What are the opening hours?

Monday 7:30am - 5pm Tuesday 7:30am - 5pm Wednesday 7:30am - 5pm Thursday 7:30am - 5pm Friday 7:30am - 5pm Saturday 7:30am - 12pm

Smith Veterinary Hospital

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United States
Berne, IN
Smith Veterinary Hospital

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Smith Veterinary Hospital is a full service animal care facility. We strive to accomplish these goals through team work with God as our leader.
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It is our goal to provide the highest quality medical and surgical care to our patients and offer the best possible service to our clients. We believe the best way to care for animals is to work to educate owners about their animal's health needs.

10/28/2026

🎃🐾 PET COSTUME CONTEST! 🐾🎃

Show off your pet’s Halloween spirit for a chance to WIN A PRIZE! 🏆

📸 HOW TO ENTER:

1. Take a photo of your pet in their Halloween costume.
2. Post the photo in the comments below this post

❤️ HOW TO VOTE:

Scroll through the comments and LIKE the photo of the pet you think deserves to win! Each pet’s individual photo will collect votes, so be sure to like your favorite.

🏆PRIZES:

1st place- Free Exam with Dr. Hunt
2nd place- Free 30 day supply of flea/tick prevention
3rd place- Free nail trim

📅 Winners will be announced Monday, November 2nd!

We can’t wait to see all your spooky, silly, and adorable pets! Good luck!👻🎃🐶🐱

10/26/2026

Emergencies vs. Non-Emergencies: When to Seek Veterinary Care

We understand that emergencies can happen when you least expect them. Your pet's health and safety are our priority, and we want to help you recognize when your cat or dog may need immediate veterinary attention and how to reach us when concerns arise.

Below are examples of emergency situations that require prompt attention and non-emergency concerns that can typically wait until regular business hours.

This is not an all inclusive list, but it can serve as a helpful guide when deciding what to do if you are concerned about your pet.

If your pet experiences an emergency outside of our regular business hours, please call our emergency line at 260-525-1540 for assistance.

Our textline, email, and office phones are not monitored after hours and should not be used to report emergencies. For non-emergency questions or concerns, please contact our office during regular business hours.

10/21/2026

❗️Cooler Weather Doesn't Mean Parasites Are Gone❗️

Even as temperatures drop, parasites still pose a risk to your pet's health. Year-round parasite prevention is important to keep your furry family members healthy and protected!

Heartworms are transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. These parasites can damage the heart, lungs, and blood vessels. Treatment can be costly, lengthy, and physically demanding for your pet. 🦟

Fleas can cause itching, skin irritation, allergic reactions, and even anemia. Just one flea can bite your pet hundreds of times per day. Fleas multiply quickly and infest the environment. 🏠

Ticks can transmit serious diseases, including Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis. These diseases range in severity and treatment.

Although many parasites are more active during warmer months, they can still pose a threat throughout the fall and winter. 🍂❄️

This is why year round prevention is strongly recommended. Additionally, some parasites have developed resistance to over-the-counter products, making it important to choose an effective prevention option for your pet!

We have several parasite prevention options available in our clinic. The photos below highlight some of the products we carry in clinic. Additional options are availble through our online store.

If you are unsure of what prevention option your pet may need, just give us a call! We are happy to help you find an option that will fit your pet's needs.

10/19/2026

Help us celebrate National Veterinary Techician week! 🐾🩺👩🏼‍⚕️

What are veterinary technicians?

Registered veterinary technicians are highly trained veterinary professionals who work alongside veterinarians to care for patients.

Veterinary technicians perform the following tasks:

• obtain and record patient histories 📝
• collect samples, such as blood and urine, for testing 🩸
• run laboratory tests
• obtain radiographs 🩻
• prepare patients for surgery
• induce and monitor patients under anesthesia
• provide nursing and recovery care
• administer medications and treatments💉💊
• perform dental cleanings 🦷
• monitor hospitalized patients 🏥
• educate clients 👩‍🏫
• maintain medical records
• and much more!

Similar to nurses in human medicine, veterinary technicians combine medical knowledge, technical expertise, and compassion to provide essential hands-on care to pets.

What education is required of veterinary technicians? 📚👩🏼‍🎓

Becoming a veterinary technician requires specialized education and extensive hands-on training. They must graduate from an accredited veterinary technology program with an associate or bachelor's degree. After graduation, they must pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) and their state's board exam to become registered in their state. Some technicians pursue advanced training to become a Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS).

We would like to take a moment to recognize the knowledge, dedication, and compassion that our veterinary technicians give to patients and their families. Thank you Meghan, Joni, and Teaira for everything you do-seen and unseen. Our hospital wouldn't be the same without you! 👩🏼‍⚕️⚕️

*Educational information adapted from resources provided by the American Veterinary Medication Association (AVMA).

10/13/2026

Janet Bollenbacher is our staff pet of the month for October! 🍁🐶

Janet is owned by Joni Bollenbacher. Joni is one of our Registered Veterinary Technicians and plays an important role in caring for our surgical patients. If your pet has ever had surgery with us, you may recognize her as one of the familiar faces helping care for them before, during, and after their procedure! Joni takes pride in helping make sure each patient receives compassionate, attentive care. We’re grateful to have her as part of our team! 🩺💛

Nickname: Janie
Age: 3 years old
Breed: Brussels Griffon
Favorite Treat: Apples 🍎
Favorite Toy: Dino Toy 🦖
Likes: Her blanket when it comes out of the dryer and snuggling with anyone who sits down 🥰

A note from Joni about Janet:

Janet thinks she is much bigger than she is. She loves to play fetch. She also enjoys getting out and about to run errands. We got Janet when she was a year old. She used to live in an RV and traveled the United States. She came to our family pre-spoiled! 🌎💕

10/07/2026

Dr. Hunt will be out of town October 18th-26th.

The office will remain open during normal business hours for boarding, technician appointments, scheduling, and medication pick up.

Please note that there will not be a veterinarian in the office on October 19th, 20th, 21st, 24th, or 26th. On these dates, we will not
have a doctor available in the office to see appointments, answer medical questions, or provide veterinary care.

While we will miss Dr. Hunt while he is out of town, we are excited to welcome Dr. Bollenbacher as a relief veterinarian. She will only be seeing appointments on Thursday, October 22nd and Friday, October 23rd. She will be here to accommodate those who need seen while Dr. Hunt is out of town.

Get to know Dr. Bollenbacher:

Dr. Bollenbacher, formally Dr. Rietdorf, graduated from Purdue University in 2003. She is married to Ramsey Bollenbacher and currently resides in Fort Wayne with her three sons, two dogs, and one cat. Outside of veterinary medicine, she enjoys spending time with her family, camping, cheering for her kids at ball games, and reading. Her professional interests include endocrinology, dermatology, endoscopy, and surgery.

A note from Dr. Bollenbacher:

"My favorite aspect of this profession is the ability to not only bond with the animals, but also with their families."

We are excited to have Dr. Bollenbacher joining our team for these two days. We appreciate your understanding and patience while Dr. Hunt is away.

10/06/2026

Medication Reminders 💊🩺

We want to help make sure your pet's medications are refilled safely and on time, so please keep these things in mind:

A current exam is required. Dr. Hunt must have a current exam on file for your pet before prescribing or dispensing medication. This is part of the veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR), which is required by law. 🚔🚨

Please allow at least 24 hours for medication refills. We do not have a full-time pharmacy technician, so refill requests are processed throughout the day as time allows. Some medications are special-order items and may require at least two weeks' notice to allow sufficient time for ordering and shipping. Calling or requesting refills as early as possible gives us the best opportunity to have your pet's medication ready before it runs out. 📞☎️

Some medications require monitoring. Certain medications require bloodwork to make sure the medication and dosage remain appropriate and safe for your pet. Depending on the medication, bloodwork may be needed before starting treatment and/or periodically while your pet is taking it. Some medications require bloodwork every six months or annually. 🩸🥼

Consider using our online store for long-term medications and prescription diets. The online store is a convenient option for pets who need medications or prescription food on an ongoing basis. An auto-ship option is available for many products, allowing you to schedule regular deliveries directly to your home. You can choose a refill schedule such as every 30, 60, or 90 days, so you don't have to remember to call each time. The online store link can be found below:

https://www.myvetstoreonline.pharmacy/shop/LogonForm?catalogId=10101&storeId=10152&langId=-1&krypto=lHCdBU1sxuu4%2BqsLmsOeVJa0P31sk%2FHlDUHFGlsGzNsEbwsgXQnSMmt5Uuo2qSGJ9logbJXNS6PYViWcC0bM7lQsj72NFZ3jU3z90UQKFQU7XnwIFuYUxI0HFVwflwBR5mxvMeQHV6rQfUWHfMtHziV%2FXZamS1gATWs90kjNDW8YRhqPMNoyLanqQq2yMr0k6d6sRm9FXV7RJ8hVVLF7ZJp63WLWa8ilC0xCyJAAc4IKGGQi3uRhtiOYNWhmXq2SYLwseZ8mWf3rhMNhbNueJ37PtTaxYhkifz28TCJxdfXPQBHPgJD1QcuCWSxugqpWJciLusTjD%2BndDShWdqFMo9eN2I%2Bh%2BDQsNvnzkIxhWnZWDm%2B0SUykjPbf1kX6sxYN&fbclid=IwY2xjawQflJlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeD_0zK-IOIC828loyTaUyl7FJLduxyx5WSewtsfgt0STc91WnnTD_Y-dRJMs_aem_gAX2HLfhjZLVIl25-wuSng

Thank you for helping us keep your pet's medications safe, effective, and available when they are needed! 🐾⚕️

10/06/2026

Help us welcome our Pet of the Month for October- Bentley! 🐾🎃

Nickname: Boonie Bear 🐻
Age: 3 years old
Breed: French Bulldog
Favorite Treat: Peanut Butter Bones 🦴🥜
Favorite Toy: Lemur and Squirrel Stuffies 🐿️
Likes: Cuddles, Laying in the Sun, Playing Tug of War ☀️

A note about Bentley from his owners:

Bentley is very loving and attentive of our needs. He can tell when we have had a bad day or just need some extra love. He is very gentle with children and just loves to be included. We are very blessed with our faithful frenchie. 💛

09/30/2026

🐾 🚨Appointment Scheduling Information🚨🐾

Dr. Hunt has been very busy recently and his appointment schedule has been filling up quickly! We are currently scheduling at least 1-2 weeks in advance. Here are a few things to know:

📆Please Plan Ahead: For routine appointments, such as vaccinations, wellness exams, and other non-urgent visits, we strongly recommend calling a few weeks in advance to ensure you can get the date and time that works best for you.

🩺Saturday Appointments: Saturday appointments are very popular and tend to fill up quickly, paricularly for vaccination and wellness visits. If you prefer a Saturday appointment, we encourage you to call as far in advance as possible.

🚑Sick and Emergency Patients: We are continuing to see sick and emergency patients.
Due to limited appointment availability, some patients may need to be seen as a drop off appointment or after hours emergency. This is to ensure we can provide patients with the care they need, while balancing the busy schedule.

📞Rescheduling/Canceling an Appointment: Please provide at least 24 hours notice if you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment. There is often a waiting list of patients needing seen. An advance notice allows us to offer that appointment to another patient who is awaiting care.

🐶Technician Appointments: Some services can be scheduled as a technician appointment, which can help us accommodate your pet for services such as suture removal, nail trims, blood draws, medication administration, etc.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.
We look forward to seeing you and your pets!

09/14/2026

This month, we are honoring Caitlyn Roulston's pet, Debbie! 🐶🐾

Caitlyn should be a familiar face, as she has filled many roles at our hospital, including veterinary assistant, client service specialist, and animal care specialist. Caitlyn is always eager to lend a helping hand. She is very thorough and goes above and beyond to provide excellent service for clients and their pets. She is currently enrolled in Purdue University's Veterinary Nursing Distance Learning Program and has plans to become a registered veterinary technician. Debbie has been a good sport when helping Caitlyn practice her technical skills.👩🏼‍⚕️🩺

Nickname: Big Deborah
Age: 7 years
Breed: Mountain Cur
Favorite Treat: Potato wedges from the gas station 🥔⛽️
Favorite Toy: Chew bones 🦴
Likes: Watching birds and going for golf cart rides 🐦🚗

A note from Caitlyn about Debbie:

Debbie is always happy and thinks that everyone she meets is her best friend! She enjoys camping and going on walks on the trail. ⛺️🌿🌳

Address

318 E Main Street
Berne, IN
46711

Opening Hours

Monday	7:30am - 5pm
Tuesday	7:30am - 5pm
Wednesday	7:30am - 5pm
Thursday	7:30am - 5pm
Friday	7:30am - 5pm
Saturday	7:30am - 12pm

Telephone

2605892460

Website

http://www.smithvethosp.com/

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