What Veterinary Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Services Does The Sams Clinic Offer?

The Sams Clinic is a Bay Area veterinary specialty practice focused on orthopedics, arthroscopy, sports medicine, orthobiologic and regenerative therapy, and rehabilitation. Its services are aimed at pets with joint, tendon, ligament, muscle, or mobility problems, as well as athletic and working dogs that need performance care. If you are looking for a specialist rather than a general practice for a lameness, injury, or post-surgical recovery issue, this is the type of clinic to consider.

Orthopedic Surgery & Arthroscopy

This is the clinic's core surgical service. Based on the site, it covers:

• TPLO surgery — a procedure commonly used for cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) injuries in dogs.
• Arthroscopy — minimally invasive joint examination and treatment, including canine-specific arthroscopy and needle-scope systems.
• Fracture fixation and reconstruction — repair of broken bones and structural reconstruction.
• Joint preservation and resurfacing — biological approaches intended to maintain joint function.
• Hip and elbow reconstruction — surgical management of these joints.
• Implant-based stabilization — TPLO plates, locking fixation systems, tendon-repair constructs, and prosthetic-ligament stabilization.

The clinic describes itself as a pioneer in minimally invasive care, meaning arthroscopy and image-guided techniques are central to how it approaches joint problems rather than open surgery being the only option.

Sports & Performance Medicine

This service line targets companion, athletic, and working dogs whose conditions limit performance. The site lists focus areas including:

• Shoulder, tendon, ligament, muscle, and carpal injuries.
• Lameness localization — identifying exactly where a problem originates.
• Musculoskeletal imaging and diagnosis, using ultrasound, MRI, arthroscopy, and needle-scope evaluation.
• Gait and loading assessment to understand how a dog moves and bears weight.

This is relevant if your dog competes in a sport, works (for example, herding or detection), or simply has a performance-limiting issue that hasn't been clearly diagnosed.

Orthobiologic & Regenerative Therapy

The clinic offers biologic treatments intended to support joint, tendon, and ligament healing. According to the site, these include:

• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
• Bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC)
• Cellular therapies
• Bioscaffolds and injectable joint materials
• Biological joint resurfacing

These approaches are typically considered for osteoarthritis, joint preservation, and tendon or ligament injuries. They are described as regenerative or orthobiologic, meaning they use the body's own biology or biologic materials rather than relying solely on conventional surgery or medication.

Rehabilitation & Return to Activity

Recovery and return to function are treated as a distinct service, not an afterthought. The site lists:

• Muscle physiology and conditioning.
• Gait and loading assessment.
• Pain and mobility management.
• Post-surgical recovery programs.
• Return to daily activity, sport, and work.

This matters because surgery or injury treatment alone often isn't enough — a structured rehab plan helps a dog get back to normal movement and, for athletic dogs, back to competition or work.

Research and Technology Development

The clinic states that its specialists have conducted sponsored research with academic, clinical, nonprofit, and industry partners, and have helped design, co-develop, validate, and clinically evaluate veterinary technologies. Areas include cartilage repair, osteoarthritis, joint preservation, regenerative treatments, sports medicine, orthopedic implants, musculoskeletal imaging, and rehabilitation outcomes.

For a pet owner, this is context rather than a direct service: it suggests the practice is involved in advancing the techniques it uses, not only applying existing ones.

Who This Clinic Is For

Practical Notes

• The site provides options to Schedule a Consultation and Refer a Patient, so both owners and referring veterinarians can initiate contact.
• The clinic serves the San Francisco Bay Area but states it works with performance dogs "around the world," suggesting some cases travel in for specialized care.
• The site does not list pricing, payment platforms, or insurance details, so cost and payment questions would need to be directed to the clinic directly.

If you're deciding whether to pursue a consultation, the clearest next step is to identify which of the four service areas matches your pet's problem — surgical, sports medicine, regenerative, or rehabilitation — and use the clinic's consultation or referral pathway accordingly.