Recommended Sports Vets in the New England Area

[xpaeanx]

So I'm probably being a little over cautious but I was wondering if anyone had any good recommendations for a sports vet (focus on lameness).

He came up lame after hiking yesterday (fine immediately after the hike but not after the car ride home which was 1 1/2 hours and not this morning either). We live a pretty high impact lifestyle so I'd rather seek professional help from the get-go.

I'm willing to drive pretty far for a great vet, so while preference is given to Long Island/CT vets... I'll go as far South as mid-PA and as North as the Canadian border pretty much. East & West I'd like to keep in line with 87 in NY and the Eastern NH border.

Any recommendations?

 

[BostonBanker]

I am going to see an ortho/rehab vet next week with Gusto. She came well recommended as a vet, is a serious agility competitor herself, and the hospital seems to have all the diagnostic toys. Located outside Boston. I can let you know what I thought after we see her.

 

[xpaeanx]

That would be great, thank you.

The worst case scenarios are all flooding through my mind right now, it's actually quite frightening. :-/

 

[BostonBanker]

Tell me about it. I nearly worked myself into an anxiety attack about Gusto at work last week.

 

[xpaeanx]

Ugh. I can imagine. I'm nearly there myself. :-/

My fingers are crossed for your appt next week!

 

[SpringerLover]

Veterinary Orthopedic Sports Medicine Group

I don't know where anything actually is out east though...

And, not that I've been there. But they do what we do at work.

 

[xpaeanx]

So that place is a bit farther south than I'd like to travel, as that while area is just a nightmare to travel through. Not off the list, just that I'd rather drive the 5 hours north than that way.

So in CT, I found this place: http://www.squibnocketanimalcenter.com/canine-rehabilitation.pml#.VA5eEYl5mc0

They seem to offer a lot plus the guy is a DVM. I've seen a lot of rehab/physical therapy places that don't have a DVM. Thoughts?

 

[SpringerLover]

I wouldn't go to a rehab place that doesn't have a DVM. I haven't heard of the place you linked to but I'm looking at it now.

 

[SunRaven01]

Wizard of Paws is where all my serious sport dog friends and conformation people go. It's in Colchester.

http://www.wizardofpaws.net

 

[BostonBanker]

I have heard wonderful things about Wizard of Paws. For my issues with Gusto, I really want a vet diagnosis first, but I wouldn't hesitate to go there for rehab after, if it were closer to me

 

[xpaeanx]

My trainer actually just got back to me and suggested wizard of paws too. Their site says you need a vet referral to get an appt, I was hoping to just find a place and have them eval him this way the vet working on his issues is on site.

I'm going to call them though and see. If I have to do an off site eval, then I have to. That's 3 recommendations from him and one being from the person who is active on the local dog sport world and the one training him.

 

[xpaeanx]

He's got an appt with Wizard for this week.

 

[MrsBoats]

I have been going to Healing Paws in downtown Providence for Lars' soft tissue injury in his shoulder we've been dealing with this summer. The owner is a DVM.

http://www.healingpawsri.com/

They have been great with getting Lars back to being sound and ready to head back to the Utility Obedience ring.

 

[xpaeanx]

MrsBoats, thank you for the recommendation.

So we had our appt at Wizard. I am so happy I went there! She's just really good and so in tune to the dogs, plus she really understands what each activity entails and what your long term goals are for healing & soundness based in your activities (which was my biggest reason for wanting a rehab vet over a regular vet).

So he actually pulled a muscle in his shoulder, but the pain was tightening up his entire leg making it look like he was limping from the paw. She did a laser treatment and taught me exercises & stretches to do with him at home over the next two weeks. She taught me how to read his body movements to know when to push, when to stop, and when he's improving.

We're on activity restriction for 2 more weeks and then she needs to reevaluate him.

I'm really happy I decided to go this route. Just crate rest wouldn't have solved the issue & there is no way I would have gotten this level of information from a regular vet.

 

[BostonBanker]

So glad you got such good help, and good news! I hope we are half so lucky on Monday.

 

[xpaeanx]

BB, I will keep my fingers crossed for your Monday appt! The best part for me was being kept involved and being shown how to help him at home. I feel a lot of times with medical things they just do what they want without any input from you.

He's doing MUCH better this morning. Yesterday he was obviously still sore, but today his stride was soooo much looser. He's still tight on the peanuts but even there he was putting more weight in the affected side. So happy!