CARE Veterinary Center

What CARE Veterinary Center does

CARE Veterinary Center is a 24/7 emergency and specialty veterinary hospital serving dogs and cats across Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Located at 1080 W. Patrick Street in Frederick, Maryland, the center is positioned to complement — rather than replace — local primary care veterinarians, accepting walk-in emergencies around the clock, scheduled specialty appointments on weekdays, and referrals from primary care clinics for advanced care. The clinical platform spans emergency and critical care, surgery (general and specialty, including orthopedic and soft tissue), internal medicine, rehabilitation and pain management, medical oncology, chemotherapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, advanced imaging, cardiology, neurology, and ophthalmology, with 24/7 language interpreter services for client support.

The center operates as part of the Thrive Pet Healthcare network, which provides a broader multi-tier service stack (primary care, urgent care, specialty, emergency, boarding, grooming, large animal/equine), the Thrive Pet Healthcare mobile app for bookings and records, and the Thrive Plus membership program (unlimited free exams, 10% off services, 24/7 advice helpline, $5 nail trims). Specialty partnerships extend the in-hospital capability set: Eye Care for Animals (ophthalmology), TotalRads (on-demand board-certified radiologist interpretation), and PetCure Oncology (radiation therapy). The Center employs 101–250 staff, and is led by Kelly Gellasch in a combined CEO and Surgeon–Medical Director role.

Revenue is generated on a fee-for-service professional-services basis across consultations, emergency stabilization, surgical procedures, diagnostics, hospitalization, and advanced treatments, supplemented by recurring Thrive Plus membership dues. Pricing is service-specific and not publicly disclosed. The end customer is the individual pet owner, with primary care veterinarians serving as referral partners rather than direct buyers; geographic scope is explicitly regional (DC metro plus adjacent states), with distribution concentrated entirely at the single Frederick, MD physical site plus Thrive's digital/mobile and partnership channels.

Name

CARE Veterinary Center

Legal name

CARE Veterinary Center

Website

https://carefrederick.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CARE Veterinary Center is a 24/7 emergency and specialty veterinary hospital in Frederick, Maryland, serving dog and cat owners across the MD, PA, WV, VA, and D.C. region with surgery, internal medicine, oncology, rehabilitation, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and other advanced services, operating within the Thrive Pet Healthcare network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veterinary Healthcare Services

NAICS

Veterinary Services (54194), Veterinary Services (541940), Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals (622310), Diagnostic Imaging Centers (621512)

SIC

Services-Hospitals (8060), Services-General Medical & Surgical Hospitals, Nec (8062)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterinary Specialty Referral Hospitals (Multi-specialty) (HLAMACAB)

Keywords

• Emergency veterinary services
• Specialty veterinary care
• Veterinary surgical services
• Animal hospital care
• Veterinary oncology treatment

Headquarters

HQ city

Frederick

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Veterinary Clinical Services: Revenue generated from veterinary consultations, emergency care, surgical procedures, diagnostic testing, hospitalization, and medical treatments for dogs and cats. Services are provided on a fee-for-service basis with pricing varying by procedure type and complexity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

CARE Veterinary Center is a veterinary hospital providing 24/7 emergency and specialty medical, surgical, and diagnostic care for dogs and cats. Services span emergency medicine, specialty surgery (orthopedic, soft tissue, neurosurgery), internal medicine, medical oncology, rehabilitation, cardiology, ophthalmology, neurology, dermatology, and advanced imaging. The center complements primary care veterinarians in the MD, PA, WV, VA, and D.C. region through referrals and direct walk-ins.

Product overview

CARE Veterinary Center operates as part of the Thrive Pet Healthcare network, offering a comprehensive multi-tiered veterinary care platform. The portfolio includes core services organized in a platform-plus-modules architecture: Primary Care (wellness exams, vaccinations, preventive care) as the foundational layer, supported by Emergency Care (24/7 critical care, hospitalization, advanced diagnostics) and Urgent Care (walk-in services for non-life-threatening conditions). Specialty services encompass Surgery (general practice and advanced specialty surgery including soft tissue, orthopedic, and neurosurgery), Cardiology, Orthopedics (including TPLO/CrCL surgery), Neurology, Ophthalmology, Dermatology, Internal Medicine, Oncology (medical, chemotherapy, radiation), Critical Care, and Rehabilitation. Additional service modules include Dental Care, Boarding & Grooming, Large Animal/Equine Care, and Pet Vaccinations. A digital layer includes the Thrive Pet Healthcare App for appointment booking and medical records, plus the Thrive Plus Membership wellness program. CARE Veterinary Center provides 24/7 emergency and specialty care specifically for dogs and cats in the MD, PA, WV, VA, and D.C. region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 24/7 Emergency Care Round-the-clock emergency veterinary services providing immediate medical treatment for dogs and cats with serious or life-threatening conditions, including advanced care, hospitalization, surgery, and advanced diagnostics. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at the Frederick, MD hospital.
• Specialty Care Services Advanced veterinary specialty services including surgery, orthopedic surgery, internal medicine, sports medicine, acupuncture, rehabilitation, and pain management delivered by board-certified specialists.
• Surgical Services Complete surgical services ranging from routine spays and neuters to complex soft tissue, orthopedic, and neurologic procedures performed by skilled surgical teams.
• Veterinary Cardiology Diagnosis, treatment, and management of heart conditions in pets using echocardiogram (ECG), electrocardiogram (EKG), and blood screenings.
• Veterinary Orthopedics Treatment of conditions related to bones, joints, and muscles including TPLO surgery, CrCL surgery, fracture repair, hip dysplasia, and arthritis management.
• Veterinary Ophthalmology Specialized eye care for pets treating conditions such as corneal damage, cataracts, glaucoma, dry eye, and performing cataract surgery, delivered in partnership with Eye Care for Animals.
• Veterinary Neurology Treatment of conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves including seizures, disc disease, tumors, and spinal trauma.
• Specialty Surgery Advanced surgical procedures including soft tissue surgery, orthopedic surgery, and neurosurgery requiring specialized equipment and training.
• Advanced Imaging and Radiology Advanced diagnostic imaging including X-rays, ultrasound, echocardiogram, MRI, and CT scans to diagnose health conditions.
• Critical Care Around-the-clock intensive care for pets with serious medical conditions requiring close monitoring and intensive management.
• Dermatology Treatment of skin, ear, hair, and claw conditions in pets including allergies, infections, and parasitic infestations.
• Internal Medicine Treatment of complex conditions affecting internal organs often coinciding with chronic illnesses requiring advanced diagnostics.
• Rehabilitation Physical therapy and rehabilitation services helping animals with recovery, mobility, pain management, and quality of life improvement.
• Medical Oncology Advanced cancer treatment including evaluation, diagnostics, and personalized treatment plans using chemotherapy and other therapies.
• Radiation Therapy Cancer treatment using precisely focused energy beams to eliminate cancer cells, including definitive, palliative, and stereotactic radiotherapy, delivered in partnership with PetCure Oncology.
• Thrive Plus Membership Wellness membership program offering unlimited free exams, 10% off services, 24/7 pet advice helpline, $5 basic nail trims, and exclusive offers (12-month commitment required).

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Eye Care for AnimalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEye Care for Animals is a nationwide network of veterinary ophthalmology specialists with over 40 state-of-the-art hospitals treating more than 55,000 patients per year. Thrive Pet Healthcare partners with Eye Care for Animals to provide specialized eye care services for pets, including cataract surgery, corneal surgery, glaucoma treatment, and other ophthalmic procedures. Board-certified ophthalmologists provide consultation and treatment services.
• TotalRadssupportingTechnology or IntegrationTotalRads provides on-demand access to world-class board-certified radiologists who assist Thrive Pet Healthcare clinics in diagnosing obscure and difficult cases through radiological interpretation services. This partnership enhances diagnostic capabilities across the Thrive network including CARE Veterinary Center.
• PetCure OncologysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPetCure Oncology partners with select Thrive Pet Healthcare hospitals to provide advanced radiation therapy services for pets with cancer. This partnership offers access to radiation therapy specialists and technology for treating tumors in dogs and cats.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG): Fast-growing emergency-only veterinary hospital chain with an open-floor, customer-centric care model. Competes directly with CARE on the 24/7 emergency side of the business, though without specialty services.

Direct peers

• MedVet Medical & Cancer Centers for Pets: Veterinarian-owned and led network of emergency and specialty hospitals with locations across multiple states. Closely comparable specialty/ER model with board-certified specialists, surgery, oncology, and internal medicine.
• Pet Emergency & Specialty Center (PESC): 24/7 emergency and multi-specialty veterinary hospital serving the greater Baltimore/DC area. Closely comparable specialty/ER referral model within CARE's geographic footprint.
• BluePearl Veterinary Partners: National network of emergency and specialty veterinary hospitals offering 24/7 ER, surgery, internal medicine, oncology, and advanced imaging. Direct head-to-head competitor with CARE in the mid-Atlantic multi-specialty referral segment.

Regional players

• Friendship Hospital for Animals: Long-established multi-specialty and 24/7 emergency veterinary hospital in Washington, D.C. Serves the same DC metropolitan catchment as CARE with primary care, emergency, and specialty services.
• Hope Advanced Veterinary Center: Specialty and emergency veterinary hospital in the DC/Virginia region offering surgery, internal medicine, oncology, and critical care. Overlaps with CARE on specialty depth in a shared metropolitan catchment.

Broad incumbents

• National Veterinary Associates (NVA): Large consolidator of general practice, specialty, and emergency veterinary hospitals across the U.S. Broader portfolio competitor that pressures independent and network-affiliated specialty operators through M&A and scale.
• VCA Animal Hospitals: One of the largest veterinary chains in North America, owned by Mars, offering general practice plus specialty and emergency services at many locations. Broader portfolio than CARE but overlaps significantly in specialty/ER capabilities.

Others

• PetCure Oncology: National network providing stereotactic radiation therapy and oncology services for pets. Strategic partner of Thrive and a comparable specialized services provider in the oncology niche that intersects with CARE's medical oncology offering.
• Eye Care for Animals: National veterinary ophthalmology specialty network with 40+ hospitals. Already a partner of Thrive, but a comparable peer in the sense that specialty-only veterinary service providers can also serve as referral partners or alternative channels for high-acuity cases.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 CARE Veterinary Center