Frequently Asked Questions

Our veterinary team has provided some answers to our most common questions.

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Below are some common FAQs that might help answer any questions or concerns. Please feel free to call us at 775-388-4690 for any other concerns you might have about your pet.

Why should we consider using your orthopedic surgery services?
  • I was fortunate to have good mentors early on in my career with regard to surgery and specifically orthopedic surgery. Likewise, I also have been doing orthopedic surgery since I started practice in 2009.
  • I have clinical experience and completed CE with multiple methods for the cranial cruciate deficient stifle.
    • TPLO
    • TTA
    • Extracapsular Repair
  • Multiple methods for fracture repair
    • Locking and Non-locking bone plating
    • External Skeletal Fixation
    • Plate-Rod combination
    • IM pin and cerclage wiring
    • Lag screw and tension band wire repairs
  • Other various orthopedic surgeries
    • Hip toggle for coxofemoral luxation
    • Patella luxation
    • FHO
  • Admittedly, there are some procedures I don’t have experience with and cases that inevitably I advise referral to specialists for.
What do we, as the rDVM or host clinic provide?
  • The host clinic provides the anesthesia and nurse to run the anesthesia, operating room, radiography. Occasionally a surgical assistant is needed to help with retraction or reduction for part of the procedure.
  • Your clinic materials for medications, suture, bandage material, fluid therapy, injectables, etc. are used for the case.
  • Payment collection and medical record-keeping are through the host clinic. I generate surgical records for your record-keeping software and provide go-home instructions for the owners.
Who determines pricing?
  • The final price is set by you, the host clinic. The invoice would have a single line item for my services. The rest of the charges for all the other ancillary items and services belong to the host clinic (anesthesia, radiographs, medications, fluids, staff time, bandage material, hospitalization, etc.)
  • I can offer suggestions for the final client price if you wish.
If we (the host clinic) use your services, what do you as the surgeon provide for the procedure?
  • I will provide all the orthopedic equipment and hardware/plates/screws to perform the procedure.
  • I bring my own sterile drape kits that are custom-made for orthopedic procedures, and I have a small electrocautery unit that I travel with.
Who is responsible for follow-up with the client?
  • I provide my personal number to the clients and stay in contact with them after the procedure, usually once per week or as needed to answer questions. My goal is to make myself available to owners and take the burden off the rDVM. Certainly, if you wish to communicate regularly with owners, I have no objection.
  • Recheck radiographs and any ‘physical’ follow-up is done at your facility by your staff at the client’s expense.
  • Complications (such as suture line dehiscence due to licking) have proved rare overall. In this example, culture and sensitivity are done through your facility at the client’s expense.
  • I have found occasionally there is a fear from host clinics that a mobile surgeon may ‘come in the side door,’ not meet with clients, cut the case and leave, never to interact with the client at all. That is NOT how I operate or conduct my services. I enjoy partnering with my colleagues on managing surgical cases.