Most planned pet surgery starts with an exam and an estimate, then a drop-off morning, and most pets go home the same day. Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Ballantyne is a vet clinic on Ballantyne Commons Parkway in Charlotte, North Carolina, that performs routine and soft tissue surgery for dogs and cats, including spays and neuters, lump and growth removals, and wound repair, in a surgery suite with full anesthesia monitoring.
Call (980) 300-6982 or book online.
Lumps and masses lead the list
Lump removal is the most common dog surgery at Petfolk Ballantyne once spays, neuters and dental work are set aside: 53% of those dog surgeries removed a lump or mass from October 2025 to September 2026. Dogs made up 76% of surgery patients.
Across Petfolk's Charlotte-area clinics, the typical dog having surgery other than a spay or neuter was about 7 years old, and 51% were 7 or older. Many surgery patients are older pets, which is why the steps below start with blood work.
How does surgery day work at Petfolk Ballantyne?
Most patients follow the same path, and your vet will tell you where your pet's plan differs.
Consult and estimate. The vet examines the problem and your pet's overall health. Lumps are often sampled first with a fine needle aspirate (a small needle that draws out cells to look at under a microscope), which helps decide how wide the removal should be. You'll get an estimate before any test or treatment. The final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit.
Pre-anesthetic blood work. It checks the liver and kidneys, which clear anesthetic drugs, and looks for anemia or infection. The blood work and lab testing page explains these panels.
The night before. Follow the fasting time you are given. Water is usually fine until morning unless you are told otherwise. Keep cats indoors so they do not find a backyard snack.
Drop-off. A team member confirms the procedure and your phone number for the day. Fear-free handling is standard at every Petfolk clinic, and calming medicine before the visit can help very anxious pets, so say if yours is nervous.
Anesthesia and monitoring. A pre-medication relaxes your pet and starts pain control, then general anesthesia follows. A breathing tube protects the airway, and heart rate, oxygen level, breathing and temperature are watched throughout. Anesthesia always carries some risk, and your vet will explain what that means for your pet's age and health.
The update. When surgery is done, someone calls or texts you with an update and a pick-up time.
Going home. Your pet wakes in a warm, quiet area. At discharge you get written instructions, medicine and usually a cone or recovery suit to stop licking.
My cat is very nervous and the staff was wonderful with him and called/text with updates during his procedure. Kerrie B., Google review
Will my pet go home with medicine after surgery?
Most do. At Petfolk Ballantyne, 91% of surgery patients received prescription medication as part of their care from October 2025 to September 2026, a figure that includes pain and sedation drugs given at the clinic as well as pain relief sent home. Give every dose exactly as written, even if your pet seems comfortable. Pets hide discomfort well.
How do I care for my pet at home after surgery?
Recovery usually means 10 to 14 days of rest, set by your vet.
Keep your pet quiet and on a short leash. Skip running, jumping and stairs if you can.
Look at the incision every day. Mild redness at the edges is normal.
Keep the cone on, even if your pet gives you a sad look.
No baths or swimming until the incision has healed.
Come back for the recheck or stitch removal on the date given.
Anesthesia can leave pets wobbly for the rest of the day. For the ride home, whether a few minutes or a longer drive out to Matthews, keep your pet in a crate or carrier and carry small dogs and cats in and out of the car.
Warning signs after surgery
Call Petfolk Ballantyne at (980) 300-6982 if the incision is swollen, oozing or opening, or if your pet is not eating the next day. Go to a 24-hour emergency hospital if your pet collapses, has pale gums, is bleeding steadily from the incision, or has a swollen, tight belly. Petfolk Ballantyne is open 8 AM to 6 PM, seven days a week, and does not provide overnight care.
A vet in Ballantyne can walk you through the plan at an exam first, at 5335 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy, Suite 150, Charlotte, NC 28277. The American Animal Hospital Association publishes the anesthesia guidelines many clinics follow.
Book a visit at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Ballantyne, or see all veterinary services in Ballantyne.
Before and after surgery: your questions
On Ballantyne Commons Parkway in south Charlotte