Surgery
| | William Hoefle, DVM, MS, DACVSSpecial interests – fracture repair, joint injuries, juvenile orthopedic diseases, training residents Board Certified, American College of Veterinary Surgeons Las Vegas Veterinary Referral Center, Founding Partner & Senior Staff Surgeon 2005 – present Professor of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Iowa State University Consultant, veterinary practices throughout area Mobile Veterinary Orthopedic Surgical Practice, Las Vegas area, 1984 – present Iowa State University, MS, 1966 Iowa State University, DVM, 1966 Numerous publications, presentations, research projects, and honors Membership in several veterinary and university organizations Past-presidency of Veterinary Orthopedic Society and the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association Multiple presentations for such groups as the American Animal Hospital Association, American Veterinary Medical Association, North American Veterinary Conference, Western Veterinary Conference, Central States Veterinary Conference, Veterinary Orthopedic Society, and the ACVS Surgical Forum |
| | Robert D. Barstad, DVM, MS, Practice Limited to SurgeryDr. Barstad is married and has a son and daughter. He has a Golden Retriever Kealey and a cat Tiger. His activities include family, woodworking, fly- fishing, and mentoring. Las Vegas Veterinary Specialty Center, Founding Partner 2005 – present Texas Academy of Veterinary Practice Clinical Consultation Award, 1997 (Texan who has most helped peers with consultation and patient care) Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center, Owner and Staff Surgeon in all disciplines of surgery, orthopedics, soft tissue, neurosurgery, 1986 – present Surgical Residency and MS, Iowa State University, in Veterinary Clinical Sciences, 1983 Private Practice, Small Animals, Colorado and Wisconsin, 1979 – 1983 Iowa State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, DVM, Reiser Award for Proficiency in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, 1978 |
| | David R. Mason, B. Vet. Med, MRCVS, DACVS, DECVS, DACVSMRSpecial interests – arthroscopy, elbow dysplasia, thoracic surgery, porto-systemic shunts Board Certified, American College of Veterinary Surgeons 2006 European College of Veterinary Surgeons 2007 American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation 2014 Staff Surgeon, Las Vegas Veterinary Referral Center, 2005 – present Associate Veterinarian, Mobile Surgical Practice, Las Vegas Veterinary Referral Center, 2005 Small Animal Orthopedic Surgery Clinician, 2005 – present Small Animal Surgical Residency, Iowa State University, 2004 Research Associate, JD Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory, University of California Davis, 2003 The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, BVM (Honours), 1999 David Mason, B Vet Med (Honours), MRCVS, is a Board Certified Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon specializing in Orthopedic, Neurologic, Oncologic and General Soft Tissue Surgical Procedures. A native of Northern England who grew up on a dairy farm and has been involved with animals his entire life, Dr. Mason earned his veterinary degree with honours from the Royal Veterinary College, University of London in 1999. After graduation he moved across the Atlantic Ocean in order to pursue a Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Internship at Kansas State Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. |
| | Joshua Rexing, DVM, Practice Limited to SurgerySpecial interests – fracture repair, gastrointestinal surgery, degenerative disc disease Las Vegas Veterinary Referral Center, 2011 – Present Northeast Indiana Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Hospital, 2008-2011 Small Animal Surgical Residency, Iowa State University, 2005-2008 Small Animal Rotating Internship, University of Illinois, 2004-2005 Small Animal Emergency Clinician and Surgery Intern, Northeast Indiana Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Hospital, 2003-2004 Small Animal Private Practice, Petsburgh Animal Hospital, Lafayette, IN, 2001-2003 Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine, DVM, 1997-2001 Purdue University, BS in Animal Sciences, 1992-1997 |
| | Suzanne L. Hunter, DVM, DACVSSpecial Interests: oncologic surgery, wound management, thoracic surgery, urogenital surgery, gastrointestinal surgery, portosystemic shunts. Board Certified, American College of Veterinary Surgeons, 2004 Staff Surgeon, Las Vegas Veterinary Specialty Center, January 2016-present Staff Surgeon, Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists, Houston TX, September 2004-December 2015 Staff Surgeon, Oradell Animal Hospital, Paramus, NJ, August 2003-August 2004 Small Animal Surgical Residency, The Ohio State University, 2000-2003 Small Animal Rotating Internship, Oradell Animal Hospital, Oradell, NJ, 1999-2000 Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, DVM, 1995-1999 Cornell University, BS (Biology), 1991-1995 Dr. Hunter has presented at local and national continuing education meetings on various soft tissue topics. She has also written and collaborated on several publications in peer-reviewed journals. She enjoys spending time with her two sons when not working. Their Golden and Labrador Retrievers, one cat, and two horses keep everyone very busy. |
 | Lauren Sanders, DVM, DACVS-SASpecial interests: Arthroscopy and regenerative medicine, gastrointestinal surgery, orthopedic disease and fracture repair Staff Surgeon, Las Vegas Veterinary Specialty Center, August 2018 to present Small Animal Surgical Residency, Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center-Levittown, PA, 2015-2018 Small Animal Surgical Internship, Central Texas Veterinary Specialty Hospital-Austin, TX 2014-2015 Small Animal Rotating Internship, Carolina Veterinary Specialists-Charlotte, NC 2013-2014 University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, DVM, 2010-2013 Oklahoma State University, BS in Animal Science, 2006-2010 Dr. Sanders is originally from Missouri. Her free time is spent outdoors with her dog and riding her Arabian horse, April. |
| | Nick Rappa, DVM, DACVS-SABio coming soon! |
Andrew Hyslop, DVMDr. Andrew Hyslop is originally from Avon, IN and graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry in 2014. Dr. Hyslop then attended Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine and graduated with his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2018. Following vet school, he completed both his small animal medicine and surgery rotating internship as well as his first surgical specialty internship at IndyVet Emergency and Specialty Hospital in Indianapolis, IN. In addition to surgery Dr. Hyslop has a passion for wildlife and conservation medicine. In his free time, he enjoys a variety of outdoor activities such as biking and hiking. He also enjoys cooking, reading, and traveling. |
Zachary Miller, DVMDr. Zachary Miller was born and raised on the rural Northern California coast. He received his minor in Business Administration and two Bachelor degrees in Zoology and in Marine Biology from Humboldt State University in Arcata, California. Dr. Miller moved to the University of California, Davis to pursue veterinary medicine and graduated with his DVM in 2018. Since then Dr. Miller has completed an intensive small animal rotating internship at the Southern California Veterinary Specialty Hospital in Irvine, California. He then moved to Akron, Ohio where he completed a surgical specialty internship with the Ohio Veterinary Surgery and Neurology department in the Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital and has now joined the Las Vegas Veterinary Specialty Center as a surgical intern. In his free time, he enjoys training and hiking with his cattle dog Ziggy, and reading just about anything (sci-fi and historical fiction especially). Other hobbies include cooking, woodworking, hiking and kayaking. |
Jean Marie Acuna, DVMDr. Jean Marie Acuna was born and raised in the Philippines, then moved to Alaska as she was finishing high school. She completed her bachelor’s degree at University of Hawai’i and her DVM at University of Alaska Fairbanks/Colorado State University. Dr. Acuna recently moved from Illinois, where she completed her rotating internship. In addition to surgery, she loves working with wildlife/zoo animals. Dr. Acuna enjoys being outdoors, especially being out in the ocean. She has two corgis, named Thorin and Hedwig, and a tarantula named Shrimp. |
Alyssa Matos, DVMDr. Alyssa Matos is from Puerto Rico and came to the states for college at Purdue, then went to vet school at Cornell. Dr. Matos continued the rest of her training in private practice, in Pittsburgh and Chicago. She does not enjoy the cold so she is glad to be back in the warmth. Dr. Matos likes the beach and water, but also enjoys the outdoors and staying active. |
About Our Practice
Our board certified surgeons use advanced tools and methods to perform surgical procedures not available in most veterinary clinics. Our excellent pain management therapies offer relief to both pets and their owners, before and after surgery.
Our surgical specialists provide consultations for many different types of advanced surgical cases, such as soft tissue, orthopedic, and neurologic problems. We are dedicated to providing thorough communication to both the owner and primary veterinarian at all times, and providing our patients with the most advanced and compassionate care possible. Our staff reviews procedures, possible complications, prognosis, and home and follow-up care at the time of consultation, before and after surgery, and at discharge.
In addition, the surgical practice has immediate access to the other specialty practices at Las Vegas Veterinary Specialty Center to make sure our patients get the most thorough care available.
About Our Services
Our facility provides access to advanced diagnostic imaging, including CT, MRI, digital radiography, and ultrasound, as well as advanced treatment options such as critical care and physical rehabilitation.
Some of our surgical procedures include:
- Arthroscopy
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Fracture Repair
- Gastrointestinal Surgery
- Growth Deformities
- Joint Surgery
- Neurosurgery
- Oncologic Surgery
- Reconstructive Surgery
- Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO)
- Thoracic Surgery
- Triple Pelvic Osteotomy (TPO)
- Total Hip Replacement
- Urogenital Surgery
Appointments
Appointments are by referral basis Monday through Sunday. Surgical emergencies can be seen through the surgery department during those times, or through Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care at any time.
Please call us with any questions at 702-871-1152