Northwest Veterinary Surgical Services

Kaylen M

2024-01

My middle aged Mini Aussie somehow had a salivary mucocele- a damaged salivary gland. I live in the Portland area, but found only limited vet surgeons with experience that made me feel comfortable. But then I had to factor in price as I am recently unemployed.I would have made the right decision to go with the option for the vet where I felt most comfortable, but I was prepared to find the best deal, and it turned out that the best deal actually came WITH the best care.From the first email, I felt supported by Dr. Belknap. I'd already done some research to know he was experienced but his emails made me feel even more at ease. He answered multiple emails with my lists of questions in a ridiculously quick amount of time. He made me feel like he was invested in Leo getting the best care possible.I never felt like Leo was just another patient of Dr. Belknap. He was my support person through the pre and post surgery, in a way that you would not expect from a Veterinary Surgeon. Whether it's a text about "is this normal" or "should I invest in turtlenecks to hide Leos naked neck," Dr. Belknap was quick to respond and always helpful with wisdom and/or humor, but often both.If any of my pets have a surgical issue in the future, I will 100% be making the 3-hour drive again to Dr. Belknap and I have told all my friends they should do the same!

Sage Preston

2024-04

The most amazing vet I have ever gone to. Dr Belknap was amazing. He performed tplo on our dog Champ. He kept us informed every step of the way and made us feel secure in the fact that we had the best care available.

Tommy Nguyen

2023-11

My friends would ask me why I drive 2 1/2 hrs to see Dr Belknap when I can go down the street to see a local Vet. Let me explain. My dog had a big growth inside his mouth, and I did go to a local Vet. They didn't know what it was and had to do a biopsy and send it to the lab. My sister said let me text my Dr and describe to him what's going on. He sent back with a picture of what he think it is. I was blown away because the photo he sent is the exact thing that my dog had. As a dog lover, I didn't want to waste my time and go to other Doctors or just trust any Dr if you know what I mean. His staff scheduled my a surgery appt asap while waiting for the lab results to come back. Lab results confirmed what Dr Belknap thought it was...Salivary MucousI love Dr Belknap because the surgery went well, and he personally followed up with me via text multiple times post surgery just to make sure my dog is recovering okay. He was very helpful answering all my questions and concerns. He is the best. He knows what he is doing and is full of experiences. I hope this review will help you decide if you would go to see this Dr.

Jesse Spears

2023-07

Update June 2023: We took our dog to Dr. Belknap for her second TPLO surgery this year and she recovered even faster than her first surgery. Once again, incredible level of care and service provided by Dr. Belknap and the team at Willapa Vet! Thanks again for helping our pup keep running!Dr. Belknap and his team could not have been more amazing at helping us through our dogs TPLO surgery. They were incredibly communicative throughout the whole process via email, phone and in person. Dr. Belknap was incredibly knowledgeable and clearly experienced in the procedure. He was also kind enough to stay in personal contact with me for questions and regular check-ins. It was really convenient for me since I lived an hour from the vet clinic that he would do virtual checkups via pictures and videos I sent him of our dog. Overall, I’m extremely happy I decided to go through his clinic for our dogs surgery. His clinic was much more reasonably priced and 2 weeks faster at booking our dog for her initial appointment. My only regret is that I don’t live closer to make them my regular vet!

Stephanie Correia

2023-07

Our entire family is indebted to Dr. Belknap and his staff for the amazing care our dog, Zoey, received before, during, and after her TPLO surgery. Zoey is our daughter’s dog and she wanted to be responsible for the cost of her care. When we researched local vets, we were shocked at the cost, and turned off by the vagueness in the estimates. Somehow I stumbled on Willapa Veterinary Clinic. Boy am I glad I I did. I was pleased to see that Dr. Belknap was Board Certified and seemed highly experienced. I was pleasantly surprised by the estimate which was very detailed and emailed to us in advance, and I was completely blown away when the doctor himself reached out by text to discuss Zoey’s x-rays and recommendations. We ended up having a 30 min conversation with Dr. Belknap while he was walking his dogs on the beach after hours. We knew we’d found the right vet to place our trust in.We drove two hour for the surgery. While Zoey was in surgery, we visited local shops, and when we’d tell folks why we were there, we’d hear stories about how fabulous Dr. Belknap was. The glowing praise reinforced that we’d made the right choice.In post-op, Dr. Belknap texted us with an update and pictures of the X-rays. We stopped by before they closed for the night, and Dr. Belknap came out after a long day and visited with us like we were old friends for over 30 minutes. Who does that anymore??I was really nervous about post-op care, but it’s been going very well and Dr. Belknap has kept true to his promise that we’d be supported all the way by continuing to reach out with texts and calls.Anyone who is facing TPLO surgery for their fuzzy friend should definitely check out Dr. Belknap. The surgery costs can’t be beat, the surgical talent and experience is awesome and your pet will be in the very best of hands with Dr. Belknap and his team.

Kathy Read

2024-02

I’m so glad we found Willipa vet services. They are the best! We would highly recommend them if your pet needs surgery or just general vet appointments. They did a wonderful job at providingthe best and most affordable care that we could find in the area. You are treated with the utmost respect and love for both your pet and you, by the staff and doctors. Dr. Belknap, was our dog Rifle’s surgeon. He did a wonderful job on repairing Rifle’s leg so now he can run again! Throughout the eight week recovery time Dr. Belknap called us almost every day to make sure Rifle was doing well. He was also available by phone and/or text for any questions that we had along the way. We can’t say enough good things about Willipa Veterinary Services. We live in Ocean Shores, but we’re happy to make the drive to Raymond to get the best care around!

Leanne Hand

2024-01

I can't say enough about Dr. Belknap. My ACD, Sissy, had to have TPLO surgery on her left hind leg. Dr. Belknap was very communicative throughout the whole process, checking on Sissy pretty regularly. HE even texted ME a few days post-op because he said I was one of his quietest clients, but I wasn't having any issues that I needed to reach out to him for. He continued to check on Sissy over the recovery process and even still, more than 4 months later, still checks in with us to see how she is faring after her surgery. I'm so happy I chose Dr. Belknap to take such great care of my furry family member. Sissy is just like before her injury! Just make sure you do your research regarding the recovery process beforehand so you are prepared. The eight weeks went by much smoother and faster than I ever imagined. Thanks again Dr. Belknap!!

Joanie Rekart

2023-08

I’m late to the opening but I can speak about Dr. Belknap’s surgical abilities.He has performed 2 surgeries on my Sheltland Sheepdog named Max, Pan Carpal Arthrodiese and removal of a philbella behind the knee. In both cases Dr. Belknap was professional, kind, caring and attentive to all of Max’s needs and mine too. I can’t express enough my gratitude for his ability to perform such intricate delicate surgery. I would highly recommend him if your pet needs a surgery that involves a stead hand, caring heart and excellent skills with communication. Thank you Dr. Belknap you gave Max more time to enjoy his life in comfort. Best Regards, Joanie

Omar Ortiz

2023-11

I have used Dr. Belknap for two TPLO surgeries on my 7 year old boxer/hound mix. He was recommended to me by my sister who is local to Raymond, WA. After researching many surgery locations in the western Washington area I am confident I made the right choice with Dr. Belknap’s practice. I searched for availability, experience and value and received great quality attention to my dog. Value was important to me and the price was lower than other locations but I feel that service and quality were equal or better. This was especially important due to needing two surgeries in one year.Instructions and communication was great before and post surgery; his staff was courteous and easy to schedule with. I’d recommend Dr. Belknap to anyone local or non local.

Sandra Bierscheid

2022-05

My son's dog situation is a complicated one. He is a grad student in Spokane and his dog has needed two surgeries for a luxating patella & TPLO. He could not find a vet in the area that could do these surgeries soon enough. We received a referral for Dr. Belknap, and we are beyond grateful for his knowledge and services. Part of this complication was the distance (7+ hour drive) Dr. Belknap understood the urgency of both of these surgeries, and was able to work with my son's schedule as well as my schedule to accommodate Remi's knee problems.Dr. Belknap assured us in the beginning that he would "never leave us hanging" he shared his number with us and has texted us promptly back with any questions or issues we have had along the way. He has made every effort to make sure Remi has had the best follow up care in spite of the 7+ hour distance that my son lives from the clinic. Dr. Belknap and my son have talked and shared videos of her progress between in-person visits. This has been so incredibly helpful to reassure us of Remi's healing process.I would highly recommend Dr. Belknap and his staff. Remi has had the absolute best care and treatment. We could not be more grateful!

ELEANOR BARRAGER

2023-06

Jasmine is our almost 19 year old year old Australian Cattle Dog. She was experiencing significant ongoing weight loss due to a mammary gland tumor that was continually leaking serum and blood. After review with Dr. Belknap we decided to go ahead and have him remove the mammary gland tumor. It turned out to be a complicated mammary tumor and a challenging case for such a geriatric dog. The veterinary team providing the anesthesia kept our elderly dog safe during the surgery. The results are wonderful. A week after the surgery she often acts like a puppy and has a renewed interest in her toys which she carries around the house. She has a spring in her step and joy for her role as a family companion. It is always hard to see an elderly dog in discomfort and losing weight despite adequate food. It is with joy that I report Jasmine is enjoying life again as an older dog and looks like she has had a tummy tuck. Thank you Dr. Belknap and Willapa Veterinary staff!

Lanny Ross

2023-11

At age 81 I could no long keep up with the demands of my small heard of beef cattle. I sold them and was left with a bored 8 year old cow dog Tobi, 78 lb healer German shepherd cross. Not long after our retirement Tobi was hopping around on 3 legs, not using his left rear leg. I did a lot of online research before making an appointment with Dr. Belknap. After x-rays we went ahead with TPLO surgery. 90 days of constraining the dog. Building a ramp for the dog to make the 4 steps to the house, it paid off with a frisky running jumping Tobi. Now the shocker, 100 days after first TPLO surgery, and ramp remove, Tobi made a flying leap and I hear his right leg bang on metal, sure enough the second TPLO surgery on right leg. It is all over and Tobi is having a great life keeping the squires treed and rabbits away. I was 110% pleased with all aspects of our experience with Doctor Belknap.

Amber Liebel

2023-07

I can’t recommend Dr. Belknap enough! His expertise and passion for his work is evident in the way he treats his animal patients and their owners. He offers thorough communication and explanations for all options available to your pet every step of the way. Dr. Belknap performed TPLO surgery on my older Labrador. I chose him above other veterinarians based on how the office treated me and other owner recommendations, even with a 3 hour travel each way, I’d make the same choice again. My dog has regained his value of life thanks to Dr. Belknap and I can’t thank him enough!UPDATE 7/3/23Repeat Customer! We purchased a mini-aussie puppy for my daughter, adding a second dog to our family. Everything was great, until it wasn't. After about a week, the puppy presented lame in his left hind leg. Upon further analysis, I was told that he had a lateral patella luxation (LPL), which of course is uncommon with this age (I'm special like that!). I picked up the phone and called the only person I needed to talk to. I immediately contacted Dr. Belknap. I trust him 100% and knew that I would receive his professional honest input on the situation. A plan was put into place for our puppy to have surgery and get him taken care of. We are 14 weeks post-surgery now, and you'd never know by looking at the dog that he went through surgery. He's as happy and healthy as ever! Dr. Belknap saves the day again!Also, the older lab that previously received the TPLO surgery is still doing great and is happy to have a playful puppy to boss around!Forever a customer of Dr. Belknap!

Steve V

2022-05

James K. Belknap DVM, PhD, DACVSThis Dr. is the best. Very caring and extremely talented. Turks cancer was peticulalry difficult. Dr. Jim explained all options very completely and we elected surgery. During the surgery we got a call to verify what he had learned and asked him to proceed. Later the vet tech, Sara, said that it was amazing how he proceeded. Turk recovered from the surgery giving us some more quality time with such a loyal pet (friend). It was worth every penny. Turk had more happy times with us and we are grateful.I reccomended Dr. Jim to a friend who's hunting dog had a bad eye problem and was going blind. Another vet in Utah had worked on her twice. Dr. Jim corrected the issue and to my knowledge that dog is still doing great and she is doing well in her training.

none

2022-05

I moved from the big city to a small town on the WA coast. One thing I neglected to plan for was veterinary services for my dog Eve. Eve needed surgery on her CCL (aka - TPLO) and I was hesitant to proceed as I didn't have any knowledge of local veterinary services. I began hearing horror stories about outcomes and costs. Luckily I was introduced to Jim Belknap. He calmed my nerves, explained the process from start to finish, and showed a personal interest in Eve's recovery. So much so, that he made house calls during the recovery process to ensure she was on track for certain healing benchmarks. He also made himself available for questions and concerns I had during the healing process. While every outcome is not the same, I knew that Eve was in good hands with Jim. Eve is now in need of a second TPLO surgery on her other leg, which was expected, and I will use Jim's services again.Update 5/1/2022 - Eve just finished her second TPLO surgery. The surgery actually took place in February, but we just took the final x-ray and everything turned out perfect! The two months of rehabilitation and rest were painful for both of us. Other than that, it turned out much better than expected. When I let her run free for the first time after 60 days, I could see in her stride that she was back to her more youthful self. She now has two iron clad CCL's and is back to getting all four's off the ground when she jumps for her toys. It worth every penny and it's notable to mention that the cost of the second surgery was less as Dr. Belknap, and the crew at Willapa Veterinary Services, made the process more efficient. I can't say enough about Jim and his team and I'm very much looking forward to allowing Eve to run free on the beach this summer. I highly recommend Jim, and his colleagues, without hesitation.

Rowdy Rotty Republican

2023-07

I can't say enough about the wonderful and caring experience I had with Dr. Belknap and his team at Willapa Veterinary Services in Raymond, Wa. Our girl Sequoia needed TPLO Surgery on her left leg. I was nervous about the procedure because Sequoia has other health issues, and I was worried about her undergoing anesthesia. She has a problem with aspiration. Dr. Belknap and I discussed her ongoing health issues and he assured me of the precautions he would take and put my mind at ease.We are now 4 weeks post-op as I write this. She came through surgery with no complications and has done excellent during her recovery. Dr. Belknap has been there through the whole process answering any questions or concerns I have had.Being an owner of horses and dogs for several years they become our "fur babies" and part of the family. Having a veterinarian that cares for your animal and also takes care of the "parents" is a rare and desired quality. Dr. Belknap goes above and beyond and not to mention his pretty impressive resume.You will not be disappointed in the quality of care and compassion. It is worth the drive to Raymond, Wa.Dawn Ancich

Elaine A

2023-08

Dr. Belknap performed a TPLO surgery on my dog a couple of months ago. He was extremely communicative the day of the surgery as well as the following several weeks of recovery.My dog had his final follow-up yesterday and is super happy to be completely off any meds and restrictions. 😀

Sarah Scroggins

2023-05

When our older Shiba Inu blew out her knee we had no idea what to do. We took her to an emergency vet and then scheduled an appointment with a local specialty vet and had a terrible experience. After that we decided we would make a 2 1/2 hour drive to see Dr. Belknap, who my parents had used for their dog and they just raved about him. It was so worth it! He took the time to look over our dog’s medical records before we had even scheduled the appointment. Her knee was very unstable and she had to have a multipart very intensive surgery to repair her luxated patella and several torn ligaments. He has checked on her all along the way and has made himself available to us for any concerns. They worked with us to accommodate our schedule. Dr. Belknap made a very hard process much easier on us. He’s tremendously skilled and an all around nice guy, which seems rarer and rarer these days. His team is also very dedicated and wonderful. I can’t say enough good things!

Tasha Olson

2022-05

Dr. Belknap and his staff are amazing! They are super accommodating and were able to fit my puppers in for a TPLO surgery while I was in town for the week visiting family. Dr. Belknap came highly recommended for TPLO surgeries. I live out of state and when I went back home, Dr. Belknap took the time to find and research another reputable veterinarian in my area to do the follow up exams. Then when my puppers tore the ACL in her other knee 2 months later, I trusted Dr. Belknap enough to make the 18hr drive back up to Raymond, WA for him to perform the TPLO on her other knee as well. He did a great job on the surgeries on both knees and we have gotten compliments on how well she is walking after her surgeries by other veterinary staffs. I would not hesitate to recommend Dr. Belknap and his staff for any future surgeries.

Alex Juhn

2023-05

I'm truly glad to have found Doctor Belknap to perform a TPLO on my dog following his second ACL tear. After contacting every surgeon certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons from British Columbia to California, I had the utmost confidence in the expertise and professionalism of Doc Belknap as well as Willapa Veterinary Service in Raymond, WA. No salesmanship or scare tactics as with other practitioners; just the utmost transparency, open communication, and outright concern for the well-being of my loyal dog. Doc and his team worked incessantly to not only treat my dog sooner than any other facility (despite being booked up themselves), but to provide the best follow up care I've ever experienced. As this was my dog's second TPLO, I can say the difference between Doc Belknap versus the surgeon who performed my dog's first TPLO has been night and day; in terms of outright skill and also care for the animal's well-being. Much thanks to Doc and the rest of the team at Willapa Vet who always put my dog's health above all else. I would heartily recommend Doctor Belknap's services without reservation to anyone who has a pet in need of expert care.

Lynne Schaeffer

2023-05

I really can’t say enough good things about Dr. Belknap. We are RV-full timers and don’t stay in any one place very long. I started doing research in February 2022 about Veterinarians with knowledge and experience in surgery in areas where we would be for more than a week. We have two standard poodles that needed to be spay and have their stomachs tacked (gastropexy) and one of them was born with a cleft palate (Luna).Luna has had 7 surgeries to re-build her palate at the University of Florida over the last two years but still has an opening about 0.5 cm that has been the focus of the last two surgeries and have proven to be unsuccessful (there just isn’t enough good tissue to hold stitches). Her cleft palate was missing tissues in both the soft and hard palate.I found Dr. Belknap when researching Vets in the NW Oregon and began communicating with him. He was no longer practicing at the Vet’s office in Oregon, and I asked him for recommendations, which he gave me. However, that Vet was not taking any new clients.In March, we decided to drive over an hour and see Dr. Belknap in Raymond, WA for the two spay/gastropexy surgeries and booked appointments.In April, Luna was having a lot of nasal discharges and we were afraid she was getting/had an infection. I communicated with Dr. Belknap about this and asked for advice. He requested all her records and any photos, in addition to a current photo of her palate. He digested all the information, conferred with colleagues and offered a new treatment (installing a silicone implant button) to cover the remaining hole.In June, he performed all three surgeries (two on Luna and one on Gypsy) at Willapa Veterinary Service. We were expecting a pretty substantial bill but were pleasantly surprised at the very reasonable surgical cost. He followed up with communication and compassion; we remain in contact today (Aug 2022). I would highly recommend Dr. Belknap to anyone for their pet’s needs.

Brad Pope

2022-05

As a small animal veterinarian, I have had the opportunity to refer many advanced soft tissue and orthopedic surgeries to Dr Belknap. Besides the excellent results of those surgeries, I have always been impressed with the time and attention he gives to guide owners through the entire process. During this challenging time, it has been difficult to find a veterinary surgeon when needed, so having another high-quality surgical facility in our area is a definite asset for pets, owners and veterinarians.

Dane Erickson

2023-05

Dr. Belknap did a wonderful job with our 2 year old black lab who needed TPLO on both his rear legs. He was kind, knowledgeable, and most importantly gave our dog George a new lease on life! Our family highly recommends Dr. Belknap and his team!

Andy Mitby

2022-05

By the time Dixie was thirteen her hips were getting weak as she had trouble even walking. Vet James recommended an injection. She turns fifteen next month and is still chasing the ball on the beach. Thanks for keeping her active.

Jessica O'Connell

2022-05

I can’t say enough about my great experience with Dr. Belknap. Dr. Belknap has been so compassionate and honest, he truly has the best interest at heart of the animals and their families. My five year old yorkie had to undergo a very extensive leg surgery which included a trochleoplasty, lateral imbrication with medial patellar release, lateral extracapsular suture which was a success. He was available after hours to answer any questions I had and constantly checked on Bailey throughout her healing process. Even though we traveled over an hour every few weeks to see Dr. Belknap for Bailey’s care, all the travel was worth the great experience we had!

Catherine Benotto

2022-05

We highly recommend Dr. Belknap for pet surgery. He fixed our dog's deformed leg and she is walking normally and pain free now. It was a complicated surgery and Dr. Belknap walked us through it, describing the benefits, risks, costs and post-op care. He answered all our questions very patiently. He kept in touch after surgery, reviewing progress and adjusting after care as needed. He is very kind and sincerely enjoys his work improving your pet's well being. We are so happy with this service.

Laura Miller

2022-05

Dr. Belknap and the entire staff are caring, compassionate, and competent. He was referred to us by our regular vet to perform a tricky surgery on my chocolate’s knee. They took great care of Jackson, even arranging to keep him overnight when I couldn’t get there due to weather conditions. Dr Belknap still checks in two years after the surgery to make sure is he is doing well. I highly recommend Dr. Belknap and his staff.

Sarah Gambee

2022-05

Our dog Rosie has been in to Dr. Belknap for 2 surgeries now. First she needed a major oral surgery to remove a large tumor, then a year later we had a questionable growth removed from her leg. With both surgeries Dr. Belknap very attentive and following up personally multiple times. He answered all of my questions in a quick timely manner and genuinely cared about Rosie and how she was doing. We are so happy to have found him.

MICHELLE NGUYEN

2023-05

We come all the way from Seattle which is 2 hr drive to see this Dr Jim.We wanted to get a second opinion on whether our dog needs knee surgery or not.I love his approach on finding a more clear answers by doing an X-ray before determining next step.Others I went to just visually exam.He calls and text to see how my baby is doing overall after the visitVery attentive and straightforwardHighly recommend checking this vet out

Rachael K.

2022-05

Dr. Belknap is one of the most caring providers you could hope to work with. Dr. B removed a large, complex tumor from our older dachshund's hind leg that was beginning to effect his ability to walk, greatly improving his quality of life. His years of experience as a vet and as a professor at one of the best vet schools in the country allowed him to confidently remove the tumor where other vets thought it couldn't be done and would require amputating the leg. He did the surgery on short notice, without requiring he be kept overnight, and at an extremely reasonable rate. He is also one of the nicest people you'll ever meet. I would recommend him to any pet owner!