Joe Spoo DVM, DACVSMR (canine)
Owner & Founder — Upleash Veterinary Hospital
From the time he was a kid growing up in Iowa, Joe Spoo knew he wanted to be a veterinarian. Long before the degrees and board certifications, there was a boy who loved dogs, devoured books like Big Red, All Creatures Great and Small and Where the Red Fern Grows, and dreamed about a life spent caring for animals, especially the ones who worked alongside people in the field.
That early passion stayed with him through his veterinary education at Iowa State University and into the first days of his career in 2001. What started as a love for hunting dogs grew into a lifelong commitment to understanding how they move, perform, and stay healthy. In 2015, Dr. Spoo earned board certification from the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, becoming one of the few specialists in the region dedicated to working, sporting, and companion dogs.
Over the years, what mattered most to him wasn’t just the medicine, it was the relationships. The conversations in exam rooms, the trust built over time, the chance to help people understand their dogs more deeply. He saw a profession increasingly pulled toward efficiency and volume, and felt a calling to bring something different back to Sioux Falls: veterinary medicine that slows down, listens, and places compassion at the center of care.
That vision became Upleash.
As the sole owner and Medical Director, Dr. Spoo leads with a simple philosophy: great medicine and great compassion are not competing values, they are inseparable. He is committed to providing advanced diagnostics, thoughtful guidance, and honest conversations, whether he’s working with a beloved family pet or a high-performing field dog.
Outside the clinic, he continues his work through Gundogdoc, educational outreach, writing, and raising a family with his wife and colleague, Dr. Krista Hardy. Together, they share a belief that veterinary care should feel personal, grounded, and deeply human. In his free time he is an avid reader, runner, biker, hiker, little league coach and loves teaching his kids about the joys of the great outdoors.
At Upleash, Dr. Spoo brings nearly three decades of experience, a specialty skill set, and the same passion he felt as a kid reading dog stories under the covers. His goal is simple: to provide Care and Compassion at Both Ends of the Leash, every single day.
Connect With Us
Looking for a vet in the greater Sioux Falls area?
Whether you’re seeking advanced diagnostics, a relationship-focused general care experience, or simply want a veterinary team who listens, Upleash is here for you. As a locally owned veterinary hospital, we combine high-level expertise with open communication and genuine compassion to truly understand your pet’s needs.
