3104 East 51st Street Tulsa, OK 74105 (918) 743-1080
One clinic, many decades of care
By Bill Snyder
Photos by Cindy Alvarez
Just west of the 51st and Harvard intersection is one of Tulsa’s oldest continually operating veterinary clinics. Edgewood Veterinary Hospital caters to pets and their people by offering expert care in a comforting environment.
Today, the clinic is owned by Dr. Hans Gann, a native Oklahoman who grew up in Barnsdall and received his undergraduate degree and DVM at Oklahoma State University. He said being a veterinarian is a dream come true.
“As a little kid, I always had lots of pets,” Gann said. He grew up in the country with pigs, goats, calves, rabbits, ducks, chickens, cats, dogs and hamsters, to name a few species.
“I had everything you could think of having as a child, so I always knew I wanted to work with animals in some way. I was really young when I realized I wanted to be a vet, and, thankfully, I got into vet school because I had zero plan B. It definitely was like a calling for me.”
The clinic offers a variety of services. Special touches abound from the moment someone enters. Clients are greeted with a friendly welcome from a familiar face. A friendly clinic cat might wander by, and there are fish and lizards to look at while waiting.
Veterinary staff are well-trained to diagnose and care for any animal needs.
“We can basically do anything,” Gann said. “We do everything from puppy wellness visits to end-of-life care. We do surgeries, spays and neuters, lots of dental cleanings and procedures, and lots of elective surgeries like mass removals and fracture repairs. A thing about Tulsa that’s great is that we have referral facilities here, and if it’s something we can’t do, like a more advanced injury or surgery, we have access to specialists here.”
Gann and his staff diagnose and treat diseases such as diabetes, thyroid issues and cancers. He preaches preventative care to keep animals healthy throughout their lives.
Dr. Gann bought the clinic from Dr. Greg Daubney in 2018. Daubney had owned the clinic since 1984 when he bought it from the man who had founded it in 1954, Dr. Messler. The clinic was originally on the outskirts of town and had facilities for large animals like horses.
Edgewood specializes in non-exotic small animals now, and Daubney still fills in from time to time. The clinic has a number of longtime clients, and Gann stresses that he and his staff don’t see pets and their people as patients but family.
“Our goal is to provide the highest quality veterinary care in a comfortable, caring, family-type environment,” Gann said.
Like any longtime business in its original location, interesting stories abound. Now bounded by apartments, retail and I-44, the site originally had stables and a house occupied by Messler’s mother, who lived there until her death.
When the business opened in 1956, the original doctor and his wife lived in the building. Little touches of that time, like a larger kitchen and bathroom, remain. The shower, however, was converted to a space to develop X-rays.
The business has a homey, family feel while providing top-notch service. Gann worked at vet clinics in the Tulsa area until he approached Dr. Daubney with an offer to buy the practice in 2018.
“Edgewood is a really fun clinic,” Gann said. “We want a homey, welcoming atmosphere where people and their pets feel comfortable. A lot of times in veterinary clinics or other medical facilities, some sad stuff can happen, so we’re trying to make it as comfortable as possible for the people and their pets while they’re here.”
Gann and staff have done a lot of work to update the clinic, including painting everything, installing new floors and updating the electric.
“We want it to be cozy,” Gann said. “Somewhere people actually want to be.”
The veterinarian said that many of the diseases and ailments that afflict humans also affect dogs and cats. However, the medicine and treatment may be similar, or very different, depending on the situation. There are specialists in the area for nearly every situation, but Edgewood can handle the overwhelming majority of a pet owner’s needs.
“We’re kind of like your primary care physician who takes care of a little bit of everything,” Gann said. “We can do almost everything right here.”
In addition to the medical services provided, Edgewood also offers pet care in its boarding facility. Gann said boarded animals love their time there.
“The thing about this place that I think sets it apart from any other place I’ve ever worked is that the staff here is amazing,” he said.
Edgewood Veterinary Hospital is located at 3104 E. 51st St. in Tulsa. Hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. For more information, call (918) 743-1080 or visit www.tulsavet.net.