformity correction, and amputations.
• Soft Tissue Surgery Advanced soft tissue surgeries for dogs and cats, including laparoscopic procedures, mastectomy, amputations, mass removals, gastrointestinal surgery, hepatic surgery, liver shunts, cholecystectomy, splenectomy, urogenital procedures, and head/neck surgeries.
• Pet Rehabilitation Services Comprehensive canine and feline physical rehabilitation including underwater treadmill hydrotherapy, cold laser therapy, therapeutic ultrasound, phonophoresis, dry needling therapy, neuromuscular stimulation (NMES), and individualized home exercise programs, staffed by certified therapists.
• PennHIP Certification Radiographic hip dysplasia evaluation using the University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program (PennHIP) method, measuring canine hip joint laxity and providing screening for breeding and diagnostic purposes from 16 weeks of age; offered at the Hunt Valley/Cockeysville location.
• OFA Hip Certification Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) certification for canine hip dysplasia evaluation, available for dogs 24 months or older with radiographs graded by three veterinary radiologists into seven categories for breeding and diagnostic screening.
• Surgical Residency Program Three-year postgraduate surgical training program offering up to two residency positions per year, preparing candidates for American College of Veterinary Surgeons board certification. 100% of completing residents have achieved ACVS board certification since the program began in 2002.
• Surgical Internship Program Surgical internship program admitting up to three interns per year to develop clinical skills, surgical knowledge, and anatomy expertise, preparing candidates for surgical residency.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of CVSS residency graduates achieve ACVS board certification
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Chesapeake Veterinary Referral Center (CVRC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1993CVRC is the parent/co-founder organization of CVSS. CVSS was founded in 1992 as a component of CVRC, and in 1993 CVSS founders Dr. Prostredny and Dr. Evans initiated the formation of CVRC with multiple specialty referral practices and emergency care. CVRC is a coalition of veterinary specialists offering cardiology, emergency, internal medicine, oncology, neurology, ophthalmology, rehabilitation, radiology, radiation therapy, and surgery across the same physical locations as CVSS.
• rVetLinkcoreTechnology or IntegrationrVetLink is a digital portal service that creates a connection between CVSS hospitals and referring veterinary hospitals, enabling free and automatic exchange of patient information. While CVSS uses this third-party platform, the service requires registration by referring veterinarians and facilitates the referral workflow.
• CVCA Cardiac Care for PetscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCVSS collaborates closely with CVCA Cardiac Care for Pets at all three Maryland locations for cardiac surgery cases. Pets may be referred to CVSS for cardiac/thoracic surgery following evaluation by a CVCA veterinary cardiologist.
• Anne Arundel Veterinary Emergency Clinic (AAVEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAVEC is a co-located 24-hour emergency care facility at the Annapolis CVSS location. Emergency patients may be transferred to CVSS for surgical care. AAVEC provides overnight monitoring for CVSS post-surgical patients between 6pm-8am Monday-Thursday and weekends from 6pm Friday to 8am Monday.
• Pet+E.R. (Towson and Columbia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPet+E.R. is a co-located 24-hour emergency care facility at CVSS's Hunt Valley/Towson and Columbia locations. Emergency patients may be transferred to CVSS for surgical care. Pet+E.R. provides overnight monitoring for CVSS post-surgical patients at the Hunt Valley location.
• Compass Neurology & ImagingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompass Neurology & Imaging is a co-located specialist at CVRC/CVSS locations, providing neurology and imaging services that complement CVSS's neurologic surgery offerings.
• Anne Arundel Veterinary Emergency Clinic (AAVEC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAVEC is an emergency and critical care practice co-located at the Annapolis CVSS/CVRC location, providing 24-hour emergency services that support CVSS's surgical practice.
• Veterinary Oncology (AVIM)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAVIM veterinary oncology is a co-located specialist at CVRC/CVSS, providing cancer treatment services that complement CVSS's oncologic surgery procedures.
• Eye Care for AnimalsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEye Care for Animals is a co-located ophthalmology specialist at CVRC/CVSS, providing specialized eye care that may complement surgical procedures involving the head and neck region.
• Veterinary Neurology of ChesapeakemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeterinary Neurology of Chesapeake is a co-located neurology practice at CVRC/CVSS that works alongside CVSS for neurologic surgical cases.
• VROC (Veterinary Radiation Oncology of Chesapeake)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVROC provides radiation oncology services co-located at CVRC/CVSS, supporting cancer treatment plans that may follow oncologic surgery performed by CVSS.
• American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS)coreOthersCVSS surgeons are board-certified or board-eligible by ACVS. All staff surgeons hold diplomate status or are in the process of obtaining it. The ACVS certification is the primary professional credential for veterinary surgeons.
• American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)minorOthersCVSS surgeons hold individual memberships in the American Veterinary Medical Association, a professional organization representing veterinarians in the United States.
• Maryland Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA)minorOthersCVSS surgeons hold individual memberships in the Maryland Veterinary Medical Association, the state-level professional organization for veterinarians in Maryland.
• BBB (Better Business Bureau)minorOthersCVSS is a BBB Accredited Business (Chesapeake Veterinary Surgical Specialists, BBB Accredited since on or before 2024, located in Annapolis, MD).
• CareCredit (Synchrony Bank)majorOthersCVSS accepts CareCredit healthcare financing credit cards at Annapolis, Columbia, and Towson locations as a payment option for pet owners to manage the cost of veterinary surgical procedures over time.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCQ_TqCOdkL7_-vshDP7fhdw
• Facebookfacebook.com/cvssvets
• Instagraminstagram.com/cvss_rehab
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chesapeake-veterinary-surgical-specialists-llc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chesapeake Veterinary Surgical Specialists