Since 1997, Rondout Valley residents have been keeping their furry family members healthy and happy with help from Rondout Valley Veterinary Associates, and finding comfort, compassion, and skill. “The vets, technicians, assistants, and entire staff are incredible!” writes a reviewer on Google. “They have seen us through many issues big and small and always with such kindness, dedication and follow-through. We are so lucky to have them!”
Dr. Kathleen Laux bought the practice from its founder, Dr. Eric Hartelius, a Rondout Valley High School graduate, who set the bar high. Dr. Laux wanted to continue the tradition and made it her mission to provide top-quality pet medicine practiced with compassion for everyone involved.
Dr. Hartelius still practices there, as well as two additional skilled veterinarians, Dr. Troy Hexter and Dr. Jesse Page, supported by experienced practice managers and a team of five licensed veterinary technicians.
A native of the lower Hudson Valley, she grew up with horses, and first studied and practiced equine medicine before making the switch to caring for small animals.
Dr. Laux isn’t a new face; she’s been working there for over a decade. A native of the lower Hudson Valley, she grew up with horses, and first studied and practiced equine medicine before making the switch to caring for small animals.
“I was about nine years old when I started announcing I wanted to be a vet when I grew up,” she says. “I had cats, and I started taking riding lessons when I was eight—I don’t remember a time when I didn’t love being around animals.” During an earlier phase of her career, at Rhinebeck Equine, she once treated a colicky zebra.
Got a new kitten or puppy? RV Vets will set you up with a package of reasonably priced preventative care: exams, vaccinations, parasite screenings, and more.
Your pet needs medicine? They’ve got the basics right there in-house, from flea, tick, and heartworm protection to hormone replacement therapies, diabetes management, and nutraceuticals to help with joint pain. Should your pet need something specially compounded, they know exactly where to source it and they’ll get it to you.
If your pet’s needs would be best served by alternative modalities like acupuncture, herbal medicine, or chiropractic care, you’ve come to the right place for expertise. (Dr. Hartelius uses acupuncture and herbal medicine to treat his own pets at home.) RV Vets offers comprehensive dental and oral treatments. (A healthy mouth makes for a happy pet!) And their expert surgeons are capable of everything from basic spay/neuter services to Cesarean sections and tumor removal. Call ahead in an emergency, and you’ll find everything set up to help your pet, ready and waiting when you arrive. Should your pet need it, there’s a comprehensive menu of physical therapy and rehabilitation treatment available through RV Vets and its sister practice, Hudson Valley Animal Wellness.
And for just about any animal-related issue, you’ll find helpful links and resources on their website: animal control, shelters, grief counseling, groomers, pet sitters, wildlife rehabbers, and more—an encyclopedia of problem-solving for pet owners and animal lovers.
If your pet’s needs would be best served by alternative modalities like acupuncture, herbal medicine, or chiropractic care, you’ve come to the right place for expertise.
Treating thousands of pets a year and striving to give each one the best medical care possible, RV Vets uses the latest equipment: digital X-rays, regular and dental ultrasound, and cold lasers to make sure the diagnosis and treatment are swift and on point.
They’ve also got the training and wisdom to help you deal with any behavioral issues that come up: separation or other anxiety, phobias, elimination issues, aggression. “Behavioral issues aren’t really the pet’s fault,”
Dr. Laux says. “So we provide a low-stress environment in which to address the issues with desensitization and medication interventions. Once your pet’s anxiety is addressed, you’ll have an easier time training them to be a good family member, and we walk you through how to do that.”
Treating thousands of pets a year and striving to give each one the best medical care possible, RV Vets uses the latest equipment: digital X-rays, regular and dental ultrasound, and cold lasers to make sure the diagnosis and treatment are swift and on point. You and your pet will feel better just being there.
“What I love is that our team feels like one big family,” Dr. Laux says. “And we treat your pet to the highest possible standard, as if they were one of our own.”
rondout valley veterinary associates
6006 Route 209, Kerhonkson
845-626-5555,
rvvets.com
