Arnold Animal Hospital Offers a Vital Service for Local Pet Owners

Career choices are never easy. Although he didn't know his career path as a boy, Kevin Kohne knew that he wanted to go into a field in which he could own his own business, use his passion for science and be involved with people.

“My father owned a small grocery store in South St. Louis, and I saw how enjoyable and important his interaction with his customers was in his business,” Kohne said. “I was sure that I wanted a business in which could know my customers.”

Kohne owns Arnold Animal Hospital at 1324 Jeffco Blvd. It sits above a busy section of Arnold. The driveway leads clients to the rear of the facility, the main entry of the hospital. A busy parking lot offers clients a short walk to the hospital door. At the doorway, there are separate entrances for cats and dogs, the bulk of the furry patients inside the facility.

The busy waiting room is semi-divided to avoid any interspecies rivalries, but most of the patients are too busy sniffing to notice. The staff greets owners and their pets at the desk and announces their arrival to the veterinarians. Arnold Animal Hospital employs five veterinarians, three licensed veterinary technicians and 25 support staff workers. 

The facility offers a variety of services to the patients. Kohne purchased part of the practice from his colleague, Dr. Don Wilson, in 1994 and bought the entire practice in 2000. The availability of vaccinations, wellness exams, dental care, surgeries, diagnostic imaging and a full, on-site pharmacy make it a one-stop destination for pet care in Arnold.

In high school, Kohne joined Junior Achievement, and the group reinforced his interest in business ownership. However, it was his academic adviser at Saint Louis University who finally helped Kohne tie his career preferences together.

“I was biology major with a passion for science, so my advisor suggested that I go into a medical career. Shortly after our talk, I realized that veterinary medicine was a good choice for me. I graduated from University of Missouri-Columbia College of Veterinary Medicine and will have been in practice for 25 years in May of 2012,” Kohne said. “It turned out to be the perfect choice for me.”

“Other than doing some clinical work during my training, my entire career has been in Arnold at Arnold Animal Hospital,” Kohne said. 

An Arnold resident, Kohne enjoys meeting his clients at church, school, neighborhood events and while out shopping. His strong sense of community involvement has taken many paths over the years. He and his staff give back to the community by offering educational tours of the hospital to school groups, presenting talks on pet ownership, providing shadowing opportunities to students interested in veterinary medicine and participating in local career days.

“I enjoy living in the same community as I work,” Kohne said. 

A firm believer in preventative health care for pets, Kohne stresses the importance of annual wellness checkups in an effort to catch any problems early. “Vaccinations can be tailored to the individual animal’s habits,” Kohne said. 

As to the economy, Kohne noted that for years Arnold Animal Hospital had experienced a steady growth, but for the last three or four years, it has been flat, reflecting the economy in general.

“We enjoy the fact that we have a great staff at Arnold Animal Hospital and a very good group of patients. In addition, my veterinary colleagues in Arnold are very good to work with both professionally and personally,” Kohne said.

Jessica Bleile, a client and owner of three companion pets, one cat and two dogs, is very satisfied with the care that her pets get at Arnold Animal Hospital. "All of the doctors there are very caring. Whether you are the first appointment of the day or the last, they give you plenty of time," said Bliele. " I also appreciate their convenient hours."

Another of Kohne’s long timeclients, Janet Diveley, uses his services for both her dogs and cats. “He takes very good care of all of my animals. We’ve been going to him since he came to Arnold. If you’ve got Dr. Kohne, you’ve got the best,” Diveley said.

Kohne has a houseful of pets waiting for him when he arrives home from work. A dog, Orion, a Chesapeake Bay retriever, and three cats, Blue, Smudge and Grace, are always waiting for him at the door. Grace is a special needs cat, an amputee saved at the hospital who later became a house pet.

Kohne has some famous patients as well. He tells of a German shepherd who does search and rescue work and helped solve a 7-year-old murder case and earned a conviction.

He often helps with events for the German Shepherd Dog Club of St. Louis. He especially likes the fact that the club honors dogs who are involved with rescue and police work.

When he is not tending to animals, Kohne is an avid Civil War buff. Reading books on the Civil War and military history are just what the doctor ordered for relaxation. Visiting battlefields is Kohne’s idea of a great vacation. “My son is currently attending (United States Military Academy at) West Point, so now I can keep up with modern military topics as well,” Kohne said.