more articles like this

Tell them you found them on Edhat!
www.edhat.com/referrals

Surgical Veterinarian
updated: Jan 15, 2013, 8:33 AM

We need a referral for a vet to surgically remove a possibly cancerous mass on our cats leg. We need to get her in as soon as possible, but hoped someone could recommend a local vet for this procedure. I can't figure out how to post one. Can you help?

Places People Are Talking About:

Dr. Lewis

Dr. Ron Faoro

What People Are Saying:

COMMENT 363602	2013-01-15 08:46 AM
Valley Animal Hospital is open Monday – Friday 8:30am – 5:30pm. 102 S Fairview Ave, Goleta, CA 93117 805-964-7755 She saved our bunny's life. She is amazing. Their staff is amazing. We have only good things to say about her, and her staff.
COMMENT 363606	2013-01-15 08:47 AM
I am assuming you already had a diagnosis (or probable diagnosis) so I would ask your vet for a recommendation on a local vet who specializes in this kind of surgery. I would highly recommend Dr. Douglas at White's for surgery, she's really great. Except I think you probably have to book an appt with her first as a consultation. She may end up sending you elsewhere if she thinks there's someone more qualified in town or a specialist. But that's an excellent place to start. Bring all your paperwork from the other vet or blood work if there was any done, too. Good luck.
COMMENT 363611P	2013-01-15 08:51 AM
Dr. Rittenberg at Foothill Pet Hospital 967-0119. He removed a cancerous growth from my dog's mouth! It was an invasive type of cancer, but Dr. Ritt got it all and it never returned.
ROGER DODGER	2013-01-15 09:13 AM
McDonald Animal Hospital 225 South Milpas 730-1764, Pooh Bears doctor He has removed skin cancer from Mr. Pooh has alot of experience with animals..Retired but went back to work give em a call go see all the vets you can before making a decision.
COMMENT 363632	2013-01-15 09:27 AM
Ditto Roger's referral. Dr. McDonald has removed a mass from two of my dogs. He is the best!
COMMENT 363650	2013-01-15 09:49 AM
I'd suggest calling around to see who will see your furry one's leg for a free consult & pick which ever one seems like the best to you. Keep in mind, the mass can be tested & if it's not cancerous, it won't need to be removed unless it's causing problems (like mobility issues). And 602 mentions Vally & "she" but no name, so I had to look it up - it's Dr Lexi Rugg. And the fact that they have a resident "bunny girl" who owns a furball with the name "Esteban Fuzzbucket" - I might just have to change vets! Kidding (mostly) - I see Dr. Ann O'Brien at San Roque for my bunny. She's a fantastic bunny vet, but I don't know about her/anyone's cat experience , so I won't presume to recommend anyone. If you want a good recommendation, call ASAP & ask them.
COMMENT 363653	2013-01-15 09:56 AM
Ron Faoro at St Francis downtown. Swear up and down by him, as our kitties are our best friends. Hoping the growth is not cancerous...
ANIMALLISTNER	2013-01-15 09:57 AM
Please call Eric Wright, DVM immediatly. He now has a mobile surgery service. Former owner of CARE. Sorry, we do not have his new contact info. Call CARE, im sure they would be happy to help. Good luck. ART, Inc
D8VANILLA	2013-01-15 10:04 AM
How come nobody is mentioning the specialists in town? Cat & Bird clinic on Mission st & Chapala? They specialize in cats. Prices are reasonable
COMMENT 363686	2013-01-15 10:52 AM
Dr. Sellers at the Cat & Bird Clinic. She is the best you can get - She and her staff love animals which is not always the norm at other vet offices.
COMMENT 363692	2013-01-15 11:07 AM
Christine Sellers at Cat and Bird Clinic is amazing. Such a good hearted vet. Great at what she does.
COMMENT 363695	2013-01-15 11:24 AM
It is worth the drive and money....Ventura Specialty Medical Group is quite simply one of the best practices in the country. Pay more, but get 24 hour care and intensive care spec. if complications.
LIZBETH	2013-01-15 11:52 AM
Dr. Sellers at the Cat & Bird clinic 569-CATS, been treating my cats for over 20 years, a fantastic vet and you could not meet a nicer person. Plus, she will honestly explain the likely outcomes of various treatments, and tell you what she would do if it were her cat. when my 16 year old cat had cancer, she said chemo would make him miserable, and he *might* live 2 more months. that let me choose the kindest path.
COMMENT 363714P	2013-01-15 12:01 PM
Dr. Dalo at La Conception Animal Hospital on Hollister Ave. in Goleta - across from the Costco 805-685-4513. He is an expert on cancer in dogs and cats. Other vets send their patients to him. A really nice guy and he has saved a few of my dogs over the years. Check out the web site: http://laconcepcionanimalhospital.com. I wish you and your cat the best.
COMMENT 363720	2013-01-15 12:14 PM
Dr. Sellers at the Cat & Bird Clinic would be my 1st choice. If she isn't available, then VMSG in Ventura would be my 2nd. It's expensive, but your kitty will get round-the-clock care, & they have an excellent state-of-the-art facility. We have taken our pets to both, & wouldn't even think about going anywhere else. Hoping for the best possible outcome for you kitty.
COMMENT 363755P	2013-01-15 01:48 PM
There's a possibility that kitty's growth might be a lipoma -- a fatty benign tumor growing just under the skin. Lipomas are most often seen in dogs, but cats can get them, too. A veterinarian should make the diagnosis, but if the growth has a soft, squishy feel to it, it's quite possibly a lipoma and harmless.
COMMENT 363762	2013-01-15 02:07 PM
Avoid Noah's Ark on Fairview.
CEES	2013-01-15 03:01 PM
Another plug for Dr. Lexi Rugg at Valley Animal Hospital. Knows her stuff, and does have a few resident "mis-fits" that show her compassion for animals in need. She saved our dog from a horrible episode of rat poisoning, and I will be forever grateful for her attentive care.
COMMENT 363810	2013-01-15 03:49 PM
How big is a "mass," compared with a "bump" or a "lump"? Is it about like a little chingadero?
COMMENT 363854	2013-01-15 05:20 PM
Our experience with Valley Animal Hospital/Dr. Rugg was not good. Avoid.
COMMENT 363894P	2013-01-15 07:23 PM
You could use a second opinion; that's just my opinion, though experienced. And everyone, 2 and 4 legged, needs a second opinion! Have you had a biopsy done on your cat? I spent almost a grand diagnosing my cat (needle biopsy & blood etc. work), and simply put her on meds for the rest of her kidney failure life. and a dog with lots of lipomas, easily diagnosed by needle aspiration, then cancer that was successfully treated surgically. He died of old age. Dr. Sellers has about the best rep in town. She's an angel. And the practice has my favorite sign in town. :-) 101 West Mission Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (805) 569-2287 Cat Doctors also has a good rep: 1333 De La Vina Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (805) 899-2944 Sorry, ART, but I believe Dr. Wright is now the owner/surgeon, probably among others, of CARE: http://www.independent.com/news/2010/apr/19/pet-hospital-reopens/ It's good to have a relationship with your vet. I've always been very happy with Dr. Douglas at White's; I have no doubt she'd steer you the right way if it was indicated. My sympathies to OP. You are a good and loving owner.
COMMENT 363895P	2013-01-15 07:25 PM
And the current pet referrals: http://www.edhat.com/site/tidbit.cfm?id=1394&theSec=Pets&ic=47
COMMENT 363897P	2013-01-15 07:29 PM
Being fair here: Dr. Dalo does have a good reputation as a surgeon. Hope you start by talking to your current vet, then phoning others. Pick whom you are comfortable with, and these recommendations are good.
SHAGGY	2013-01-15 10:55 PM
Dr Lexi Rugg at Valley Animal hospital is great saved my dogs life. I have had nothing but great experiences here.
SBARTS	2013-01-15 11:56 PM
Dr Christine Sellers is fabulous...ditto!!!
COMMENT 363948P	2013-01-16 01:09 AM
PLEASE, whatever you do, do not go to Dr. Dalo. I went to him due to a friend's recommendation. My beloved Border Collie had taken ill, He made the entire experience a complete nightmare for me. He talked and talked and TALKED and had no compassion, no thought except to display his learnedness. His staff consisted of two young girls who had no clue whatsoever about the heartbreak of discovering your wonderful companion had cancer, with perhaps only months to live. As I stood there, holding back tears, those girls were so flippant and smiling, it was absolutely horrible. Dr. Dalo told me to leave my dog there with him for THREE HOURS, before he would have any chance to X-ray her. The notion that I would leave my sweet girl, who had never been apart from me or EVER boarded or kept in any strange place, much less the cages in back of a vet's office, had me stunned with disbelief. Talk about NO CLUE how to treat someone who had just heard their pet might be near death! I brought her back, hours later, X-rays were taken. It cost me $350. More talk, talk, talk. All Dr. Dalo wanted was to cut her open. He actually talked about cutting "into the meat" of my precious, wonderful dog. The next day, Dr. Otto (the most wonderful vet ever), told me quietly and gently that I would only be postponing the inevitable. My angel dog was only eight years old. I had thought she would live to be at least 12 or 13. Margie, from "House Calls," came to my backyard about two weeks later, and was so kind and capable. Now my lovely companion "sleeps" under my plum tree. I miss her every day. Don't go to Dr. Dalo.
COMMENT 363950P	2013-01-16 02:48 AM
HUMAN BEINGS sometimes have to wait three hours in an emergency room for an x-ray. Lets get a reality check here. And most CHILDREN don't have the life that dog apparently had, never being away from you. Wow. Vets are not social workers. Their purpose is medical and to treat and heal animals. If they have a kind bedside manor that is excellent, but not their primary purpose nor the yard stick their skill should be based on. Dalo, according to your account, spent a lot of time explaining things to you (likely from a colder medical point of view) and OFFERED to try to save your dog and operate. Otto did not and suggested you simply put the dog down. Get some perspective - the sweetness and gentleness (although be it wonderful) a vet has does not equate to surgical skill. Maybe you would have had another couple years if you went for the surgery, no one knows. The experience you describe is not a reason to so harshly publicly chastise a practitioner. Especially when the OP is requesting referrals for surgical skill, and not bedside manor.
COMMENT 363952P	2013-01-16 04:27 AM
Oh, how could I not mention Dr. Otto and Dr. Mason, House Calls for Pets!! LOVE them both. Otto has a full service practice, Carpinteria Vet Hospital 585 Walnut Street, Carpinteria Phone:(805) 684-3617 I went to him for years; people travel from all over the state to see/return to him. Dr. Mason rocks but does not have a brick & mortar practice. She often works at Carp Vet. She treated my cat at home the night before I had kitty put down; if only I'd done it then... but kitty had drugs and fluids and was comfortable but probably comatose. I thought I'd hear one more purr... More fool me. Agree about Dalo, he's a good surgeon and was doing his job.
COMMENT 363970P	2013-01-16 07:28 AM
VMSG - Veterinary Medical and Surgical Group in Ventura, very high reputation in this part of the state. Some vets whose names are instantly recognized by vets anywhere like Dr. Theresa Ortega, also is an emergency facility so somebody is always around for excellent surgical after-care. If anything unusual comes up, they are totally there for you. Outstanding diagnosis, up to date treatment, all the equipment. (The same prices as in SB.) 339-2290.
COMMENT 363980	2013-01-16 07:50 AM
Ventura Specialty Medical Group - !
COMMENT 363986	2013-01-16 07:59 AM
Dr. Seller has worked miracles on all of my cats, we have been going to her for 25 years. She is a lovely human being, and truly cares about the critters. There is no one like her in town. Don't go to Bill Wallace, he nearly killed one of our cats when Dr. Sellers was unavailable once.
COMMENT 363998	2013-01-16 08:48 AM
Dr. Ron Faoro saved our kitty too. He is a wonderful vet who is very caring and dedicated. St. Francis Pet Clinic.
TMSB	2013-01-16 09:22 AM
I take my dogs to Buena Animal Hospital in Ventura. They are much more compassionate and affordable than any vet in Sana Barbara.
COMMENT 364025	2013-01-16 09:45 AM
Dr. Christine McFarland at Whites is our vet of choice for our cats. Avoid Dr. Faoro. He refused to help our cat when he had a salivary gland cancer and would only refer us to a hospital in LA for surgery and followup radiation. The cost estimates of $4 to $6 thousand dollars made this choice impossible for us to undertake and then Faora turned his back on us trying to manage the last months of the cats life. Dr. Mc Farland helped us take care of this kitty in the ensuing months and when the end seemed imminent, she came to our home to do the euthanesia. I would not ever consider Faoro to be compassionate.
COMMENT 364027	2013-01-16 09:48 AM
When our cat had cancer, she had to have emergency surgery here in town at CARE, but received her follow up treatments for cancer in Ventura at Veterinary Medical And Surgical Group and at the Pet Emergency Clinic. Dr. Ayl is a veterinary oncologist, and he is wonderful. If it does turn out to be cancer, do your research and find out the options. Depending on what type it is, it's not necessarily a death sentence and even pets with terminal cancer can have a good quality of life because chemo doesn't negatively affect animals in the way it does for humans.
COMMENT 364029	2013-01-16 09:49 AM
Dr. Lewis at Airport Annimal Hospital. He LOVES cats and is so compassionate! He takes care of our two cats one of which is 15 years old.
COMMENT 364055	2013-01-16 11:02 AM
DO NOT take your pet to Buena Animal Hospital in Ventura. They are the worst vet I have ever been to. Not a caring person among them. They actually tried to examine my cat in their waiting room! Seriously the worst ever. They also do not love animals. Its all about the money. My cat had a small fatty tumor on her leg they wanted to remove right away for $500. I made the appointment for a second opinion at the Ventura Medical and Surgical Group. They actually called me at work and tried to talk me OUT of getting the 2nd opinion! VMSG's 2nd opinion was that the cat did not need any surgery at all!
COMMENT 364056	2013-01-16 11:04 AM
Dr. Ritt (?) no. never. Dr. Dalo does talk, talk, talk and $, $, $ and although I didn't have my dogs surgery with him, he clearly knows his stuff. I'd probably let him do it but with all that talk he didn't convince me that the surgery needed to be performed just told me all about it. Dr. Wright has the reputation. Dr. Faoro is definitely in the top 3 to consider. Wright or Faoro in no particular order. Dalo is next only because his bedside manner is absent. Doesn't make him a bad guy.
COMMENT 364282	2013-01-16 07:28 PM
There is a new veterinary specialty center at 414 E. Carrillo Street. google: avs4pets CARE looks empty and run-down every time I drive by... + bad website. They seem to be circling the drain.
EMUWREN1	2013-01-17 01:20 AM
Dr. Otto is the top choice made by discerning pet owners in this area. I'm surprised he ever has a minute to himself, he is so popular. I write "popular," and I mean he is the go-to vet. Period. As for 950P: If Dr. Otto said 948 was prolonging the dog's pain and suffering, I'm sure he was right. Not everyone wants to witness their pet companion suffer through surgery and chemo, just to keep that pet with them for a few extra months to a year. I read 948's comment and am dismayed by your lack of reading comprehension, not to mention your obvious anger. I would have felt just as bewildered and upset if I had a sick pet and was talked at like that. "The meat?" Ghastly. You denigrate Dr. Otto's knowledge and expertise without ever having met the man? Huh. If my dogs ever become ill with cancer or any other dire disease, I certainly won't want a vet who behaves like he is teaching a class in dissection.
COMMENT 364370	2013-01-17 06:47 AM
Emu, re: paragraph 1, was this a local survey done recently? If you can please provide the source of this info, I'd love to read it. Thanks in advance.
COMMENT 364386P	2013-01-17 07:25 AM
EMUWREN1, You are sure he is right because you are a licensed veterinarian with emphasis on surgical procedures? Thanks in advance for your reply.
COMMENT 364429	2013-01-17 08:36 AM
EMUWREN - You find the term meat ghastly - which term would you prefer when a surgeon is explaining in detail a procedure: muscle? flesh? tendon? I'm not sure what the difference is. I can assure you, knowing some surgeons, they often describe things in a very detailed and analytical way. It is not out of "not caring", it is due to their personalities often being quite clinical and mental - rather than the more personable traits GPs more often have.
COMMENT 365312	2013-01-19 03:02 PM
Dr McDonald is great, as well as Dr Dalo.