Visit Us for Your In‑Person Appointment

If a shoulder procedure is needed, your dog will be discharged with a hobbles to protect him/her while he/she heals. We recommend bringing a T-shirt for your dog to cover the hobbles so your dog can’t easily remove it.

Typically you will have a consult and diagnostics appointment on Tuesday. If a procedure is recommended, then your dog will return the same week (Wed or Thur) for that. Your dog always stays overnight with you and is always discharged the same day.

Tues - Consults and Diagnostics.

No food after midnight the night before.
Water OK up until your appointment. Discharge and discussion of findings typically occur mid to late afternoon that day.
Tuesday night – Your dog will stay with you

Wed or Thurs

Arthroscopic Treatment and/or Arthroscopic diagnostics, if needed.
No food after midnight the night before. Water OK up until drop off.
Discharge your dog and discuss with Dr. Canapp finding, follow-up and next steps occurs mid to late afternoon on the day of your procedure.

Mill Valley, CA

Make appointment via call/text or email (details above). Please do not call the clinic

Location

Mill Valley, CA
Location: 489 Miller Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941

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Airports

San Francisco International (SFO) : 45 – 75 min drive time. Airport shuttle train takes you too offsite rental car building - A short ride. Add 30 minutes for getting/returning your car.

We recommend Alaska Airlines if your dog is traveling in cargo

Allow up to 2 hours for checkin at the checkin counter
You will typically need a vet certificate issued within 2 weeks of your outbound flight – good for the return flight too - check with the airline on their policy
When collecting your dog at SFO, this will occur pretty promptly at the baggage claim area (your dog will be returned to you, with your ID, by a staff member)
If traveling from the E. Coast, and you are taking a connecting flight, you will typically find the most options connecting thru LAX or SEA
Check the aircraft type when looking for flights
Only Boeing planes can carry dogs in cargo, not Airbus
During the Thanksgiving/Xmas period, dogs cannot be carried in the hold of turboprop planes.

JSX Airlines – allows large to medium dogs < 79Lb to fly in cabin if you purchase an extra adjacent seat - They fly into three smaller California Bay Area airports:

Oakland (OAK)
Concord/Buchanan Field (CCR)
Napa County Airport (APC)

RV Parks

San Francisco North/ Petaluma KOA
https://koa.com/campgrounds/san-francisco/
Spring Lakes RV / Santa Rosa https://campgrounds.rvlife.com/regions/california/santa-rosa/spring-lake-park-249702

Some RV parks restrict you to 2 dogs max. These RV parks are over 20 minutes’ drive away.
If you are driving a mid-sized RV, there is space to park it on the opposite side of the street from the clinic during the day.

Hotels That Allow Dogs

Mill Valley Inn: https://millvalleyinn.com/
Acqua Hotel, Mill Valley: https://acquahotel.com/ (request a room facing away from the freeway)

Plan Your In‑Person Consult (CA)

Dr. Canapp’s assistant will contact you with your appointment times.

If flying your dog and are a new patient for both diagnostics, we recommend you fly in the day before your appointment, and plan to return home on the day after any Wed or Thurs procedure since your discharge will occur late in the day of the procedure. If procedures and treatment are required they will be performed the same week.

Typically you will have a consult and diagnostics appointment first (Mon or Tues). If a procedure is recommended, then your dog will return the same week (Wed or Thur) for that.
Your dog will stay overnight with you and is always discharged the same day.

Monday or Tuesday: Consults and diagnostics

The consult time/day will be provided to you by Dr. Canapp's assistant for diagnostics and for meeting with Dr. Canapp to discuss findings
Discharge and discussion of findings typically occur mid to late afternoon that day.
If a procedure is then required on Wed/Thurs, your dog will stay with you Mon/Tues night and return on Wed/Thur.
During the day, you can wait in the lobby (internet available) although most people prefer to go to a local coffee shop close by.
In some cases Dr. Whitlock will additionally perform MSK Ultrasound, if needed, to diagnose your dog. Ultrasounds typically do not require sedation.
Light sedation for ultrasound is done if your dog is nervous and will not relax or is reactive.
If an ultrasound has been recommended, please fast your dog after midnight the night before.

Wednesday or Thursday, same week:

Arthroscopic Treatment and/or Arthroscopic diagnostics, if needed.
Discharge of your dog and discuss finding with Dr. Canapp, follow-up and next steps occur mid to late afternoon on the day of your procedure.
No food after midnight the night before. Water OK up until drop off.