Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Bird Dogs => Topic started by: Spuddieselwwu on October 06, 2015, 10:10:13 AM

Title: Anyone have any good vet recommendations for ACL surgery in the Seattle area?
Post by: Spuddieselwwu on October 06, 2015, 10:10:13 AM: My girl recently tore her ACL - would like to take her to another vet for a second opinion.
Title: Re: Anyone have any good vet recommendations for ACL surgery in the Seattle area?
Post by: Happy Gilmore on October 06, 2015, 12:12:36 PM: I luckily haven't had to use him however, I've heard numerous stories about the crummy work and high cost associated with inexperienced local vets doing repairs-

Akers specializes in repairs and everyone in performance world uses him exclusively. He has developed the newest methods of repairing knees. He's also less expensive even with a day or two of travel.

http://svanimal.com/
Title: Re: Anyone have any good vet recommendations for ACL surgery in the Seattle area?
Post by: BD1 on October 06, 2015, 02:12:23 PM: Tim O'Rourke in Mt. Vernon (Animal Care Center) Did an amazing job on my girl Abbey. He has been an great vet for my family for many years, I would trust his opinion 100%. A bit of a drive but I would make it.
Mike
BD1
Title: Re: Anyone have any good vet recommendations for ACL surgery in the Seattle area?
Post by: huntnphool on October 06, 2015, 02:17:14 PM: My buddy had his labs left side done a couple years ago and just had to have the other side done last week. He drove to WSU both times and has nothing but good things to say. A drive yes but might be worth looking into.
Title: Re: Anyone have any good vet recommendations for ACL surgery in the Seattle area?
Post by: lamrith on October 06, 2015, 02:22:06 PM: not local but I know Phantom16 just had his dog's knees done.. Was in ID but was 1/2 the price the local places wanted... Maybe drop him a PM..
Title: Re: Anyone have any good vet recommendations for ACL surgery in the Seattle area?
Post by: YellowDog on October 06, 2015, 02:36:25 PM: Quote from: huntnphool on October 06, 2015, 02:17:14 PM
My buddy had his labs left side done a couple years ago and just had to have the other side done last week. He drove to WSU both times and has nothing but good things to say. A drive yes but might be worth looking into.
I did the same thing with my yellow lab female a few years back. First one done August 2010 and the second one in late December at WSU. Even with the travel costs and an overnight in a hotel, it was still probably about $1,500 (overall) cheaper than doing both locally at the specialty/surgery center that I would have gone to.

I think the vet that Happy listed in his post is also a very good option but I don't have any first had experience with him.
Title: Re: Anyone have any good vet recommendations for ACL surgery in the Seattle area?
Post by: Shannon on October 07, 2015, 07:50:53 AM: I highly recommend the one Happy recommended in Sun Valley. My dog blew out her ACL playing one day and this guy is really really good. He was doing ten of the surgeries the day I took my dog in. He had done over 9000 of the surgeries and uses products that he has developed himself for this surgery. His price was half of anyone around Seattle and the most experienced one had only done a few hundred. I took her in at 6 AM and picked her up at noon. The actual surgery only took him 20 minutes though. Recovery went very well. The way he does it there isn't any draining tubes or anything like that so recovery is quick and pretty easy. You can't go wrong with him. Lot of high end trial dogs from all over the country are flown into him every day because he is the best in the country. My dog is going on 5 years post surgery now and still hunts hard. Good luck with your decision and let us know how it goes.
Title: Re: Anyone have any good vet recommendations for ACL surgery in the Seattle area?
Post by: Happy Gilmore on October 07, 2015, 07:55:00 AM: All Dr. Akers does is knees. He does no other vet services. He's a production line for knee repair.
Title: Re: Anyone have any good vet recommendations for ACL surgery in the Seattle area?
Post by: Spuddieselwwu on October 08, 2015, 11:34:00 PM: Quote from: Happy Gilmore on October 07, 2015, 07:55:00 AM
All Dr. Akers does is knees. He does no other vet services. He's a production line for knee repair.

Thanks all for your sound advice. Really appreciate it. Lining up calls with Dr. Akers and WSU to narrow it down. Thanks again!
Title: Re: Anyone have any good vet recommendations for ACL surgery in the Seattle area?
Post by: huntnphool on October 08, 2015, 11:37:54 PM: Quote from: Spuddieselwwu on October 08, 2015, 11:34:00 PM
Quote from: Happy Gilmore on October 07, 2015, 07:55:00 AM
All Dr. Akers does is knees. He does no other vet services. He's a production line for knee repair.

Thanks all for your sound advice. Really appreciate it. Lining up calls with Dr. Akers and WSU to narrow it down. Thanks again!

I can get you the contact info to the people my buddy has been working with at WSU if you would like.
Title: Re: Anyone have any good vet recommendations for ACL surgery in the Seattle area?
Post by: wildweeds on October 09, 2015, 05:41:01 PM: Another member on here had trouble with his dogs knee area, I suggested a trip to my vet up here in Bham.The guy is rockstar good, WSU schooled as well as schooled in Oklahoma as well for large animal surgery. His dad is also a WSU schooled vet from the first graduating class of the vet school, 81 years old and still practicing some.Between the two of them they've seen alot. It helps that they are hunters as well,both know the rigors that hunting dogs go through. At any rate a seattle vet told our board member his dog needed surgery to the tune of 2500 bucks, my vet gave the dog the once over and ordered rest and swimming. His quote for the knee rebuild was less than half the seattle price. Perhaps NWGSP will chime in.
Title: Re: Anyone have any good vet recommendations for ACL surgery in the Seattle area?
Post by: huntnphool on October 09, 2015, 05:51:49 PM: The number for WSU and Dr. Martinez is (509) 335-0711

I'm sure a intern will be taking the phone calls but that's the doctor my buddy has worked with.
Title: Re: Anyone have any good vet recommendations for ACL surgery in the Seattle area?
Post by: dr.derek on October 09, 2015, 06:48:32 PM: talk to Jeb Mortimeter in greenlake, He is an old friend. Great honest guy.