Dr.
ToddCarr
Practice Owner
Dr. Carr grew up in Moville, IA. Veterinary medicine is in his blood; his father, who practiced for 40 years, an uncle, and 3 cousins are all veterinarians. Dr. Carr attended Iowa State University for both his undergraduate studies and for veterinary school, graduating in 1997. He worked in a mixed animal practice in Rapid City for 6 years, before moving to Sioux Falls in 2003 to open Prairie Creek Pet Hospital. As the practice grew, he saw the need to expand our space to accommodate more patients, updated equipment, and additional staff. In January 2017 we opened the doors of our current facility on Westlake Drive. Dr. Carr and his wife Lisa have 3 children, Kinsey, Gage, and Quinn, as well as 2 fun-loving poodles, Frodo and Samwise. At work, he enjoys taking care of a variety of surgical and medical conditions. When away from the clinic, you might find Dr. Carr cheering at one of his kid's sporting events or camping with his family.
Dr.
JamiePlagman
Associate Veterinarian
See AlsoPrairie Creek Veterinary Clinic, 135 80th Street Court, Fairfax, Reviews and AppointmentsServices - Prairie Creek Veterinary HospitalDr. Plagman grew up in Arlington, SD and received her Bachelor's degree in biology from Augustana College in 2012. She graduated from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2016 and practiced in Rapid City for 2 years. Dr. Plagman moved to Sioux Falls and joined Prairie Creek Pet Hospital in October 2018. Moving with her were her 2 cats, Howard and Bernadette, and 3 big dogs, her beloved English Mastiff Reuben, her sweet Golden Retriever Ellie, and her happy-go-lucky Great Dane mix Wilson. She is excited to be back in this part of the state and to be a part of the Prairie Creek Pet Hospital family. Dr. Plagman enjoys reading, cooking, spending time with family, and solving a good puzzle. She has a special interest in dentistry and enjoys helping to keep pets' mouths healthy, clean, and pain-free.
Dr.
Caitlin Peterson
Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Peterson grew up in Zearing, IA and graduated from Northern State University with a Bachelor’s degree in biology in 2012. After working with pigs for several years she decided to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. She graduated from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2021 and then joined the team at Prairie Creek Pet Hospital in June of 2021. In her spare time Dr. Peterson enjoys reading, video games, spending time with her cat Bug, and visiting family. Her favorite part of veterinary medicine is the excitement of constantly learning new things.DianneCarver
Head Receptionist
Dianne has been greeting our clients and their pets at Prairie Creek PetHospital's front desk since 2008. Previously she worked in California as aRegistered Veterinary Technician from 1996 to 2008. In her spare time, shevolunteers with her Golden Retriever named Denver doing pet therapy athospitals, rehabilitation centers, assisted living, and hospicefacilities. She really enjoys hiking and other outside activities withDenver and loves tosew and quilt.
RoxyDohlmann
Receptionist/Assistant
Roxy joined the Prairie Creek Pet Hospital staff in 2017, bringing with her 16 years of experience in the veterinary and pet care industry. Roxy enjoys greeting all pets when they come in our front door, but cats are her true passion. She provides a loving home to 5 fluffy kitties: Oscar, Shadow, Chewy, Lucky and Merle. She also keeps busy with her daughter Olivia and her son Kelley, and she enjoys classic rock and being in the great South Dakota outdoors.
KallieHeinemann
RVT
Registered Veterinary Technician
Kallie grew up in the Garretson area and graduated from Globe University with her Associate's degree in veterinary technology in 2014. She has been a Registered Veterinary Technician with us since her graduation. Kallie is interested in all areas of veterinary medicine and likes the diverse caseload we see at Prairie Creek Pet Hospital. Kallie and her husband John have a young son, Wyatt, who keeps her very busy when she's not at work. Kallie also enjoys crocheting and chasing her active Labrador Retriever Hank and her 2 cats Pepe and Gill.
NicoleVan Hill
RVT
Registered Veterinary Technician
Nicole grew up in the Sioux Falls area and attended Globe University, where she earned her Associates Degree in veterinary technology in 2014. She has been a Registered Veterinary Technician with us since then. Nicole enjoys the variety of medical and surgical conditions that we treat at Prairie Creek Pet Hospital. Outside of work, Nicole enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, keeping active with her Doberman Rey and cuddling with her cats Garth and Loui.
Mercedes Anchondo-Corral
Veterinary Assistant
Mercedes was born and raised in Austin, TX, but has spent time living Seattle, WA and central Pennsylvania. She trained most of her life to become a professional ballerina and after dancing professionally for two years decided to take a different career path. Mercedes is currently finishing her undergraduate studies and hopes to one day soon apply for Veterinary Medicine graduate programs. Working at Prairie Creek Pet Hospital is very different from her past farm animal experience, but she is excited and eager to learn new and important skills. Outside of work, Mercedes enjoys cooking, gardening, creating art, spending time with family and playing with her Alaskan Malamute, Kuma.
Rachel Hoff
Veterinary Assistant
Rachel grew up in South Central Wisconsin on a beef cattle operation. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in 2021 with a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and an emphasis on meat animals. During her undergraduate studies, she was lucky enough to co-author research published in The National Provisioner. While primarily focusing on meat animals and exotic animals in the past, including muntjac and ring-tailed lemurs, she is excited to expand her knowledge regarding the world of companion animal medicine. Rachel’s main fields of interest are humane and ethical meat processing, animal welfare, and senior/geriatric care. Outside of work, she swims, rock climbs, reads constantly, and enjoys being a sister and an aunt.
JordynSchwartz
Vet Technician
Jordyn grew up in Harrisburg, SD and graduated from Southeast Technical College in 2022 with her Associate’s degree in Veterinary Technology. Jordyn is eager to learn more as she begins to work with us. She is interested in all areas of veterinary medicine and all cases we see here at Prairie Creek Pet Hospital. In her free time she enjoys hanging out with friends, family, and of course taking care of her German Shepherd, Trooper. Trooper is also a handicapped puppy that needs lots of love and attention. Jordyn can’t wait to work with you and your pets!
FAQs
Why is the vet expensive? ›
Equipment. Like human hospitals, veterinary clinics have diagnostic equipment that is expensive to purchase and maintain. Radiology is a huge investment, especially if state-of-the-art digital x-ray and ultrasound machines are utilized.
Is a pet hospital the same as a vet? ›Services. Animal hospitals, also known as veterinary hospitals, typically offer a wider range of services and more specialized options compared to clinics. This doesn't mean that they have a higher quality of service than veterinary clinics, but it does mean that they have more treatments available.
Should you visit your pet at the vet? ›Continuing your pet's veterinary visits regularly will allow you and your dog to form a relationship with your veterinarian and the staff at the clinic. It can make a major difference when your dog recognizes their veterinarian, which may help them feel more relaxed during their exams.
How much are most vet visits? ›The national average cost for a routine vet visit is between $25-$186. During a routine veterinary appointment, your vet will perform a physical exam to assess your pet's health. The vet will likely check for: Vitals: heart rate, breathing, temperature, weight.
How can I avoid expensive vet bills? ›- Lay your financial cards on the table when talking to your vet. ...
- Kick the once-a-year vaccine habit. ...
- Don't neglect preventive health care. ...
- Feed your pet the right amount. ...
- Investigate options for paying your veterinary bills. ...
- Invest in pet insurance. ...
- Price shop for your pet's prescriptions.
Veterinarians are doctors trained to protect the health of both animals and people. In a clinical hospital environment, veterinarians work with large and small animals to evaluate animals' health; diagnose and treat illnesses; provide routine preventive care; prescribe medication; and perform surgery.
What is an ER vet? ›Emergency veterinarians are animal medicine doctors who specialize in treating life-threatening injuries and illnesses. Although they work primarily in hospitals and emergency clinics, they often consult with internal medicine specialists and surgeons.
When should a vet be called? ›If your pet vomits and has diarrhea, lethargy, decreased appetite, or has gotten into something and/or is just not acting liking themselves, you should call your vet. If your pet vomits more than once in a 24-hour period, you should call your veterinarian right away.
Is it OK to not take your dog to the vet? ›Dogs need to visit the vet regularly, just like humans need to go to the doctor for routine checkups. You should also take your dog to the vet if they're acting strangely or showing symptoms of an illness or injury.
Should you feed a dog before the vet? ›Preparing for the visit. Hungry is good. If medically appropriate, reduce the amount of food your pet eats before a veterinary visit. This can help prevent nausea with car travel as well as make the treats at the veterinary visit more appealing.
How do you tell a good vet from a bad vet? ›
- Good: They Care About Comfort. ...
- Good: They're Willing To Explain. ...
- Good: They Run Thorough Tests. ...
- Good: They Listen To You. ...
- Bad: They Rush You. ...
- Bad: They Try To Sell You Unnecessary Things. ...
- Bad: You Feel Uncomfortable.