Pet Owner Services

Small Animal Surgical Ophthalmology Service

Dr. Tara Richards is available for ophthalmic surgeries on small animal patients. Whether surgery is deemed necessary in light of one of our virtual consults or your primary care veterinarian feels surgery is indicated, Dr. Tara Richards is available to perform ophthalmic surgeries. Depending on the surgery and scheduling needs, there are various options for surgical location and in some cases it may be possible to do the surgery at your home clinic.

Please note:  Appropriate referral from your family veterinarian is required for all of our services.  Please have your veterinarian reach out to us to schedule a consult or surgery.

Teleconsultations

We also have teleconsultation services available to your primary veterinarian

Learn more

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes, referral from your primary care veterinarian is needed for small animal ophthalmic examinations and surgery.

    An initial assessment (either using teleconsultation or in person) will be used to create a surgical plan and provide an estimate for the procedure.  A separate appointment will be booked for surgery.

  • Our specialty ophthalmology services are designed as a collaborative vet-to-vet partnership. Your pet will be admitted directly to your primary veterinarian’s care for their scheduled time with us. This streamlined process allows the specialist to focus entirely on the exam and/or surgical procedure while your familiar veterinary team manages the admission and discharge. While owners are not present during these specialized sessions, your primary vet will remain your central point of contact for all updates and Dr. Richards will provide detailed exam summaries and post-operative recommendations with your primary care veterinarian.

  • Our companion animal service is focused on adnexal and extraocular surgeries. We focus on procedures that are reasonable to perform in a primary care clinic while requiring specialized surgical expertise. Some examples include:

    • Entropion/ectropion correction, eyelid tumor resection, cherry eye surgery, removal of extra eyelashes, indolent ulcer treatment as well as eye removal.

    This vet-to-vet model ensures your patients receive advanced surgical care in a familiar setting.