Orthopaedic Vet Adelaide (or Just Sa)

[Monah]

Is anyone able to help me find the absolute BEST orthopaedic vet specialist in SA? I have a fantastic one here in QLD. and am really worried about getting one in SA. One of my dogs is in need of a hip replacement and this has come around just as we have sold up and are in the process of moving. Unfortunately owing to the ongoing process I am not able to spend the 2 to 3 months needed here and will have to find someone in SA. Also, any vet recommendations would be greatly appreciated, we will be in Lockleys, but I dont mind travelling. Thanks guys xxxxxxxxxx

[Budd]

Try the Veterinary Board of SA they normally just deal with complaints but they also deal with registrations of Veterinarians so hopefully they can help their number is 8269 3216. Sorry if they are no help..

[Pug Hugger]

Hi Monah

I did not have any personal experience with orthopaedics with them but when Louie had to have a dermoid sinus removed from his skull/ear canal (resulting in a complete ear canal eblation) the Specialist Vet Clinic was very good. You do need a healthy line of credit but there is around the clock care if they need to stay in overnight and the vets are fantastic. You will also need a referral from your GP.

Thier website is at http://www.vetreferrals.com.au/ (sorry I cannot post proper links on this computer for some reason). Dr Penny Tisdall operated on Louie and I would go back to her in a heatbeat if any of my animals ever needed major specialised surgery - she did an amazing job explained the process thoroughly, had him in and out of surgery the same day she saw him (we were an emergency case though) and provided a few complimentary follow up appointments that she probably did not need to. According to the website she does orthopaedics...

I guess its like comparing apples and oranges as we are looking at the head compared to the skull but the surgery for Louie, including initial consults, overnight care, a bucket load of antibiotics, pain killers etc set us back about $3,000. The invoice is broken down to the last vial of saline so you know exactly where your money is going.

Don't quite me but I think her surgery fees were $700 per hour. This was a major cost (obviously, Louie was under for about 2 hours) and the anasthetic I think was the next most expensive. They are open extended hours (I think from about 7 to 7) so if you need to work its still easy to get an appointment.

Only other thing I can think of off of the top of my head is that they required half payment before the operation commences and payment in full before you pick your dog up.

[colliepaws]

Well not sure about the 'absolute best' cos they are the only one I have used for an orthopedic surgery! but I was very impressed by the Adelaide Animal Hospital (www.adelaidevet.com.au).

Luka had to have a knee operation (he tore a ligament which caused a luxating patella in his right leg) just a few weeks ago and I was very impressed by everything about their practice - the practice owner Dr Warren Foreman performed Luka's surgery and he kept me well updated on his surgery and post op care (he was kept overnight on pain meds). I feel that they took excellent care of him and I felt very comfortable with them and their facilities. We also had two free follow up consults and they phoned me a few days after surgery to see if I had any questions which I thought was nice. The vet nurses there are all lovely and made a big fuss of Luka (who is embarrassingly wussy when we go to the vet!)...

If you want to know anything else about my experience with them feel free to ask.

[Monah]

Pug Hugger, my guy has worked with Penny!!! he said she's great, but is a soft tissue person. Thanks for all the info everyone. it gives me somewhere to start I'm having a major freak out!

Thanks colliepaws. sounds good. Richard disinfects the dog 4 times, the surgery twic e and leaves it for 2 days empty as he worries about infection. and the other day the nurses went out and bought stewing steak as they rang a dogs owner on what to tempt him with, not eating,, and she said, stewing steak!!!!! also the whole place is state of the art, I think some qld dolers have been there. He specialises in the lot!! a genius of a man.

really really appreciate the help! thanks ;) xxxxxxxxx

[Pug Hugger]

Pug Hugger, my guy has worked with Penny!!! he said she's great, but is a soft tissue person. Thanks for all the info everyone. it gives me somewhere to start I'm having a major freak out!

Thanks colliepaws. sounds good. Richard disinfects the dog 4 times, the surgery twic e and leaves it for 2 days empty as he worries about infection. and the other day the nurses went out and bought stewing steak ;) as they rang a dogs owner on what to tempt him with, not eating,, and she said, stewing steak!!!!! also the whole place is state of the art, I think some qld dolers have been there. He specialises in the lot!! a genius of a man.

really really appreciate the help! thanks xxxxxxxxx

With all respect to your vet I don't think he is correct....

anyone who has ever met my Louie will know that there is nothing remotely soft in his head, its all thick skull and rocks

There is another surgeon at the clinic but no personal dealing with him, presumably he is the ortho person though if Penny only does soft tissue

[Monah]

;)

I'll ask him about the other people. I know he would not have worked there if it was not of an excellent standard xxx

[Gracie Monsta]

Monah, Chris G referred Gracie to Penny Tisdall for a spiral fracture re-repair and also a knee reconstruction. She definitely does ortho on large breeds and she does an excellent job.

Mark Tonzing is the other Ortho at the clinic also quite capable, he did Gracie's other knee

ETA: With regards to the stewing steak, I can top that They hand fed Gracie BBQ chicken from the local chicken shop because I told them she is allergic to red meat . She wouldn't eat the dry food they were trying to feed her, she kept pushing the bowl back under the cage at them.

Edited May 24, 2010 by Gracie Monsta

[Pug Hugger]

Monah, Chris G referred Gracie to Penny Tisdall for a spiral fracture re-repair and also a knee reconstruction. She definitely does ortho on large breeds and she does an excellent job.

Mark Tonzing is the other Ortho at the clinic also quite capable, he did Gracie's other knee

ETA: With regards to the stewing steak, I can top that They hand fed Gracie BBQ chicken from the local chicken shop because I told them she is allergic to red meat . She wouldn't eat the dry food they were trying to feed her, she kept pushing the bowl back under the cage at them.

Ha ha - I remember them doing that with Louie too! Asked me what he liked to eat I was like - Um he is a pug, everything!? So they thought BBQ chicken would be nice!

[Monah]

Monah, Chris G referred Gracie to Penny Tisdall for a spiral fracture re-repair and also a knee reconstruction. She definitely does ortho on large breeds and she does an excellent job.

Mark Tonzing is the other Ortho at the clinic also quite capable, he did Gracie's other knee

ETA: With regards to the stewing steak, I can top that :rolleyes: They hand fed Gracie BBQ chicken from the local chicken shop because I told them she is allergic to red meat . She wouldn't eat the dry food they were trying to feed her, she kept pushing the bowl back under the cage at them.

Thanks !! IF it's good enough for chris G its good enough for us! I emailed yvette too. I have googled the place and it looks very professional. Feel a lot better now, esp re the chicken!

Thanks again, to all of you.xxx

[grabit]

sorry to break the news but i believe we don't do hip replacements in SA at the moment think they are currently sent to melbourne but i could be wrong. Just happen to know that one of the girls at our clinic is taking her dog there for surgery later in the year and i don't know why she would go to melbourne if the surgery was available in SA. Penny used to do some ortho work (prob does some) however her specialty is soft tissue.

[Monah]

sorry to break the news but i believe we don't do hip replacements in SA at the moment think they are currently sent to melbourne but i could be wrong. Just happen to know that one of the girls at our clinic is taking her dog there for surgery later in the year and i don't know why she would go to melbourne if the surgery was available in SA. Penny used to do some ortho work (prob does some) however her specialty is soft tissue.

Well, yes, that is what I was told too, re the soft tissue. My guy said he wasn't sure if she had done any replacements and he does them all the time. I'll have to ring them and find out. If that's the case, I'm better off staying here somehow and renting. Thanks (I think :D )xxxx

[grabit]

sorry to break the news but i believe we don't do hip replacements in SA at the moment think they are currently sent to melbourne but i could be wrong. Just happen to know that one of the girls at our clinic is taking her dog there for surgery later in the year and i don't know why she would go to melbourne if the surgery was available in SA. Penny used to do some ortho work (prob does some) however her specialty is soft tissue.

Well, yes, that is what I was told too, re the soft tissue. My guy said he wasn't sure if she had done any replacements and he does them all the time. I'll have to ring them and find out. If that's the case, I'm better off staying here somehow and renting. Thanks (I think :D )xxxx

on the better side of this i'm sure you can finda good vet in sa that would be happy to work on the follow up stuff if the surgery is done up there i would be looking into having the surgery done asap and speaking with AVSARC about doing the follow up/ liasing with the vet up there after the surgery is done.

[casowner]

From the Referall Centre Website-

Surgery

Dr Penny Tisdall

BSc(Vet), BVSc, MVetClinStuds, FACVScDr Mark Tonzing

BVSc(Hons), MSCVSc(SA Surgery), MRCVS

When Does Your Pet Need a Referral Surgeon ?

Although the majority of surgical cases can be managed by veterinarians in general practice, unusual or complex cases may require more specialised or time-consuming procedures which may be difficult to provide in a busy general practice setting. Also, just as in medical practice, veterinarians in general practice occasionally feel that a second opinion would be of assistance to them with respect to the diagnosis and / or management of a particular case.

What Does an Appointment Involve ?

Prior to an appointment, your local veterinarian will discuss the case with the surgeon and/or forward relevant records, including radiographs and laboratory results if appropriate. A routine first consultation lasts around thirty minutes and involves initial examination of the patient, followed by a full discussion of the problem, including the likely prognosis. At this time, owners are also provided with an estimate of the fees which would apply.

Surgical Procedures

◦Orthopaedic surgery - such as fracture repair and revision of problem fractures, bone grafting, management of developmental orthopaedic disease and joint surgery, including fusion and hip replacement.

◦Neurosurgery - frequently indicated following spinal fracture or disc rupture, or to allow management of tumours affecting the nervous system.

◦Cancer surgery - in recent years, there have been dramatic advances in the surgical management of cancer. These developments allow removal of many previously inoperable tumours. Adjunctive chemotherapy or radiotherapy is frequently of great value, before or after such surgery, and may also be recommended.

Monah OT did you find somewhere in Adelaide yet?

Edited May 25, 2010 by casowner