Caring for the critters

Eric Leake

Friday, Aug. 5, 2005 | 5:39 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION

August 6-7, 2005

As water filled the tank, covering the treadmill, Misti lifted one foot and then another above the water.

Misti, a 13-year-old pointer mix, was initially uneasy on the underwater treadmill. She tucked her tail and stared beseechingly at her owner.

"Ah, good girl," her owner cajoled. "There you go."

Soon Misti was walking at a steady clip on the underwater treadmill. Her buoyancy supported her, lessening the impact on old joints, and the water provided resistance for a workout.

"We're real proud of this," veterinary Dr. Jeff Geels said, looking at the rehabilitative underwater treadmill where Misti had her session at the Las Vegas Veterinary Referral Center.

"This is something that's definitely new to Las Vegas," Geels said.

The center, on the corner of Tropicana Avenue and Durango Drive, had its grand opening last week. It specializes in procedures and therapies, such as on the underwater treadmill, that are new to the valley.

Geels, who specializes in orthopedic surgery, said the center is part of a progressive trend in the treatment of pets.

"My impression is that the role of pets and the value of pets have changed. They're considered by many people to be family members," he said.

"People want for their pets what they want for themselves."

In ways such as technology and features the clinic is similar to a human clinic. There are private consultation rooms and a comfort room with sofas and a box of tissue for emotional goodbyes. Equipment includes digital x-rays, modern operating rooms and a future CAT scan unit. The kennels almost look out of place.

"Whatever we're doing, it's state-of-the-art, as opposed to what used to be," said veterinarian Dr. William Hoefle, a staff surgeon and partner-owner in the center.

Hoefle is a professor of veterinary medicine at Iowa State University and said he spent 25 years traveling to Las Vegas to perform specialized surgeries at various offices before deciding to open a speciality center.

The veterinarians staffing the center -- some of whom also practice in other states -- specialize in surgery and offer physical therapy. They depend upon referrals from general practice veterinarians for patients.

"We very much work in partnership with general practitioners," Hoefle said.

Geels described the center's role as supplementing general veterinary medicine, saying that they don't spay or neuter.

At the Durango Animal Hospital, down the road from the center, veterinarian Dr. David Spence said the opening of a specialty referral center was good for Las Vegas and overdue.

"Honestly, I think Las Vegas is behind the times if anything in this type of situation," Spence said of specialty pet surgery and care. "There's plenty of places that have had this for 10 years."

Spence said the veterinary market in Las Vegas can be very competitive, stifling cooperative efforts to improve services. But with the newest center opening, he said, "It's moving forward."

Spence said specialty veterinary surgeons generally have three to five years of additional training. He said he would likely refer patients with severe and complicated fractures to surgeons at the center. Dixie, an 8-year-old Shih Tzu, arrived at the clinic after a recent encounter with an automobile. Her veterinarian referred her because of injuries to the spine, pelvis and legs.

Lisa Horlacher, Dixie's owner, consulted with a surgeon at the clinic and was impressed when told of operations to be performed on Dixie.

"I was amazed. This man is standing there talking to me just like it's a human," Horlacher said.

"I'm thinking: You're kidding! They do that for dogs?"

Horlacher said Dixie is recovering well and called her experience with the clinic excellent. In some ways, she said, it was better than dealing with regular physicians.

With treatment comparable to that of human medicine, Horlacher said, came a bill for Dixie's surgeries that cost "quite a bit."

"It's expensive like any medical procedure is," she said. "In a way it (the price she was willing to pay) is almost embarrassing, but because I love her so much it's not."

Veterinarians at the clinic said the more expensive procedures, such as for hip displacement, can cost about $4,500. Some clients set up a payment plan for their pets' care or purchase pet health insurance.

Horlacher credited the center with saving her beloved dog's life. So too did Joyce Cummings who took her corgi, Dashiel, on a referral for treatment of a genetic liver disorder.

Cummings said she has had to wait and coordinate special surgeries for pets in the past. For Dashiel to wait, she said, may have cost his life. She was thankful that the center was readily available.

"He's just so good-natured and such a good dog. I was really sad to think that we would've lost him," Cummings said.

Instead, Cummings said, she, her family and Dashiel enjoyed what "turned out to be a very happy ending."

More information about the Las Vegas Veterinary Referral Center is available at www.lvvrc.com.