Initially, I took only my rescue dogs to Dr. Gerson because his reputation in the rescue community is superb. As a breeder, former trustee of our breed health foundation and national rescue organization, and a Ph.D-trained researcher, I liked what I saw in the way that Gerson cared for these tragic creatures -- a competent professional who is compassionate but direct, who keeps up to date with changes in veterinary medicine and regularly introduces improvements into his practice (e.g., minimally invasive surgery). As a result of seeing him care for my rescues, I eventually transferred the care of my own 7 Bernese Mountain Dogs to him (I drive in from Mars, PA to do this). The following experience best illustrates why my own dogs, in addition to those that I rescue, are now under his care. \r
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I rescued a very small and very ill Berner pup from a dog auction in Ohio. Gerson quickly diagnosed an intrahepatic liver shunt (thought at that time to be virtually non-existent in the breed - we now know that is not the case and Gerson was part of that discovery process). Because surgery was the puppy's only hope, he referred us to local surgical specialists who said that she would not survive traditional surgery. Gerson remembered a lecture he had heard by a faculty member at U Penn about an experimental surgery for shunts. He called Penn. The pup was accepted into the experimental program and her shunt was corrected successfully with the experimental surgery. Gerson's diagnosis brought national attention to IHPSS in Bernese Mountain Dogs, which stimulated an international (University of Utrecht) hunt for the gene causing the defect in the breed. \r
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Gerson is intellectually curious, careful, not afraid to ask for help, does not play games, and goes the extra mile. I trust him fully with the care of my show, breeding and performance dogs as well as my rescues.
Pros: Quality of care, well trained staff/vets, use of minimally invasive surgical procedures
Cons: The drive in from Mars, PA
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