Hodson Veterinary Services LLC

09/29/2026

I wanted to take a moment to share this myself so that the information comes directly from me. With a change like this, I know how quickly information can travel, and I don’t want there to be any confusion, speculation, or inaccurate information about what is happening or why.

This is not an easy post for me to write, and it was certainly not an easy decision to make.

After a great deal of thought and soul searching, we will be gradually shifting the focus of Hodson Veterinary Services to equine dentistry only. As this transition takes place, we will be discontinuing the other veterinary services currently offered through my practice.

This decision was not made lightly. In fact, I have struggled with it for a long time. Every time I found one reason to stay, it seemed I was met with three more reasons telling me it was time for something to change.

To those of you who have been with me from the beginning, and to those who have trusted me with your horses somewhere along the way, thank you. Many of you are the reason I stayed as long as I have. I have built relationships through this practice that mean far more to me than simply veterinarian and client, and walking away from that part of my practice is incredibly difficult.

But life changes.

After almost 14 years, I have had to accept that I cannot continue carrying the guilt that comes with not being available every time someone needs me, especially when I also have personal and family responsibilities that need me just as much.

The last year and a half has forced me to do a lot of soul searching about my life, my priorities, and what I realistically have the ability to carry. I know this decision will affect many of you, and that has weighed heavily on me. But at this point in my life, I am simply not able to run my practice the way I have for so many years while also taking care of everything that needs my attention personally.

Sometimes recognizing that something needs to change is harder than continuing to carry it.

I am incredibly grateful for the trust you have placed in me, for the horses you have allowed me to care for, and for the people who have supported me throughout these almost 14 years.

We aren’t disappearing. You’ll still see Ken and me out there doing what we love as we continue building the equine dentistry side of our practice.

As for everything else…

It’s not goodbye forever. It’s just goodbye for now.

Thank you for understanding, and more importantly, thank you for being part of this chapter of my life.

Dr. Kate
Hodson Veterinary Services LLC

09/11/2026

Here is a great grief support group for anyone looking.

08/28/2026

A Quick Reminder About Calling & Texting Us

Hodson Veterinary Services does not have a receptionist. If we don’t answer when you call, please leave a voicemail or send us a text.

Our regular business hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.

If you have a non-emergency question or request, please contact us during regular business hours.

Texting is often the fastest and easiest way to reach us during the day. We are usually with a client, on another call, driving, or somewhere that we simply can’t stop and answer the phone. Texts also allow us to look back at your message when we are available so important information isn’t lost.

When leaving a voicemail or sending a text, please include your name, your horse’s name, the reason you’re contacting us, any important information we need to know, and whether you would like a call back.

After-Hours Communication

If you contact us outside of regular business hours for a non-emergency, you may not receive a response until the next business day.

For current clients with an emergency, phone calls and voicemails are monitored after hours.

Texts are NOT monitored after 5 PM on weekdays or on weekends. If you have an emergency after hours, please CALL rather than text.

There may also be times when we reach out to you after hours. This may happen if we are following up about lab results, letting you know medication has been delivered or is available, communicating a sudden schedule change, or handling something else that needs timely communication.

If we contact you after hours, please don’t feel obligated to respond immediately unless we specifically tell you that something is urgent. Likewise, receiving a call or text from us after hours does not mean that we are routinely available for non-emergency calls or messages during that time.

And most importantly, if you’ve contacted us and don’t hear back, please reach out again. We never intentionally ignore a message, but we are human, and between appointments, emergencies, travel, calls, and texts, something can occasionally get missed.

Thank you for helping us keep communication running smoothly while we’re out taking care of horses.

Dr. Kate
Hodson Veterinary Services

08/28/2026

https://equimanagement.com/business-development/the-complexities-of-rural-equine-practice/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAT-yDFwZG9mBWZkaWQWUNXjR1RiQG7tb6vm3X_QVS41rCNQkWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR6Uhr7n2pYfcnTZ4wt2wn81_EEEhjfZy906xqPyZuciEyE9r2UxsC-q4McMtA_aem_dHDI69VtSR69dAOpm693tw

Inside the challenges, trade-offs, and realities of practicing equine medicine in rural areas.

08/28/2026

We are a dying breed.

Fewer than 4,000 equine veterinarians serve the entire U.S., and in 23 states, there are fewer than 60.

A recent EquiManagement feature dives into the realities of rural equine practice: solo “road warrior” vets driving hours between farms, working without nearby referral hospitals, setting strict boundaries to avoid burnout, and carrying the weight of 24/7 responsibility.

In some regions, referral care may be 16 hours away, meaning the local veterinarian must decide: treat, stabilize, or humanely euthanize.

Rural equine medicine isn’t just a career; it’s a commitment to community, resilience, and showing up when no one else can.

👇 Did these numbers surprise you? Share your thoughts or tag a rural vet who deserves recognition.

Read the full article via the link in the comments.

08/27/2026

08/07/2026

The next few weeks may be a little different for me.

This morning my mom fell in the barn and fractured her femur. It’s the same leg that she fractured her hip several years ago, so because of the hardware already in place, she’ll be undergoing specialized surgery today in South Bend.

As many of you know, my family means everything to me. I’ll be making quite a few trips back and forth to South Bend while she’s recovering. Believe me, this isn’t something any of us planned on, but life has a way of changing plans in an instant. We just roll with what comes our way and keep moving forward.

I’ll still be seeing patients and doing everything I can to be there for my clients and their horses. That said, there may be times when I’m unavailable or it takes me a little longer than usual to return calls or messages.

This also serves as a reminder of something I talk about from time to time. Please have a plan in place if your horse experiences an emergency and I’m unavailable. Whether it’s because I’m already with another emergency, in surgery with a patient, out of the practice area, or dealing with an unexpected family situation like this, having a backup plan is one of the most important things you can do as a horse owner.

I appreciate your patience, understanding, and kindness over the next few weeks. Your support means more than you know.

If you could keep my mom in your thoughts today, we’d certainly appreciate it. ❤️

Thank you,
Dr. Kate and Ken
Hodson Veterinary Services LLC

08/07/2026

I will be out of the office today and unavailable for calls or emergencies. I will return calls and texts as I’m able.

If you have an emergency please call Purdue University at 765-494-8548. You will need to be able to haul.

Thank you

Dr. Kate