Veterinary Referrals
A specialty-surgery partner for your practice.
Specialty surgical support for veterinary professionals seeking evaluation or treatment for their patients. Small Animal Surgical Services works with referring clinics to review each patient's condition, relevant medical history, diagnostic findings, and recommended treatment.
Meet Dr. Mark House, DVM, ACVS-SA
Experienced surgical care, grounded in collaboration.
Dr. House has been a veterinarian since 2004, has performed surgery since 2006, and became a board-certified veterinary surgeon in 2010. His specialty training included 1,300 procedures at a high-volume specialty hospital in Long Island, New York, followed by years of surgical experience in orthopedic and soft-tissue procedures.
For referring veterinarians, the goal is to add specialty surgical experience while keeping communication, continuity of care, and the primary veterinary relationship at the center.
Why should you select Dr. House?
Specialty experience that supports the care you already provide.
Veterinarians have several options when a patient requires surgery. A procedure may be performed within the primary-care practice, a patient may be referred to a larger hospital, or specialty surgical support may be coordinated depending on the case and the needs of the practice and client.
Dr. House’s goal is to help veterinarians and their patients by bringing advanced surgical experience into the treatment conversation while keeping communication and continuity of care at the center.
The goal is simple: provide experienced surgical care while keeping the veterinary team and client connected throughout the patient’s treatment.
A collaborative approach
Primary-care veterinarians know their patients, their histories, and their families. Specialty surgery should add expertise to that relationship, not make it disappear.
- Experienced surgical decision-making
- Clear communication before and after surgery
- Procedure documentation and discharge guidance
- Continued involvement of the primary-care veterinarian
A surgeon with extensive specialty experience.
Dr. Mark House, DVM, ACVS-SA, has been a veterinarian since 2004, has performed surgery since 2006, and became board-certified in 2010. He trained at a high-volume specialty hospital in Long Island, New York, where he completed 1,300 procedures during specialty training.
Board-certified
Dr. House became a board-certified veterinary surgeon in 2010.
High-volume training
His specialty training included 1,300 procedures at a high-volume specialty hospital.
Thousands of TPLOs
He has performed thousands of TPLO surgeries during his surgical career.
Benefits to your practice and clients
Specialty surgery can strengthen the care experience.
The source material emphasizes a team-based model designed to help clients access specialty expertise without losing the relationship they already have with their veterinary practice.
Keep clients connected to your practice
Clients can continue using the veterinary services and established relationship they already know.
Add advanced surgical capability
Specialty surgical support can give a practice another option when a case requires procedures outside its usual scope.
Support the client relationship
Owners receive direct explanations about the procedure, risks, postoperative care, and what to expect next.
Keep the primary veterinarian involved
The referring veterinarian remains part of the patient's broader care plan before and after surgery.
Reduce confusion around the handoff
Clear communication, procedure reports, and relevant records help keep everyone informed.
Keep the focus on animal welfare
The central goal is appropriate surgical care, informed owners, and a coordinated treatment team.
Let's Talk About the Case
To help the SASS team understand why a patient is being referred for surgery or a surgical consultation, please send the records relevant to the presenting condition along with any additional history that may be helpful for patient care.
01 · DISCUSS
Identify the need
Discuss the patient's condition, surgical concern, diagnostics, and whether specialty surgical input may be appropriate.
02 · REVIEW
Review the case
Provide the relevant clinical information so the surgical team can understand the patient and discuss next steps.
03 · PLAN
Coordinate care
Discuss the proposed procedure, alternatives when appropriate, anesthesia considerations, risks, and postoperative expectations.
04 · COMMUNICATE
Continue the handoff
After surgery, the primary-care veterinarian receives appropriate information to support ongoing postoperative care.
Client communication
Clear communication is part of the surgery.
The source material places strong emphasis on keeping owners informed. Before surgery, questions should be answered and consent obtained. After surgery, the owner should understand the findings, outcome, postoperative care, and next steps.
- Explain the planned procedure in understandable terms.
- Discuss other options when requested or appropriate.
- Review anesthesia, surgical risks, and potential complications.
- Explain postoperative care and recovery expectations.
- Answer questions before surgery and communicate findings after surgery.
Communication timeline
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BeforeReview the case, discuss the planned procedure, answer questions, and obtain appropriate consent.
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DuringPerform the planned surgical procedure with attention to the patient’s individual needs.
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AfterCommunicate surgical findings and outcome with the owner and provide relevant postoperative guidance.
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HandoffProvide the procedure report, suggested discharge instructions, and pertinent records for continued care.
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Follow-upThe primary veterinarian resumes or continues primary care during the postoperative period and rechecks as appropriate.
After surgery & records
Make the postoperative handoff clear.
Good record-keeping helps hospital staff provide accurate information and gives the primary-care veterinarian the details needed for ongoing patient care.
Procedure report
A record of the surgical procedure and pertinent findings should be available for the patient's medical record.
Discharge guidance
Suggested discharge instructions and postoperative recommendations help the team and owner understand the recovery plan.
Questions welcome
The source material emphasizes an open line for questions or concerns as the patient progresses through recovery.
Schedule an Appointment
Appointments with Small Animal Surgical Services are scheduled by phone or by an email. Our team can discuss your pet’s situation, answer initial questions, and help determine the appropriate next step for specialty surgical care.
Call or Email Us to Schedule
Appointments are required. There are no walk-ins.
Please have your pet’s medical information and the reason for your visit available when contacting SASS.
Does Your Pet Get Anxious at the Vet?
If your pet becomes scared or very stressed during veterinary visits, please let us know when scheduling. Your referring veterinarian or the SASS team may be able to discuss appropriate pre-visit medication.
If medication is prescribed, follow the specific instructions provided by the veterinarian. This may include giving it the night before and the morning of the appointment, before you arrive.
Records to Include
Please send records pertaining to the reason for surgery or surgical consultation. When available and relevant, include previous records that may help guide patient care.
Records Related to the Referral
- Recent diagnostic testing and results
- Relevant imaging or radiology reports
- Medical notes related to the presenting condition
- Recommended treatment or requested surgical consultation
Additional Helpful History
- Known allergies
- Previous surgeries
- Current medications
- Other significant or concerning medical issues
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions from veterinary professionals.
What records should we send?
Please send all records pertaining to the reason for surgery or surgical consultation. Prior records that may be helpful for patient care, including known allergies, previous surgeries, and other significant medical issues, are also appreciated.
What information should the referral include?
Include owner and patient details, signalment, owner contact information, the primary reason for referral, recent testing related to the medical issue, current medications, and any other concerns.
How do I discuss a surgical case?
Call Small Animal Surgical Services at 207-481-0191 to discuss the patient's condition and next steps.
Can we discuss a case before submitting the referral?
Yes. Contact Small Animal Surgical Services at 207-481-0191 to discuss a case or the referral process.
How involved should the primary-care veterinarian remain?
The source material emphasizes that the primary veterinarian remains part of the treatment team and continues primary care during the postoperative period as appropriate.
Will the owner receive an explanation of the procedure?
Yes. The source material emphasizes discussing the procedure, available options when appropriate, anesthesia and surgical risks, complications, and postoperative care with the owner.
What happens after surgery?
The source describes communication with the owner about findings and outcome, along with a procedure report, suggested discharge instructions, and pertinent records to support ongoing care.
How can we ask about recommended treatment or pricing?
General pricing information may be provided after SASS receives information from the family veterinarian about the recommended treatment. A more accurate estimate depends on case evaluation and the patient-specific treatment plan.
Be part of a coordinated surgical care team.
When a patient needs specialty surgical expertise, SASS can help you and your client understand the next step.
Proudly serving all of Maine
From Portland north to the Maine border, with particular focus on Mid-Coast and Southern Maine communities. Referring practices statewide are welcome.