Business Details
Emergency
services
Compassionate Veterinary Care for Your Beloved Pets
Animal Place Veterinary Hospital is a locally owned institution dedicated to providing compassionate veterinary care for dogs and cats in Aspen Hill and surrounding areas. Our mission focuses on delivering personalized care that addresses every aspect of pet wellness, from routine checkups to advanced surgical procedures. Our team understands the profound bond between pets and their owners, ensuring each patient receives the highest standard of care. With skilled professionals specializing in dermatology, soft tissue and orthopedic surgery, and emergency medicine, we combine extensive experience with cutting-edge technology to meet diverse medical needs.Operating since 2011, our hospital has consistently maintained a reputation for excellence through verified expertise and a commitment to continuous improvement. Trust is built through transparency in communication and ethical practices, including community involvement through animal rescue support. By prioritizing client education and preventative care strategies, we empower pet owners to make informed decisions about their pets' long-term health.
Services
Wellness exams
Vaccinations
Dental care
Spay/neuter
Soft-tissue surgery
Orthopedic surgery
Urgent care
In-house diagnostics
Pet hospice
Euthanasia
Highlights and features
- Locally owned with personalized care for every pet
- Veterinarians with specialized training in multiple disciplines
- On-site diagnostics including digital radiology and lab testing
- Urgent care services during regular business hours
- Comprehensive surgical capabilities for soft-tissue and orthopedic procedures
Services
Wellness Exams
Our comprehensive wellness exams include full-body evaluations, vital assessments, and dental screening. Veterinarians track development across life stages from puppy/kitten through senior years. Personalized vaccination schedules and parasite prevention plans are tailored to each pet's lifestyle and medical history, ensuring early detection of potential health issues before they become serious concerns.
Dental Care
Professional dental cleanings combine ultrasonic scaling with polishing to remove plaque buildup. Digital dental radiography identifies hidden periodontal disease affecting 80% of pets by age three. Anesthesia protocols prioritize patient safety while enabling thorough subgingival treatment, preventing systemic infections from oral bacteria that can impact major organ systems through the bloodstream.
Soft-Tissue Surgery
Routine and complex soft-tissue procedures include tumor removal, abdominal surgeries, and wound management. Pre-anesthetic blood screening ensures surgical readiness while intraoperative monitoring tracks critical parameters. Postoperative care follows evidence-based pain management protocols, supported by detailed home recovery instructions covering activity restrictions, medication administration, and incision monitoring.
Orthopedic Surgery
Specialized orthopedic treatments address fractures, ligament injuries, and developmental conditions like hip dysplasia. Surgical repair utilizes advanced fixation techniques including minimally invasive TPLO for cruciate injuries. Postoperative rehabilitation plans integrate physical therapy recommendations to restore mobility and joint function following procedures like femoral head ostectomy or fracture stabilization.
Urgent Care
Our urgent care services handle acute conditions requiring immediate attention during normal business hours. Veterinarians evaluate critical cases including trauma, toxin ingestion, and breathing difficulties. Diagnostic tools like in-house lab testing provide rapid assessment while stabilization measures such as intravenous fluids and oxygen therapy maintain patient stability before initiating definitive treatment.
People
Dr. Sunil Kakarla
Owner
Dr. Kakarla graduated from India's College of Veterinary Medicine with a PhD in veterinary science. After licensing in 2010, he practiced at North Carolina's Walnut Street Animal Hospital, treating 6000+ pets annually. Specializes in dermatology, surgical procedures, and emergency medicine while maintaining AVMA memberships.
Dr. Murali Mallela
Chief Veterinarian
Dr. Mallela earned his veterinary degree from ANGRA University in Hyderabad, India (2010) followed by a PhD from Virginia Tech. With post-doctoral research experience at Yale and clinical practice at Banfield, he brings expertise in small animal medicine to his leadership role since 2022.
Dr. Adriana Ogando
Associate Veterinarian
With 15+ years in small animal practice, Dr. Ogando specializes in dermatology and endocrinology. Fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, she graduated from Sao Paulo veterinary programs before joining the hospital in 2022 to provide care informed by international experience.
Sarah Van Staalduinen
Administrative Director
An NC State graduate in Animal Science, Sarah oversees administrative operations since 2019. Her background includes dual expertise in animal care and nutrition management while maintaining personal experience with multi-pet household veterinary needs.
Cordero Curry
Team Lead
Originally from the Bahamas, Cordero transitioned from Free Port Veterinary Hospital to Maryland in 2015. As our lead technician since 2016, he combines five years of clinical experience with overnight ER work at Columbia's Pet ER facility.
Questions
What emergency veterinary services are available?
Urgent care services during regular business hours (Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-6pm) for critical conditions like trauma or toxin ingestion.
Do you accept new clients?
We welcome new patients and offer same-day appointments for all services including wellness checkups and surgical consultations.
What surgical specialties do you offer?
Soft-tissue surgeries (tumors, foreign body removal), orthopedic procedures (TPLO, fracture repair), and emergency surgical interventions.
Are payment plans available?
While no specific financing programs are mentioned, we discuss payment options for treatment plans exceeding $2000.
How do I schedule pet diagnostics?
Diagnostic services including bloodwork and digital X-rays can be scheduled through our online appointment system or by phone.
Reviews (7)
Victor Garcia-Escalante
Sep 15, 2021
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I had two dogs (Cachito and Taquito) attended by Dr. DeAnna. Dr. DeAnna and her staff are very friendly and attentive.
Ranza
Feb 25, 2021
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Visited for a Vetsulin prescription, Dr. did not ask any questions or care to ask for more info. I found it very odd she just wrote a prescription and said just go pick it up somewhere
I asked where again? She stated ohh we dont carry VETSULIN here, you have to go pick it up at a any regular pharmacy like cvs. I asked are you sure they carry that there? And the DR reassured me that this is what everyone does to get their pets Insulin. I immediately thought something was off however she is a professional. (DR. DEANNA )
later I visited the cvs pharmacy. I was very disappointed
I asked where again? She stated ohh we dont carry VETSULIN here, you have to go pick it up at a any regular pharmacy like cvs. I asked are you sure they carry that there? And the DR reassured me that this is what everyone does to get their pets Insulin. I immediately thought something was off however she is a professional. (DR. DEANNA )
later I visited the cvs pharmacy. I was very disappointed
Nora Miller
Jan 21, 2021
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This is a great veterinary hospital.the staff is very attentive and professional. The vets are wonderful. They make you feel like your pet is the greatest. Highly recommend
Brittany Fulton
May 25, 2019
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We have been going to the Animal Place Veterinary Hospital for about three years. We have a very challenging dog, both behaviorally and medically. From the start, Dr. Davis and Dr. Gardsbane have been very accommodating and friendly. We feel like we always get very thorough explanations. They have never rushed us through an appointment. I feel like both doctors are very interested in my dog's well-being, and I have never felt like they are taking advantage of us, financially. It is such a relief to find veterinarians that we can trust in every way.
Nicole Myers
Dec 28, 2018
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Moved to the area recently and have taken my kitty cat there after she had an accident with her tail. Vet and techs have been really great. I really like that they care about the treatment of your animals and don't want to manhandle them just to get the job done. They take their time to make the animal feel comfortable and I appreciate that. This will be my new primary vet.
Rick Harris
Sep 19, 2018
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Listen: 5 stars do not do them justice. They deserve the milky way. My dog is 15 years old; but, with their care, he might just make it another 15 years. The entire staff is super and, believe it or not, my Luke looks forward to his vet visits. They are not stuck on traditional treatments - they practice leading edge veterinary medicine to include: cold laser treatments; acupuncture; oriental herbs and the latest in breaking veterinarian medicine developments. To put the icing on the cake, they are quite reasonable.
Knight Chowdhury
Aug 24, 2018
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Moved here 5 months ago and I am usually scared of up selling by Vets but this place was great. They did not try to up sell any products or anything. I went with 2 cats in the same cat carrier and they gave me a free carrier before I left! Staffs are nice and friendly. They followed up next day to know how my cats doing. I would recommend people going there
