I'm looking for the best orthopedic surgeon you can recommend for one of our dogs. I don't care where they are or what their rates are. Just tell me your top three, contact info and why you recommend them. Hip/spine specialty is what I need. If you have an idea of rates, that would be good.

As an example, here is one I'm considering, supposedly one of the best - he's in Colorado:
http://canineortho.com/DrRiecks.aspx

We used Dr. Vasanjee at Heart of Texas Vet. Specialty Center in Round Rock, Tx. I was very impressed by his knowledge, his resume, and the final outcome of his work.

http://www.heartoftexasvets.com/index.php?option=com_staff&Itemid=16

We bought a male Lab puppy not quite two years ago. When he was around 3 months or so he came up lame in his front legs. We went round and round with our general vet who hem-hawed around about what may be going on. Obviously, there are many issues that could cause a puppy to present the symptoms that he had. I finally insisted that X-rays be taken of his front shoulders and our vet couldn't find anything. He referred us to Heart of Texas, and I took our pup along with the X-rays and we met with Dr. Vasanjee. It literally took Dr. Vasanjee 2 minutes to figure out what was wrong by looking at his X-rays and by doing a physical exam. Dr. Vasanjee knew exatcly how to manipulate our pup's shoulder joints so that he demonstrated pain which was one of the tell tell signs of what his issue was. He also took the time to show me on the X-ray what he could immediately see that our regular vet missed. Our pup was suffering from bi-lateral OCD, which is a joint problem, not uncommon, but something that he was very familiar with. Needless to say, we went ahead with the surgery at the recommendation of Dr. Vasanjee and he is now almost two years old and totally sound. If you would have seen him pre-surgery, you wouldn't believe it. Dr. Vasanjee is very qualified and I was absolutely impressed with his abilities. This place treated us great and their facility is top notch. We paid right at $3k for the surgery, post surgical care, and follow up care. I would highly recommend Dr. Vasanjee.

Thanks RR. I'll look into him this week.

Vethab.com

If you truly want the best and money truly isn't an issue you will go outside of Texas where most of the big name dogs and people go.
I also believe there is andr john Sherman

I put a lot of weight on people's PERSONAL stories and experiences. Not just numbers. Where "big name dogs & people go" would not be sufficient grounds for me to entrust my dog to someone. I want to know WHY they are trusted and WHAT they have done to earn that trust. After a while, people tend to jump on a bandwagon just because someone becomes "big." That doesn't automatically make them the best, however. Not ruling them out, but there is much more to choosing such a specialist than just following the crowd.

I'd be glad to hear about your personal experiences with an excellent specialist who is not only good at what s/he does, but does it with integrity and compassion.

Thanks for your input.... Are you recommending the Dr. John Joseph Sherman III DVM of VetHab that died in May 2010?

The practice, not necessarily him. There clinic is proven, if not the big name people and pros wouldn't go there. They have an indoor aquatic center as well as underwater treadmills and it's one of there specialties. Adult ER doc may have a lot of integrity and passion but not gonna take my sick infant there when there is a pediatric hosp close. Specialties practices are specialties for a reason. Just my opinion which doesn't mean a lot. Just throwing out opinions to try and help. Why don't you pst this question on that retriever site retriever training.net. Go ask the retriever world what they do with there injured retrievers.

This is where I went to get my dog's CERF done (this is the only dealing I've had with them). I do know several people that have had the TPLO surgery performed by these doctors and were very happy with the results.

http://dfwvetsurgeons.com/

http://dfwvetsurgeons.com/
I would also recommend these Vets . They did a double FHO on my golden and you can hardly tell it . I used them because of their surgical reputation , all their rehab resources , and the doctor that worked on my dog was very nice , informative , and had done the same surgery on his Golden so that made us feel alike we were making the right decision .

Thanks. I'm looking into them, also.

Dr. Wayne Whitney with Gulf Coast Veterinary and Rehab Fitness. He is the best I know of and I have used several. I trusted him with my FC Diva and FC Rip. you are welcomed to call me to discuss or call him at 713-693-1122.
Jimmy
254-744-3647.

Thanks Jimmy!

Fortunately we haven't needed a specialist in that field but typically when someone needs the "best" or it's a very special circumstance, they'll get referred directly to A&M. You might want to reach out directly to the school for referrals or possibly even a solution/surgeon on campus. There are some fantastic doctors there leading the way in cutting edge research.

Dr Whitney is the best around Houston. Dr Radash is the best in Dallas. Both need your Vet recommendations before you can get in.

Robby

I've used A&M before for other canine surgeries and yes, they have done very well. Thanks!

Thanks Robby! Radasch is at the DFW Vet Surgeons, right? I've spoken with them already based on the recommendation of some others on here and yes, they are on a referral basis only, but of course the dog has already seen two of my vets.

Above all on any animal..A&M Vet College..they have the facility
knowledge, and equipt. to handle more than any independant vet.
ever could..DD

Dr. Wayne Whitney with Gulf Coast is one of the vets consulting with Dr Tatum on June's knee. They are located close to the Galleria so you might have to sell your soul before you get out of there, but they do have a excellent reputation at orthopedics and rehabilitation.

Thanks Kindall. You're about the third person to recommend them. Also go a lot of recommendations for the specialists in Dallas. Of course for me, Houston is closer. I spoke to all the specialists (or their staff) that were posted here - so a big THANK YOU to everyone. I think Whitney makes the most sense, given my location - though I was prepared to go anywhere, if need be.

As an aside, in the meanwhile, I've been swimming the pup (supporting his front end and letting him work the back end), massaging & stretching him and have been supplementing nutritionally as well as using anti-inflammatories as needed. Yesterday he actually RAN across the front yard for the first time since the incident. He felt good enough to door dash (bolt out the front door) this morning and go play with the big dogs. That's huge compared to where he was a few weeks ago - unable to walk and falling over when he tried to run or stretch.

I don't think he could recover to the point of achieving what he's capable of with homeopathic remedies alone, but at least he's acting like a normal pup again! It was breaking my heart to watch him just sit and watch life go on when he himself has to much heart and so much life inside!