WA accuses Franklin County veterinarian of unprofessional conduct

A Franklin County veterinarian has been accused of unprofessional conduct by the Washington state Department of Health’s Veterinary Board of Governors.

Gerrit H. Wisse, who practices in Eltopia about 18 miles north of Pasco, has until March 9 to respond to the board’s charge of unprofessional conduct.

Concerns were raised about his treatment in August 2021 of a 7-year-old male Rottweiler.

The Department of Health says Wisse did not perform corrective procedures to complete surgery on a very ill dog, and the animal was later euthanized at another veterinary practice.

The board also questioned his use of medications for the dog, and said he did not keep adequate records.

The dog was brought in with a gastric problem.

Wisse’s surgical notes said he found gastric volvulus, a life-threatening condition in which the stomach becomes twisted, and that the dog’s stomach was “black and necrotic and tissue was separating when touched.”

He suggested euthanasia to the dog’s owner, but the owner wanted Wisse to continue the surgery, according to a state document in the case.

Wisse failed to document making sufficient efforts to advocate for the dog, according to the document.

The veterinarian had the duty to offer a referral or to more strongly advocate for euthanasia to end the dog’s suffering, including educating the owner on the grave implications of the prognosis, according to a state document.

Wisse continued the surgery as requested by the dog’s owner, but said in surgical notes that he “did not dare stitch stomach wall because of tearing and potential gastric leakage.”

He was able to turn the stomach to untwist it by did not also remove part of the stomach or perform a surgical procedure to prevent the stomach from twisting by tacking it to the stomach wall, according to a state document. He also did not refer the case to another veterinarian to complete the surgery, it said.

The surgery and post-operative care were not successful, prolonging the dog’s suffering, according to a state document, and the dog was euthanized four days later at another clinic.

In addition, Wisse is accused of administering a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID, that was not approved for use in dogs, rather than a safer one approved for canines, during the surgery, according to a state document.

It also said he administered a steroid, which combined with an NSAID, increases the risks to the gastrointestinal tract, including of a hemorrhage.

Two days after surgery Wisse again prescribed a NSAID and a steroid, increasing the risk of gastric perforation, according to the state.

The state board also criticized Wisse’s medical records, saying he failed to include the dog’s weight, temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate or blood pressure. There is no mention in the medical record of monitoring the dog’s vitals while under anesthesia, information about his surgical approach or the dose of anesthetic drugs, according to a state document.

The board obtained medical records for other dogs Wisse treated and also found incomplete medical records, according to a state document.

Cleared unprofessional conduct allegation

Wisse, who was awarded a credential to practice as a veterinarian in 1976, previously was accused of unprofessional conduct in 2021.

Then the Veterinary Board accused him or his staff of ordering medications for animals that had not been previously treated at the clinic or that were not currently receiving veterinary care.

Wisse responded that the medications were difficult to obtain or could take some time to receive, according to a state document. The board said it was his responsibility to obtain such basic medications in a way that did not require the use of inaccurate information.

Wisse admitted none of the allegations in that case, but reached an agreement to pay the board $1,000 for its costs, complete four hours of continuing education and retake and pass the board’s jurisprudence examination.

He completed those steps to the board’s satisfaction within a few months.

Wisse could not be reached by the Tri-City Herald on Friday for comment.

This story was originally published February 28, 2026 at 2:12 PM.