Hickory Veterinary Hospital

What Hickory Veterinary Hospital does

Hickory Veterinary Hospital is an independent, privately-owned companion animal hospital established in February 1980 in Forest Hill, Maryland, operating as the anchor of what it describes as Harford County's largest pet care complex. The practice is co-owned by veterinarians Dr. Robert Silcox (Chief of Staff) and Dr. Claire McNesby, who purchased it in 2008 after joining as partners in 2004. The hospital employs approximately 6 DVMs and a broader support team within an 11-50 employee range, serving pet owners across Harford, Cecil, and Baltimore counties in Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania. Service lines span preventative/wellness care, dental, surgery, diagnostics, emergency/urgent care, behavioral consultations, microchipping, nutrition counseling, euthanasia, chemotherapy/oncology, and a specialized canine rehabilitation program featuring Class IV laser therapy and aquatic therapy via an underwater treadmill.

The clinical technology stack is conventional but reasonably modern for an independent GP: digital radiography, ultrasound imaging, a Class IV therapeutic laser, an underwater treadmill, and an in-house laboratory enabling same-day blood work, urinalysis, and fecal testing. Back-office and client-facing systems are sourced from third-party vendors: IDEXX for the client portal, PetDesk for online appointment scheduling, VetsFirstChoice for the online pharmacy, and CareCredit for third-party patient financing. The hospital is co-located with Hickory Kennels (boarding, 100+ runs) and Hickory Pet Food & Supplies (retail), creating a three-vertical pet care complex at a single address.

Revenue is generated on a professional services basis — payment is required at time of service, with veterinary services (exams, surgery, dental, diagnostics, rehab, oncology) as the primary stream, supplemented by boarding revenue from Hickory Kennels and prescription/retail revenue from the in-hospital and online pharmacy plus the pet supply storefront. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via the practice website, phone, and online scheduling, with marketing support from iVET360. The practice carries no external funding, no parent company, and no disclosed financial information.

Name

Hickory Veterinary Hospital

Legal name

Hickory Veterinary Hospital

Website

https://hickoryvet.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hickory Veterinary Hospital is a privately-owned, full-service companion animal hospital in Forest Hill, MD, co-located with boarding kennels and a pet supply store. Founded in 1980, it serves pet owners across Harford, Baltimore, and Cecil counties with six veterinarians offering medical, surgical, dental, rehabilitation, and oncology services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veterinary Services

NAICS

Veterinary Services (541940), Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291), Pet and Pet Supplies Retailers (459910)

SIC

Services-Hospitals (8060), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYAFAEANAA

Companion Animal Veterinary Clinics & Hospitals

Agriculture & Food Production/Animal Production & Aquaculture/Animal Health & Veterinary Services

SECONDARYHSANADAC

Mixed-Species Boarding Kennel (Dogs & Cats)

Home & Personal Services/Pet Grooming & Boarding Services/Pet Boarding (Kennel/Cattery)

SECONDARYHLAMAMAF

Veterinary Inventory, Pharmacy & Medication Management

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Veterinary & Animal Health/Animal Health IT Solutions

Keywords

• Companion animal care
• Veterinary medical services
• Canine rehabilitation
• Veterinary diagnostics
• Pet boarding services

Headquarters

HQ city

Forest Hill

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Veterinary Services: Revenue generated from comprehensive veterinary medical and surgical services including wellness exams, dental care, surgery, diagnostics, emergency care, rehabilitation, and chemotherapy/oncology treatments. Services are provided on an appointment basis with payment required at time of service.
2. Boarding and Kennels: Revenue from Hickory Kennels boarding facilities as part of the largest pet care complex in Harford County.
3. Online and In-Hospital Pharmacy: Prescription diets and medications sold through the in-hospital and online pharmacy (Vets First Choice) with competitive pricing, rebates, and coupons.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Hickory Veterinary Hospital is a full-service companion animal hospital providing preventive/wellness care, diagnostics (digital radiography, ultrasound, in-house lab), dental care, surgical services, emergency and urgent care, canine rehabilitation (laser therapy and aquatic treadmill), behavioral consultations, microchipping, nutrition counseling, chemotherapy/oncology, and euthanasia services. It is part of Harford County's largest pet care complex, co-located with Hickory Kennels (boarding) and Hickory Pet Food & Supplies, serving pet owners across Harford, Baltimore, and Cecil counties and Southern Pennsylvania since 1980.

Product overview

Hickory Veterinary Hospital operates as a full-service companion animal hospital offering a comprehensive portfolio of veterinary services organized around preventive/wellness care as the foundation. The core offerings include primary care services (wellness exams, vaccinations, dental care, surgery, diagnostics, microchipping) supplemented by specialized services such as canine rehabilitation with aquatic therapy and laser treatment, behavioral consultations, chemotherapy/oncology, and emergency/urgent care. The hospital is part of a larger pet care complex that includes Hickory Kennels (boarding) and Hickory Pet Food & Supplies (retail), creating an integrated pet care ecosystem. All services are delivered through in-house capabilities with same-day laboratory results, an online pharmacy via VetsFirstChoice, and client access through IDEXX and PetDesk platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Preventative/Wellness Care Comprehensive wellness exams and preventive care for companion animals, including physical examinations, vaccinations, diagnostic testing, and health screenings tailored to each life stage.
• Dental Care Professional dental cleanings, polishing, oral examinations, tooth extractions, and oral surgery performed under general anesthesia to maintain pet oral health.
• Surgical Services Full range of surgical procedures including spay/neuter, abdominal surgeries, orthopedic services, soft tissue surgery, tumor removal, and GDV treatment, with advanced anesthesia and pain management protocols.
• Canine Rehabilitation Physical rehabilitation program directed by a certified doctor, including manual therapy, therapeutic exercises, Class IV laser therapy, aquatic therapy via underwater treadmill, and individualized home exercise programs.
• Diagnostics In-house diagnostic services using digital radiography (X-ray) and ultrasound technology for efficient and accurate diagnosis of illnesses and injuries.
• Pet Emergencies & Urgent Care Emergency and urgent care services during regular business hours for conditions including allergic reactions, broken bones, poisoning, seizures, and other acute medical situations.
• Behavioral Consultations Comprehensive behavioral consultations lasting 60-90 minutes, addressing problem behaviors through diagnosis, management strategies, medication prescriptions, and behavior modification plans.
• Microchipping Permanent microchip identification implantation with registration services to help lost pets find their way home.
• Nutrition Counseling Nutritional counseling and supplement recommendations to address allergies, joint problems, skin and coat ailments, and weight management for pets.
• Euthanasia Services Compassionate end-of-life services allowing pet owners to spend private time with their pets before and during the euthanasia procedure.
• Chemotherapy/Oncology Oncology services including chemotherapy treatments for cancer patients, administered by Dr. Claire McNesby with nearly 10 years of chemotherapy experience.
• Boarding (Hickory Kennels) Complete boarding facilities at the adjacent Hickory Kennels providing overnight and extended-stay accommodations for pets as part of the pet care complex.
• Hickory Pet Food & Supplies Retail pet supplies and prescription diet food store located at the same complex as the hospital.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving community since 1980 with over 40 years of continuous operation

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature5 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Banfield Pet Hospital: Banfield is the largest general veterinary practice chain in the U.S., operating inside PetSmart stores and standalone hospitals. It is comparable as a multi-vet companion animal hospital serving suburban pet owners, but at vastly greater scale and corporate backing.
• VCA Animal Hospitals: VCA operates a national network of companion animal general and specialty hospitals, now owned by Mars. It competes with Hickory for the same suburban pet-owner segment but with broader service lines, 24/7 emergency capability, and centralized corporate support.
• PetVet Care Centers: PetVet is a PE-backed consolidator that acquires and operates independent companion animal hospitals across the U.S. It is a direct strategic counterpart for Hickory — both as a competitor and as a potential acquirer — with a similar general-practice service mix.
• BluePearl Pet Hospital: BluePearl is a national network of specialty and emergency veterinary hospitals. It competes with Hickory's oncology and rehabilitation offerings at the higher-acuity end and is the typical referral destination for cases Hickory cannot handle in-house.

Regional players

• Falls Road Animal Hospital: Falls Road Animal Hospital is a multi-doctor companion animal practice in Baltimore, MD. It is directly comparable to Hickory as an independent, full-service suburban Maryland hospital offering general practice, surgery, dentistry, and boarding.
• Perry Hall Animal Hospital: Perry Hall Animal Hospital is an established multi-veterinarian companion animal hospital in the Baltimore metro area. It competes for the same suburban Maryland pet owners with a comparable general practice and surgical service mix.
• Eastern Animal Hospital: Eastern Animal Hospital is a long-standing Baltimore-area companion animal hospital offering general practice, surgery, and boarding. It mirrors Hickory's integrated hospital-plus-boarding model in an adjacent regional market.
• Animal Hospital of Dauphin County: Animal Hospital of Dauphin County is a multi-veterinarian small animal hospital in south-central Pennsylvania. It is comparable as a long-established independent companion animal practice serving a similar suburban/semi-rural clientele just north of Hickory's southern Pennsylvania catchment.
• Harford Emergency Veterinary Services: Harford Emergency Veterinary Services is an after-hours emergency clinic in the Harford County area where Dr. Silcox previously worked. It is a direct competitor for Hickory's emergency and urgent care cases and the primary after-hours referral option in the same geography.

Emerging players

• Dogtopia: Dogtopia is a rapidly expanding franchise specializing in dog daycare, boarding, and spa services. It is comparable to Hickory's Hickory Kennels business line as a competing boarding and daycare provider, though it does not deliver veterinary services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HickoryVetHospital
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hickory-veterinary-hospital-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hickory Veterinary Hospital