Veterinary SurgeryRefer a case
For veterinary teams · Kentucky & Southern Indiana
Board-certified surgery in your clinic, for your patients
Kentucky Veterinary Surgery (KVS) brings Dr. Joshua A. Bruce, DVM, DACVS-SA, into your hospital to perform specialty surgery in your own operating room. You remain the primary veterinarian; KVS works as an extension of your team, and your clients never have to leave the practice they trust.
01
How to book a surgery
Book a surgery day. Partner clinics book through the QR-code magnet KVS provides, then answer about 10 short intake questions about the patient and procedure. Partner clinics: contact us at info@kyvetsurgery.com for referral access.
Surgery days by region. Currently: Monday and Tuesday in the Lexington area; Wednesday and Thursday in the Louisville area. Southern Indiana clinics book on Louisville days.
Send records and imaging. Email the history, recent bloodwork, and radiographs to info@kyvetsurgery.com so the case can be reviewed and planned ahead of time. TPLO cases are planned digitally from your radiographs.
TPLO planning radiographs:
A very straight 90/90 flexed lateral of the stifle (stifle and hock each at 90 degrees)
A very straight PA (caudocranial) view of the stifle
Include the calibration ball (magnification marker) on both views
- Consent form: The owner will complete the consent form at the clinic on the day of surgery. Discharge instructions are separate: KVS provides written discharge instructions after surgery.
Questions about a case or scheduling? Email info@kyvetsurgery.com or use the contact form.
02
What your clinic provides and what KVS brings
| Your clinic | KVS |
|---|---|
| Pre-op exam, bloodwork, and radiographs as needed | Board-certified surgeon and case planning |
| Patient admission, IV catheter, fluids, and pre-op medications | Sterilized specialty instruments and equipment |
| A team member to run anesthesia, responsible for anesthesia and medications | Two surgical assistants |
| All implants needed for the procedure | |
| Operating room and recovery space | Calls to the owner before and after surgery |
| Recovery and monitoring for a few hours after surgery | Surgery report, communication log, and discharge instructions |
| Rechecks (for example, suture removal at 2 weeks) | Ongoing communication about recovery |
03
A typical surgery day
- 8:45–9:00 AM: Dr. Bruce arrives for the first case. The patient should be admitted, examined, and ready for premedication.
- Before induction: Dr. Bruce examines the patient and calls the owner (these calls often come from the KVS business line) to review the procedure, risks, and aftercare and answer questions.
- Surgery: Plan on 1–2 hours per case for surgery.
- After each case: Dr. Bruce calls the owner with findings and the plan for the rest of the day, and your team recovers and monitors the patient.
- Discharge: Depending on the procedure, most patients go home the same evening with written discharge instructions.
04
Records, communication, and aftercare
Every patient gets a shared Google Drive folder with your clinic containing:
The surgery report
A communication log
The discharge instructions
Invoices are sent to the clinic through QuickBooks. Follow-up care is done at your clinic, and Dr. Bruce stays available to your team for questions throughout recovery. For TPLO and other orthopedic cases, discharge instructions include exercises and a rehab timeline. Partner clinics receive direct contact details for case questions and post-op concerns when they join.
05
Procedures offered
Orthopedic: TPLO, lateral suture, patellar luxation (MPL), FHO, fracture repair
Soft tissue: GI and abdominal surgery, mass removal, cystotomy, perineal urethrostomy, portosystemic shunt, brachycephalic airway and laryngeal paralysis surgery
KVS does not take emergency or unstable patients. Spinal, pelvic, and most jaw fractures and intrahepatic shunts are referred elsewhere.
Common questions
Common questions from veterinary teams
Do I stay the primary veterinarian?
Yes. KVS adds surgical expertise; you remain the primary doctor, and rechecks happen at your clinic.
How do we schedule?
Partner clinics book through the KVS QR-code magnet and answer the intake questions. Currently, Monday and Tuesday are Lexington-area days and Wednesday and Thursday are Louisville-area days; Southern Indiana books on Louisville days. New clinics can email info@kyvetsurgery.com or use the contact form.
What does our clinic need to provide?
Your operating room, recovery space, and a team member to run anesthesia and medications. KVS brings two surgical assistants plus sterilized specialty instruments, equipment, and implants.
When should the first patient be ready?
Dr. Bruce arrives at 8:45–9:00 AM. Plan on 1–2 hours per case for surgery.
Where do we find the surgery report?
In the patient's shared Google Drive folder, along with the communication log and discharge instructions.
Does KVS see emergencies?
No. KVS schedules planned surgeries and does not accept emergency or unstable patients.
Next step
Bring board-certified surgical care into your hospital.
Send the patient history, imaging, and case details to KVS so the procedure can be reviewed and coordinated with your team.
Submit a referral