Whitehall and Pittston, PA:

Kiki, a 4 year old female kitty, had fractures of all toes in her back foot.  The fractures were repaired with some pins.  KM writes: "I would like to thank Dr. Zeltzman and VCVRC for your time and patience with Kiki. I know she did not particularly care for everyone's help, but I sure did, I just couldn't see here not using her leg for the rest of her life. She is back to herself, running up and down the stairs with Oreo and Kallie, her brother and sister. Jumping and laying in windows and jumping on my dresser, getting in trouble. Before she broke her leg she would run into the bathroom jump up on the sink and wait for me to turn the water on - well she is also back to her routine. Thank you everyone for your kindness."

5 months after surgery, KM reports: "Kiki is doing really well. Running around like a nut, only favors her paw when she gets up. Once she is up and walking around, she is fine. She also doesn't like when I don't pay attention to her.  If I am reading, she will knock the book out of my hand. I feel in my heart I did the right thing. I am glad you were the surgeon.
 
I can't thank you enough for all your help.  Thank you, thank you, thank you, KM"



Tucker is a 9 year old Lab who had a TPLO (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy) on his back leg to address an ACL tear.
TA (a great cookie maker by the way) writes: "Just wanted to say a huge thank you (...).  It was so comforting to know that Tucker didn't have to hobble around in pain any longer.  Your kindness and compassion were very much appreciated."

A few months later, KW writes:
"Hi Dr. Zeltzman, Tucker is doing fabulous on his mobility after the TPLO surgery this summer. It is really miraculous. Thank you again! He is like a new dog. He wants to play again, he enjoys his walks, and he is loving life. Last week I took him for his check-up (and weight control). I was so excited, when Dr. L. looked at his weight and said " I don't think he should lose any more!" Never thought I would hear that!
(...) I have recommended you to anyone that will listen. Thank you again for the wonderful care, the kindness, and the compassion. You can't always find that in this busy world."

Ekko is a very cute 4 month old German Shepherd puppy who came to our hospital with vomiting, diarrhea and anorexia.  He was thought of having a foreign body in his intestine.  While we did not find one, we found some abnormal intestine and performed a prophylactic gastropexy (to prevent the twisting part of the "bloat" or GDV condition).  He left our hospital happy, eating, with no vomiting and diarrhea, looking like nothing ever happened!  PL writes:
"Hello Dr. Zeltzman, (...) Thank you for saving our Ekko.  You are professional and very well spoken.  You not only are an excellent surgeon, you treat people like people.  I have been to too many doctors who talk down to you and make you feel as if you are not worthy of their time.  (...) I wish you well in all you do and pray you keep your excellent bed side manner along with your incredible surgical skills and knowledge.  It was a pleasure meeting you.  No disrespect intended but I hope I don't have to see you again :-) "


Fritz, an 8 year old Maltese, was thought to have a tumor in his adrenal gland. The gland was removed and turned out to be benign. His owner, DF, translated for him:  "Thank you a thousand times for taking care of me! I was a very sick boy! You saved my life, and I think my Mom's too. She was so upset and thought she would lose me. You put the sparkle back in my eyes. I am so glad for the doctors and the staff at Valley Central."


Tucker, a 10 year old Shepherd,  had a TPLO (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy) on his back leg to address an ACL tear.  KW simply writes: "Thanks for taking such good care of Tucker.  We all appreciate it so much."


Bashia is an amazing 12 year old Pekinese, - a true fighter.  After cancer in his spleen, he had a different type of lung cancer, which we removed recently.  AG simply writes: "Thank you for the wonderful job you did on Bashia!"


Coda, a 7 year old Newfie, had a TPLO (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy) on her back leg to address an ACL tear.  Two months later, NF writes: "(...) Thank you  for taking care of Coda with the TPLO surgery.  Hopefully, we will be swimming in the not too distant future. It would have been very difficult  for me to travel far from the Lehigh Valley to have her treated, so for whatever reason brought you to practice here, I am grateful.  You are a  professional, caring person, who doesn't pull any punches and I appreciate that! (...)"

Dazzle, a 5 year old Cocker, had a condition where one kidney became full of urine (hydronephrosis). That kidney had to be removed (nephrectomy).  EH writes: "We are happy to report that Dazzle is doing well. She bounced back from her surgery and month-long confinement with ease, and now seems to be back to her old self. Thank you so much for saving her life. We can’t really express how much it means to us. Your calm and straightforward manner was a great comfort to us at a very stressful time. We also applaud the professionalism of the entire staff, please give them a big thank you for us. Hopefully Dazzle has a long, happy life ahead of her. She is certainly the most pampered dog we know!"

Maygan, an 8 year old Labrador mix, had a very large tumor in her groin area.  Sweet little JR writes: "There are many surgeons around, but do you know what makes you special? It’s the excellence as a surgeon and the huge compassion that make you the best there is." Luckily, the mass turned out to be a benign fatty tumor (lipoma).

Lucy, an 8 month old Golden Retriever, had an old hip dislocation (chronic hip luxation) that required a femoral head ostectomy ("FHO").  SB writes for her: "Thanks for all the TLC and kindness you’ve shown. Thank you for fixing my leg. Now I can run with my big sister and brother."

Jag, a 1 year old Rottie, had cut the tendons of his front paw.  VM writes: "I wish to thank you for the kind and professional service you provided for Jag. I really appreciate all your did for her."

Timber was an 8 year old Labrador who had laryngeal paralysis. We did surgery to fix her condition. Two years later, her owner RB writes:
“Dr. Zeltzman, I have long awaited in finding where you disappeared to, so that I could thank you for the wonderful job you did on Timber in May of 2006. She has done very well.”

Below, you can see what a rough life Timber has...

Zeus, a very cute 4 year old male Doxie (see picture), just went to "doggie heaven". I met Zeus when he was just few weeks old, -the cuttest furball that would fit in your hand-, with basically no anus and a malformed penis. After extensive reconstructive surgery and an unusual amount of TLC by his incredibly dedicated owners, Zeus became kind of a star at the clinic, and overall a happy, functional pet.  He recently got into complications (pancreatitis, kidney failure...) and was sadly but humanely enthanized.
SK writes: "We can't thank you enough for everything you did for Zeus and us. While we miss him terribly (...), we continue to count all the wonderful days we had with our loving dog. (...) Your expertise and caring hands gave us our greatest gift, and words can't express our gratitude to you. You are a special and gifted person."
I will always remember Zeus as being a fighter that definitely beat the odds.  We all could learn a lot from Zeus!

On July 29, 2007, I received the following incredible email.  I usually summarize thank you cards and letters, but I feel that this one deserves no cuts!

"Dr. Zeltzman,
I was happy to find your e-mail address through the internet. I have wanted to tell you how wonderful Autumn, our yellow lab, has done from the TPLO (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy) that you performed April, 2006 and to thank you.
Autumn's right knee was in very bad shape. Dr. KP had told us to be prepared that she might only be with us about 6 months. He later referred us to you and we are very thankful for his referral. We were impressed not only with the high quality of surgery and care, but also that you were in continuous communication with us and Dr. KP throughout the surgery and recuperation. We were so determined that this surgery would be successful that we followed your instructions exactly.
She can run (although we limit that activity), walks up and down stairs with all 4 legs moving in progression, gets up from a sitting or lying position with ease, and appears to move better than she had in years. We think this knee had been an ongoing problem for her for many years. And she has gone from 87 lbs to 70 lbs on a diet of half R/D, half J/D. She remains on a joint medication. On her check ups, Dr. KP is always amazed at how good she is doing and how well the knee moves (and at her weight loss which has contributed to her well being).
Although you were not in Cincinnati at her last checkup, we had wanted to let you know how much we appreciate all you did for Autumn, who means so much to us. We talk about how fortunate we were that you were in Cincinnati when Autumn needed her surgery.
We hope all is going well in your new practice. Although our area is definitely at a loss with your relocation, we hope that your skill and expertise will continue to help small animals for many years to come.
With deepest appreciation,
DR
Middletown, Ohio"


Abbee, a sweet 9 year old female Sheltie, had a shoulder luxation (dislocation). The surgery was a big challenge because her owner, TMC, made it clear that her passion was agility, and Abbee was not willing to give it up because of a silly shoulder injury!
Years later, TMC writes: “This is a picture of Abbee. (...) I did take her to another orthopedic vet due to her arthritis. He commented that her surgery was well done. Abbee is back running in agility again. She gets so excited, I can hardly keep up with her. Just thought you would like to know how well she is doing. She is now 11 years old. She has earned several first place blue ribbons. She has a few more since this picture. Thank you again for the good job. We love Abbee so much, and to see her run and be happy means so much to us.”

Derby, a male Doxie, came in paralyzed in the back legs because of a slipped disc. Years later, NM writes: “We appreciate so much what you did for Derby. (...) After a recent fall, we took him to an animal chiropractor. (...) Now, he outlasts our younger and larger dog, Frodo (an energetic wire-haired Doxie) on long walks. (...) He would never have been able to get back to where he is now without your expert and compassionate help.”

Galiana, a 6 month old Brazilian Mastiff, had a bad fracture of the humerus in the arm. Her owners BC and EC write: "Thank you so much for being so patient and taking such good care of Gali. This has been a struggle for us, and you have definitely made it easier. Thank you."

Bonnie and Clyde were two characters. We treated Bonnie, a 14 year old Maltese, for an upper airway condition (everted laryngeal saccules) and Clyde, a 13 year old Maltese, for bladder stones. GA writes: "Thank you so much for the compassion you have shown in caring for Bonnie and Clyde."

Bear, a 7 year old Rottie, had his spleen removed for a benign condition (nodular lymphoid hyperplasia). Seven months later, JD writes: "I want to thank you for the wonderful job you did on Bear’s surgery. He had an uncomplicated recovery (...). I appreciate not only your skills as a surgeon, but also your genuine concern for Bear’s well being."

Trooper, a 3 month old German Shepherd, didn’t start life in a happy way. He came to us with multiple fractures (left tibia, left femur, left ilium, right ilium and left elbow luxation). Ms. A writes: "Thank you so much for everything you have done for Trooper. You played a very big part in saving his life. We can’t thank you enough!"

Gretchen, an 11 year old Doxie, had a slipped disc in her neck. BH writes: "We appreciate the professionalism and care you have shown to Gretchen. Also thanks for being patient with us as we made our decision and deluged you with phone calls."

Sassy W, a 12 year old Golden Retriever, after her liver cancer surgery (hepatocellular carcinoma) writes herself 1 year later: "I just wanted to let you know that I am doing fine! I am eating well and driving my Mom crazy again. She says I owe it all to you. The last recheck ultrasound shows no trace of cancer. I am not sure what that means, but I get to pester my Mom for a lot longer. Thanks again for taking such good care of me."

Shadow, a 2 year old Skipperke, had a leak between sutures in his intestines after surgery had been done "elsewhere".  MC writes: "I cannot adequately express my gratitude to you for saving Shadow’s life. He is fully back to normal (...). Thanks to your skilled care, but especially to your compassionate, dedicated concern for both of us, the way you stayed on top of his care after surgery, was the difference for him."

Shiloh (aka Cujo), a 5 year old lab mix, had ACL tears 2 years apart. We performed a TPLO (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy) on each leg. DC writes: "It takes a very patient person to work with Shiloh. You never got mad at her or myself." And Shiloh simply writes: "Thank you for taking excellent care of my legs."

Lou - I will always remember Lou. She had a huge cancerous mass attached to her thoracic vena cava, -a large, vital blood vessel in her chest. Against all odds, we removed the mass, and Lou lived for a long while. Later, I met Wilson, a 2 year old Beagle with hip dysplasia. JM writes: "Thanks so much with helping our animals and ourselves. You have a true blessing with dogs!"

Max, a 2 year old cat, had a penis surgery to help him pee (P/U, or perineal urethrostomy) done "elsewhere". He came to us with large, urine-soaked wounds on his belly, and no way to urinate. After one surgery to help him pee (prepubic urethrostomy), weeks of wound management, and two major reconstructive surgeries to repair the wounds, he recovered well.
DD writes: "Thank you so much for your generosity of care, support & time (especially your willingness to stay late on a Friday night) in the treatment of my much loved cat, Max. His wounds are continuing to heal (...)."
A year later, DD surprises us with an update: "Max celebrated a year of being a healthy and happy little guy. And that has to be a least 90% due to you, the miracle worker (...). He continues to be the coolest cat I have ever had (...). Again, thank you so very much for all the skill, patience, compassion, kindness and generosity that you extended to both of us. I am so grateful that you were there to work miracles."

Rags, an 11 year old Airedale, had liver cancer (fibrosarcoma). Six months after surgery, his owner SC writes: "Just a note of many thanks for your great surgical skills. Chemo has been successful. His hair is growing back and looking good (...). Thanks for your phone calls to check on Rags - they were much appreciated."

Ripley, a 4 year old Doxie, had a slipped disc in her neck. CH writes: "Thank you so much for helping Ripley get back to her old self. The surgery made a huge difference. She is back to driving us crazy with her ball."

Millie, a 12 year old Gordon Setter, had a cancerous lung tumor removed. GL writes: "Millie is doing great and will travel with us to Colorado. Thanks again for the wonderful care Millie received at your hospital."

Big Bunny was quite a case! This 2 year Flemish Giant rabbit needed his right back leg amputated because of a very severe wound that wouldn’t heal after getting caught in a recliner! JJ writes: "Thank you for the marvelous and heartfelt care you have given to Big Bunny. As a result of your exemplary care, she is happy and has adjusted well to her life after surgery."

Sami, a 1 year old Miniature Pinscher, was "kinda stepped on", and had a fracture in her pelvis (ilial fracture) that was repaired with a plate and some screws. MF writes: "Thanks to you. Sami is very healthy. She can do anything. Sami is the most lovable little dog. Thanks for your expertise!"

Jesse, a 10 year old Golden Retriever, had a liver tumor the size of a pineapple. It turned out to be benign! JW writes: "I know this was a very serious surgery and we were very grateful having you as our doctor. Thank you for taking such good care of our baby. You all are very special people who help our best friends in life. I am grateful for every day we have a healthy Jesse."

Jackson, a 4 year old Border Collie, had a slipped disc in his back. EC writes: "Jackson is doing great, with little or no telltale sign of his disc surgery. His beautiful silk hair is growing back nicely and his energy level has returned to Border Collie normal. Thank you for all the services and wonderful care you provided Jackson, and the support during his long recovery period."

Gus N., a crazy 3 year old Labrador, had a rare injury: he fractured his kneecap (patella). He writes after his recovery: "My Mom and Dad told me that you are a very caring doctor. I just wanted to say thank you for fixing my shattered patella (...). Thank you for knowing where to put all the wires and pins."
And later, MN writes: "At this Thanksgiving time, we wanted to let you know how grateful our family is to you for giving our Gus his life back.  He can run as fast and jump as high as before his injury.  A person could never tell he had such a bad accident (...).  We want you to know how much we appreciate everything you did to give him a total recovery.  He is so happy."

Milton, a 4 year old Rottie, had a TPLO (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy) for his ACL tear. KC writes: "Milton and I want to express our sincere gratitude for your help repairing his right ACL. He acts as though he never underwent major surgery and the most difficult thing is just keeping him still! This has been a very positive experience for both of us and I have no doubt he will be better than new after he heals. Thank you for all your outstanding care and expertise."

Teddy, a 5 year old Doxie, had a slipped disc in his neck. AB writes: "We want to thank you for taking such good care of Teddy. It was nice to know he was in such good hands."

Peggy S., a 2 year old Australian Shepherd, had a condition where one kidney became full of urine (hydronephrosis). That kidney had to be removed (nephrectomy). She writes: "Thanks so much for taking such good care of me. I am doing very well. I am ready to run and play."

Amos, a 3 year old Beagle, had a slipped disc in his neck. BC writes: "More thanks than I can even count for restoring my best pal to complete health. It seems miraculous that a little dog so filled with pain could be so well again."

Quake, a 5 year old Shar Pei, had a slipped disc in his back. PN writes: "With true appreciation for your warmth and thoughtfulness. Thank you for your caring of our family member, Quake. He is doing well."

Bebe B., a 12 year old Poodle, had both kneecaps that were lose (luxating patellas). She writes: "Thank you for fixing my leg. I am now able to go up and down all the steps. I run and chase the birds out of my backyard (...). I feel back to normal. Again, thank you for taking care of me and making me well. Signed: your Poodle pal."

Bailey, a 6 year old Jack Russell Terrier, had a large open wound on her ankle, which was dislocated. MJY writes: "Thank you so much for the excellent job you did on Bailey. She is doing fine and getting back to her old self. She is getting motion back in her leg and has complete use of it (...)."

Isis, an 8 year old Rottie, had cancer in her spleen and liver (histiocytic sarcoma). SW writes: "Thank you for all of your kindness and concern during Isis’ illness. I am most impressed with the level of care that she received while in your care. She continues to improve and is healing well."

Ruby, a 10 year old Dobie, had a slipped disc in her neck. LS writes: "Ruby is doing great! She’s running, playing and is a happy dog again. I appreciated your patience with me and the fantastic care she received (...)."

Champ, a 12 year old Labrador mix, had cancer (osteosarcoma) in his hip bone. His right back leg was amputated, then he had chemotherapy. LD writes: "We would like to express our gratitude for the care you gave to our "boy" Champ. This type of experience is difficult enough without having to worry about what kind of care he’ll receive. We deeply appreciated your kindness and compassion and we know full well he would not have received better care anywhere."
And a few months later: "Champ is doing very well, he is eating well, and he is getting along on 3 legs just fine. We take a walk every day, and sometimes I take him to this park that is close by. There is a lake there and he loves to swim after the ball. We are soon to get the 3^rd and final chemo treatment. He tolerates them well. So all is good for now."

Sassy, a 3 year old Maltese, had a liver shunt. SF simply writes: "Your kindness has been appreciated."

Buddy, a 10 year old Collie, had a condition called immune-mediated poly-arthritis, a condition where his immune system attacks his joints. SW writes: "(...) After 7 months of pain, it looks like you were correct and we are seeing some improvement. We want you to know we respect your honesty and integrity. You are a gift to animal owners!"

Cricket, a cute 8 month old kitten, had a dislocation (luxation) of the L hip, and multiple fractures at both ends of his thigh bone. HA writes: "Thank you so much for the wonderful job you did on Cricket. I know it was a difficult surgery and I really appreciate you doing it. I am especially grateful to you for working him into your schedule. He is doing very well (...). Thank you again for your kindness to me and your skill with Cricket."

George, a 7 year old cat, had a penis surgery to help him pee (P/U, or perineal urethrostomy). RM writes: "Thank you so much for the successful operation you performed. He is recovering very nicely (...). The entire experience was very kind and empathetic."
Later, RM writes: "Thank you again for fixing my big boy. He has a new lease on life (...)."

Paloma Q., an 11 year old German Shepherd, had cancer near her heart (atrial hemangiosarcoma). She writes: "Thank you very much for all your excellent care. I’d like to tell you I am doing very well and playing again."

Greta, a 6 month old Beagle, broke her shin bone (tibia). It was fixed with a cast. PW writes: "About 2 years ago, my 6 month old puppy broke her leg in 2 places. We decided not to do surgery, but to keep her in a splint (...). She had at least 15 splint changes. I thought you’d like to know how beautifully she healed (...). We now live in Chicago but I want you to know how terrific she is and what a wonderful job you did. I sincerely thank you."

Cody, a 6 year old Sheltie, broke his forearm (radius and ulna bones) after being... attacked by a pot-bellied pig! BT writes: "We appreciated the surgery and wonderful care you gave Cody when he was injured." What a story!

Sooty, a 4 year old English Spaniel, had severe hip dysplasia and pain that required a femoral head ostectomy ("FHO"). RB writes: "Thank you so much for taking such good care of Sooty during his FHO surgery. We greatly appreciate your patience, caring and professionalism".
4 months later, RB surprises us with a postcard from vacation! "Sooty’s FHO update: week 16, Sooty on vacation in the Smoky Mountains this weekend. FHO hip is doing very well. Swimming in the Little River 3 times a day... up and down a spiral staircase. Thanks for everything!"

Sprout, a 13 year old cat who looks like 3, was affected by a fibrosarcoma between his shoulder blades, a horrible cancerous tumor. He needed a pretty invasive surgery. BA writes: "(...) We are so grateful to you and your amazing skill as a surgeon. He’s doing great. Dr. H (an oncologist) doesn’t feel he needs any chemo based on the results of his biopsy. She just suggests a recheck every 3 months. Sprout’s hair is growing back a little more each day!"
A year later, BA writes: "Happy Anniversary! It’s been a year since Sprout’s cancer surgery (...). He’s doing great (...). He’s just a happy, healthy cat (...). I truly believe if it wasn’t for your skill as a surgeon combined with your obvious love of what you do, this story might not have had a happy ending. We will forever be grateful to you! (...)" Enclosed is a picture of a Garfield-looking kitty sleeping on the stove!!!

Mac Cavity, a 14 year old cat, had a double whammy. He had a penis surgery to help him pee (P/U, or perineal urethrostomy) done "elsewhere". He came to us unable to pee, and also with a hyperactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). So we redid his P/U and removed his thyroid. PF writes: " (...) When we came to your clinic, we had no hope for our boy (...). Mac is streaming nicely. We are so grateful for your professionalism and attention to detail."
I also have to comment on the card. It says: "Thanks from the bottom of my butt. It’s a lot bigger than my heart!"

Bob, a 13 year old Labrador, had laryngeal paralysis, which made his breathing difficult. JW writes: "Bob wanted me to write that he is doing great (...). His appetite is good, he likes to play, he loves to go on walks (...). Thank you."

Rosie, an 11 year old Shih Tzu was not very lucky, besides having a great owner! She first had surgery for a slipped disc in her neck. One month later, she needed surgery for a slipped disc in her back. This is very unusual. AE writes: "My deepest thanks to you for your 2 surgeries on Rosie and for your excellent care of her. She is getting better, day by day (...)."

Simon Potter, a 5 year old Rottie, had 2 TPLOs (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy) 5 months apart. Two years later, Ms. F kindly remembers us and translates: "It has been almost 2 years since you fixed both my knees. I am doing great, no problems at all. You should see me chase those rabbits. Of course I don’t touch them (...)"

Buffalo Grove, IL:

Ziggy, a miniature Schnauzer, ate some bones. Several pieces couldn’t make it through his intestines. He simply writes: "Thank you for saving my life."  His owner, DM writes: "How can we thank you enough for saving Ziggy’s life? Your team showed so much care and concern that we will always appreciate! He means so much to us!"

SN writes: "Thanks for your care, compassion and great medical services!"

Lobo, a 6 year old American Eskimo, had severe inflammation in his nose (chronic rhinitis). He had a CAT scan, then nose surgery. Ms. L writes: "Dr Zeltzman, you touched our hearts with your concerned, loving heart.  Thanks for helping me transport Lobo from Dr. B’s.  I’m sure the doggies in France miss a vet like you.  Keep up the wonderful work."

Ms. R writes: "You did a great operation. The stitches look fine."

Leo, a 14 year old cat, had a dislocation in his back (T8-T9 subluxation). TI writes: "Dr Zeltzman, Thank you so much! I just wanted to drop you a note and thank you again for all the time spent with me and Leo. You and the staff were very thorough. I felt Leo was in good hands."

SB writes: "Dear Dr Zeltzman, (...) We were very satisfied with your bedside manner, you have been very helpful through all this, describing the surgery and postop care. It has been very trying and traumatic for us, and your advice and suggestions have been valuable (...)."

Snow, a 10 year old Maltese, had a slipped disc in his neck. BM writes: "Dear Dr Zeltzman, Thank you so much for taking such wonderful care of Snow before, during and after his surgery. Your kindness was very much appreciated."

Lively, an 8 year old cat, had a rare injury in a cat: a tear in his ACL. "Dear Dr Zeltzman, Thank you for taking such good care of Lively (...). The leg looks great, you can’t even see the incision anymore (...). Thank you very much for everything!"

General... I will always remember General, the 6 year old German Shepherd with a distended colon (megacolon). For various reasons, his case was one of my biggest challenges. DR writes: "Our words could never express the gratitude and appreciation for your efforts and accomplishments regarding our dog General."

Many years later, DR writes: "On this day, 6-26-08, General is now 14 years old and doing well.  We continue to be grateful for your efforts to save our dog many years ago."


Chooch, a 10 year old Lab, had a slipped disc in his back. GB writes: "Dear Dr Zeltzman, We wanted to thank you for taking such good care of Chooch. Our words cannot express our respect and appreciation for what you do."

JM, a young MD, wrote to my boss!!! Wickett had a type of hernia near the anus called perineal hernia.
"(...) I am also writing a letter of praise for Dr Zeltzman, your surgical resident (...). He did a wonderful job in explaining the problems faced, and he had an excellent bedside manner. I was impressed with Dr Zeltzman’s professionalism and maturity. He worked hard to make sure I felt comfortable with our plan and outcomes (...). Wickett had a couple minor complications from the surgery, and Dr Zeltzman addressed them very well. I hope that my expression of gratitude for his excellent performance becomes a part of his permanent record (...)."

Ellie, a 4 year old Cocker, had a slipped disc in her back. TL writes: "Dear Dr Zeltzman, Thank you for operating on our dog, Ellie, and saving her. You are a wonderful doctor and have a great concern for the owners of their pets, too.

Noodles, a 6 weeks old kitten, wasn’t very lucky: he had fractures in his left thigh bone (femur), left shin bone (tibia) and right femur. SO writes: "Dear Dr Zeltzman, I wanted to thank you for everything you did for my little kitten Noodles. Because of you, he will live a long, healthy life. It is obvious that you are a very skilled and dedicated professional (...). I was truly blessed to have you as my surgeon (...)."

Corky, a 6 year old Maltese, had a slipped disc in his back. KA writes: "Dear Dr Zeltzman, I would like to thank you for all of your time and hard work with Corky. We had doubts that he would have such a successful recovery, but thanks to your expertise, he is nearly back to himself. Your passion and dedication toward your profession is clearly visible and we like to thank you for the extra time and effort you have shown us, through numerous phone calls and your sincere concern for his progress. It is quite obvious that your heart is really with your work, patients and clients (...)."
Then KA sent a letter to my boss!!! "(...) I live in Milwaukee, WI, and traveled to Illinois the day my dog hurt his back. I arrived after 10 pm and Dr Phil Zeltzman assessed Corky and immediately took him in for surgery. He called following surgery to let us know how it went and followed up numerous times with phone calls while Corky was a patient, and several times after we brought him home. I feel he went above his call of duty and should be recognized for his long hours (seems as if he never leaves there, as every time I called he was there, day and night), compassion for his patients and clients, and on-going dedication toward his profession. It is quite obvious that his heart is really in his work and I appreciate that (...). The night I left him there for surgery, I felt good driving back to Milwaukee knowing he was in a good place and the best of hands with Dr Zeltzman (...). Thank you for taking care of Corky, and providing us with the best doctor that I have encountered."

I fell in love with Misalis, an abandoned 2 month old kitten I almost adopted. Her front paw and her tail were basically crushed. After daily wound management for several weeks, she was ready for adoption. CM writes: "Hi Dr Zeltzman, Just wanted to let you know how little Misalis is doing. She’s a very active, playful little kitten. Her leg is used by her as if nothing had ever been wrong with it. You did a wonderful thing for her. Thanks again."

Heidi, a 6 year old Doxie, had a slipped disc in her back. KB writes: "Dr Zeltzman, (...) In her 2^nd week, she is really doing very well. We brought a 3 legged dog home, now she has become a 4 legged, walking dog, aided of course by her sling. (...) She is moving in her cage when we ask her to come out to exercise (...). We are truly thankful for your surgical skills."

Sophie, a 6 year old Portugese Water Dog, had a diaphragmatic hernia, which means organs from her belly were inside her chest. PJ writes: "Thank you for bringing Sophie back to us (...). She is the light of our life."

Samson, a 7 year old Doxie, had a slipped disc in her neck. EM writes: "Thank you so much for what you did, you made Samson feel better. I am thankful that there are doctors like you, that are here to help poor defenseless animals. You are greatly appreciated."

MR: "Thanks Dr Zeltzman for everything you’ve done for our baby Schubert".

KT: "Dr Zeltzman, thank you for the continuing care of Emmy".

WE: "Dear Dr Zeltzman, thank you for all your tireless, loving care of Ouzo. Our heartfelt thanks and tail wags!".

RZ: "Dear Dr Zeltzman, thank you so much for all the care you gave to Maxi. We are very grateful to you. If you ever come to Charleston, SC, please give us a call!"

JO: "Thank you for giving Tess a second chance in life. It’s really special to know there are caring people who want to help in today’s world."

Sad Stories:

Unfortunately, we can’t save every patient’s life and all stories don’t end in a happy way. We deal with cancer, conditions and diseases that can be fatal. Our job is still to provide the best care we can to improve quality of life for our furry patients. The following words are a tribute to the courage of our patients and their owner’s dedication. Warning: some of these cards are very emotional. You have been warned!

Max, a 13 year old white German Shepherd, had a severe condition of the stomach called "bloat" or gastric dilatation volvulus. Despite a long fight, he unfortunately died.  Still, DM writes: "I wanted to thank you for your efforts in trying to save Max. I know you did everything you could and for that I am truly grateful. Words cannot express how much your phone calls meant to me after his passing. It shows how much you really care."

Bailey, an 8 year old Blue Tick Hound, had rectal cancer (carcinoma).  Ms. C writes: "Thank you for your compassion and caring attitude. It is rare in this world".

Bristol, a male Collie-Aussie mix, had a rare condition called chylothorax (a milky fluid accumulated in his chest). We addressed this condition in 2 ways: We placed a "shunt" to lead the fluid from the chest into the belly, and performed an "omentalization".
Three years later, TB writes a very emotional email: "I wanted to let you know that after weighing the options, we decided to have Bristol put to sleep. (...) The last 3 years had been simply wonderful. We learned to treasure each trip to the park, each noisy greeting we received when returning home, and each adventure he had chasing cats out of the yard. (...) He had a great impact on many of those that he met, and he has melted many peoples hearts along his journey. Friends, neighbors and relatives are grieving along with us as we begin to move forward as they know just how important and special he was to us as well as them. We cannot begin to thank you enough for the added years we have had with him. We had no idea what amount of time we would have with him and the 3 years were much more than we actually expected. Even though I had not kept in contact with you, there were very few days that passed that I didn't find myself saying a little thank you to all those involved in helping him, but especially to you. Bristol was not just a dog, but a true member of our family that will never be forgotten. Thank you so much for all you have done."

Brenda, a 14 year old cat, had cancer at the junction of her small and large intestine. She had surgery, but did not recover well. Her owners, PM & LM, write: "We would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation for your assistance with Brenda. We are grateful for your candid assessment as well as for working her into your surgical schedule on such short notice. We were encouraged by the genuine concern that you showed. Two weeks after the surgery, Brenda was improving and eating. Unfortunately, her food intake eventually dropped off (...) She lost weight despite our efforts. Her weight was just under 3.5 lbs. (...) We knew it was time to let her go (...) We appreciate your efforts to save her. We thank you for your kindness."

Rags, an 11 year old Airedale, had liver cancer (fibrosarcoma). He lived 10 months after surgery. His owner SC writes: "It is with a truly sad and broken heart that I tell you that we lost Rags. He had been doing so well. The follow up X-rays and ultrasound showed that he was cancer free (...). During the past week, he became really weak (...). We put him to sleep the following Wednesday. He fought a good battle though. We loved him so much, and he gave us so much love. Thanks for the care and concern you had for him."

Pirate, a 10 year old Golden Retriever, had a tumor on a rib. He was eventually euthanized. LD writes: "I can’t believe it has been 6 months since I lost Pirate (...). You were so very kind and compassionate. The extra time you allowed with him was so very needed. Thank you for noting that he will be waiting for me at the end of the rainbow bridge."

Sidney, a 15 year old cat had a benign thyroid tumor but severe heart disease. He died the day after surgery. JF writes: "Thank you for your efforts to correct Sidney’s condition and your understanding of our grief (...). Your sensitivity will always be remembered."

Allie, a 1 year old Ferret, died after a mysterious illness affecting her eye. The H’s wrote: "The card you all signed meant a lot. Allie wasn’t around with us as long as I had hoped, but she really warmed our hearts. Thank you for your care and support."

Homer, a 13 year old Beagle, had spleen cancer (fibrohistiocytic nodules). His spleen was removed. He unfortunately died later. MP writes: "Thank you for your kind care of Homer. Although I miss him very much, it is comforting for me to know that he received the best medical care possible. Thanks for everything that you did for Homer and for me."

Lambchop, a 2 month old kitten, didn’t have a very good start in life. He was very sick, weak and unable to poop. His colon became distended (megacolon). He never really ate well after surgery, and despite intensive care at the hospital and at home, he unfortunately died 2 weeks after surgery. Despite this, ML writes: "Thank you so much for trying to save my baby, Lambchop. I am very impressed by not only your abilities as a surgeon but for the compassion and concern that your showed toward both me and Lambchop (...)."

Millie, a 12 year old Gordon Setter, had a cancerous lung tumor removed. She did great. 18 months later, poor Millie had a cancerous mass on her lip and difficulty breathing (laryngeal paralysis). The owners elected chemo after surgery.  Five weeks later, GL writes: "(...) We put Millie down (...). She seemed to have mostly good days (...) We did not want to let her go, but knew in our hearts that it was the right decision. We thank you for all your kindness and concern during her illness and surgeries."

Sula, an old kitty with skin cancer (cutaneous lymphoma), was eventually put to sleep. AR writes: "Dear Dr Zeltzman, Thank you so much for your thoughtful note, and more importantly, for your attentiveness and concern while Sula was in your care. As you know, it was very rough for her at the end, and your compassion made it possible for me to continue to care for her."

Casey, a 12 year old paralyzed Springer Spaniel with a mysterious spinal disease (his myelogram was normal), was eventually put to sleep. KS writes: "Dear Dr Zeltzman, Thank you for all your help with Casey. You were unlike any doctor that I ever met, and I know you did everything you could. This is a hard time, but I will always be thankful for your sincerity and help."

BD writes: "Dear Dr Zeltzman, E and I wanted to thank you for your call, your concern and caring for our Lab, Jake, after he was diagnosed with cancer at UGA in December 1996.  Jake died naturally on Jan. 25^th here at home, and he had a great, long farewell from family and friends during the last weeks of his life.  Your phone call expressing concern in December was so thoughtful. I hope you will always maintain such concern throughout your career. It means so much."

ML writes: "Dr Zeltzman, my husband and I wanted to express our appreciation for your very caring attitude and assistance. Sydney the cat was part of our family, and her death hurts. Still, you and the folks at UGA were absolutely super. Knowing what we know now, the result was probably for the best - at least she wasn’t in pain".


Last but not least, BD (not the same BD as above!) sent this letter to the Dean of the UGA Vet School!

"Dear Dean Anderson:
My husband and I wanted to take time to commend your staff on their care and support during the illness of our family pet, Bailey. We had to bring her there on an emergency basis over the Christmas holidays, and after finding out that she had a mast cell cancer, we had to put her to sleep.
Bailey had been my companion for over 10 years and it was one of the hardest things I had ever had to go through, but knowing the dedication and compassion of your staff made it much easier.
Our case was handled in the beginning by Dr Phil Zeltzman and RP (a student). They were very professional and caring. I couldn’t help but think of the stark contrast between their helpful attitudes and those of ER doctors (...). I truly felt that even though it was hard to leave her there, that we had given her the best care possible and the best chance (...).
After we made the decision to put her to sleep, we got a call from Dr Zeltzman (...).
I can only say that if I am ever ill, I hope that someone will refer me to Dr Zeltzman and the UGA Vet School. Words cannot express how much we appreciated your staff, their dedication and compassion during this time of loss".

This is the nicest compliment I could ever receive from a client.