Call Now
Website
Call
Business Details
27 Years
experience
Emergency
services
Advanced Veterinary Orthopedic Care in Mill Valley
The Sams Clinic was founded in 1999 by Dr. Andrew Sams with a vision to provide advanced veterinary care emphasizing minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment. Since opening our dedicated facility in 2004, we have delivered world-class orthopedic care for small animals in the Bay Area. Our team includes board-certified specialists in orthopedic surgery, anesthesiology, and rehabilitation, supported by skilled veterinary technicians. We prioritize creating a comfortable environment where pet owners can trust their animals receive optimal care. Our focus on state-of-the-art techniques and comprehensive treatment plans ensures pets achieve the best possible outcomes. We collaborate closely with referring veterinarians to maintain continuity of care and keep pet owners informed throughout the treatment process.

Our commitment to innovation includes offering arthroscopic surgery, stem cell therapy, and advanced pain management modalities. We serve the Bay Area with expertise in fracture repair, cruciate ligament treatment, and chronic pain management. Our facility features cutting-edge diagnostic tools like CT scanning and digital radiography. We provide tailored rehabilitation programs to enhance recovery and quality of life for our patients. Through decades of combined experience, we maintain our founding mission of excellence in veterinary orthopedic care.
Services
Orthopaedics Anesthesia Pain Management Rehabilitation Diagnostics Arthroscopic Surgery Stem Cell Therapy Fracture Repair Cruciate Ligament Treatment CT Scanning
Details
  • Year established: 1999
Highlights and features
  • We offer board-certified specialists in orthopedic surgery and anesthesiology
  • Our facility features cutting-edge diagnostic imaging technologies
  • We provide 24/7 emergency referral services for urgent cases
  • Our treatment approach combines surgical expertise with comprehensive rehabilitation
  • We maintain transparent communication with both pet owners and referring veterinarians
What people say
Professional staff Thorough explanations Successful outcomes Timely follow-up Gentle care
Services
Orthopaedics
Our orthopedic services include arthroscopic surgery, fracture repair, and cruciate ligament treatment using minimally invasive techniques. We specialize in TPLO procedures for cranial cruciate ligament ruptures and offer stem cell therapy for joint regeneration. Our board-certified surgeons utilize advanced imaging and surgical tools to ensure precise diagnoses and effective treatments for conditions like hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis.
Pain Management
We provide comprehensive pain management solutions combining pharmacological therapy, alternative treatments, and lifestyle modifications. Our multimodal approach includes cold laser therapy, shockwave therapy, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. We develop customized treatment plans for conditions like osteoarthritis and intervertebral disc disease, focusing on improving mobility and quality of life while minimizing medication side effects.
Rehabilitation
Our canine rehabilitation program features tailored conditioning exercises and core strengthening routines. Certified therapists implement post-operative recovery plans using hydrotherapy, massage, and therapeutic exercises. We emphasize client education to maintain treatment progress at home, ensuring optimal recovery outcomes through structured rehabilitation protocols supervised by our veterinary specialists.
Diagnostics
We offer advanced diagnostic imaging including CT scans, digital radiography, and MRI (offsite). Our CT technology provides detailed cross-sectional images for accurate diagnosis of complex conditions affecting bones, joints, and soft tissues. We perform joint taps and biopsies to support precise diagnosis of orthopedic and neurological conditions, ensuring appropriate treatment planning.
Anesthesia
Our anesthesiology services support all surgical procedures with specialized pain control protocols. We implement multimodal anesthesia approaches to minimize risks and ensure patient comfort. Our specialists monitor vital signs throughout procedures using advanced equipment, providing tailored anesthetic plans for both routine and complex orthopedic surgeries while maintaining strict safety standards.
People
Dr. Andrew Sams
Orthopaedic Surgeon
Dr. Sams founded The Sams Clinic in 1999 after practicing at notable Bay Area veterinary facilities. He specializes in minimally invasive orthopedic surgery and has performed over 2,500 TPLO procedures. With extensive experience in arthroscopic techniques and fracture repair, he leads our surgical team while maintaining active involvement in continuing education and veterinary advancements.
Dr. Alex Hawley
Anesthesiologist
Dr. Hawley joined The Sams Clinic in 2009, bringing expertise in pain management and anesthesiology. He develops multimodal pain control strategies and supervises complex anesthesia cases. His focus on progressive pain management techniques enhances patient comfort before, during, and after surgical procedures while minimizing medication side effects through innovative treatment approaches.
Questions
What veterinary orthopedic services do you offer?
We specialize in arthroscopic surgery, TPLO procedures, fracture repair, pain management, and rehabilitation for small animals using advanced techniques.
How do I schedule an appointment?
As a referral clinic, ask your veterinarian for a referral or contact us directly with your pet's medical information for scheduling.
Do you offer emergency orthopedic care?
Yes, we provide emergency services for urgent orthopedic cases outside regular business hours through our phone line.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept major credit cards and cash payments. Payment is required at the time of service with financing options available.
Are rehabilitation services included in surgery packages?
Post-operative rehabilitation is included in comprehensive treatment plans, with customized programs developed by our certified therapists.
Do you treat cats and exotic pets?
While primarily focused on dogs, we evaluate and treat cats and select exotic animals with orthopedic conditions on a case-by-case basis.
Reviews (6)
Yu Zhang
Apr 18, 2025 Report
Its been two months since Gabbys surgery, and I thought it was time to write a review. I did a lot of research before choosing the right doctor for her ACL surgery. I lost my first dog on the operating table when I was much younger. Back then, I was young ,trusting, and I believed that any licensed vet could do the job. That experience was deeply traumatic.

for Gabby, I looked into almost every clinic that performs this kind of surgery in the bay arearead every review on Google and Yelp, sometimes multiple times.

It came down to three options. The first one was close to where I live. We went to check it out. It felt more like an emergency roomvery professional, but also very clinical. The doctors reviewed Gabbys case like it was a project. Not necessarily bad, just not very personal, at all. The second one was more budget-friendly, but had mixed reviews. The doctor said thered be no pre-check or consultationjust bring Gabby in on the day of surgery.

That didnt sit right with me. Then there was Dr. Sams clinic. Its not the closest, and while not the cheapest, the price seemed reasonableand now I could see why. When we went in for the first visit, Dr. Sam sat across from me. Gabby was lying next to me at first, then got up, walked over to him, and laid down by his side. I almost criedit felt like Gabby made the choice for us. The consultation was very thorough.

They even followed up on an old heart murmur diagnosis just to be safe. We tested her pee twice because fitst time the sample was small (i didn't manage to get much of her pee). Everything was explained clearly. The clinic was clean, everyone was kind, and organized, and the energy there just felt good. It felt like they really care. After surgery, I had questions, and they responded quickly every time. Today, we went in for the two-week checkup, and Gabby is doing great. Theyve been so cautious, so caring, and clearly experienced. I honestly feel lucky that Dr. Sam was the one to operate on Gabby. Id recommend him and his team to anyone. Hes an angeland so is everyone who works there. Thank you!
Mary Olivier
Jun 12, 2022 Report
Great vet! Everyone has been so caring for our new puppy Scout and have been super helpful with all of the questions that we have.
Belinda Daniels
Apr 11, 2022 Report
This is the second dog we've owned that has had surgery at Sam's Clinic, we cannot say enough praise of our Dr and his team. The time and care that he puts into the well being of our most loved family member being our great Pyrenees Ash, has been nothing short of amazing! He makes sure that everything is right with your dog before any surgery takes place, they are very cautious caring and patient, and always takes whatever time is needed to explain to you everything they are doing and what to expect. We really never have to worry when we bring our sweet ash or any dog to Sam's Clinic they truly are the best.
Raven Rush
Mar 21, 2022 Report
Unfortunately, I do not know the receptionist I spoke with today. However, the customer service sucks and the receptionist was very rude and had no patience. I personally work in the Veterinary industry so I do understand that this line of work is very high stressed and frustrating but this woman's tone of voice and attitude was upsetting.
Dave & Sheila
Jun 19, 2021 Report
Dr. Sams was the only doctor who could figure out what was wrong with our dog. She couldn't move without screaming in pain and he was able to pinpoint the issue and tell us on what part of her body to have an ultrasound. He was correct; it was a degenerated disc. After surgery in Rohnert Park with Dr. Lavely (an excellent surgeon) our dog was as good as new. This was 13 years ago and we'll never forget either of them. Thank you Dr. Sams.
Kim P.
May 17, 2021 Report
My dog had TPLO and cruciate surgery here. wonderful place very happy with the service and care they took with my dog.