Fort Campbell Veterinary Center

For active duty, retired military service members, reservists, and their dependents in the Kentucky region, the **Fort Campbell Veterinary Center (VETCEN)** serves as a vital resource for their beloved companion animals. Situated on post, this facility, which operates as both an **Animal hospital** and a full-service **Veterinarian** clinic, focuses its primary mission on providing complete veterinary care for all Government Owned Animals, such as Military Working Dogs. However, the dedicated staff understands the importance of pets to military families and, on a space-available basis, offers many types of routine care services for privately owned animals.

The VETCEN provides a focused scope of services, emphasizing **Preventive Care**, vaccinations, and essential documentation to support military life, particularly the frequent Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves. Clients often appreciate the compassionate and non-judgmental approach of the staff. One military spouse noted, "I loved the vet here! They were patient with me and my dogs... They also didn't make me feel bad for what was going on like a lot of vets in the area like to do." This friendly and professional atmosphere ensures that military families, who face unique challenges, feel supported in keeping their pets healthy and compliant with housing and travel regulations.

It is important for all prospective clients to understand the mission and scope of the VETCEN. Given its primary focus on Government Owned Animals and its role as a military treatment facility, pet services for privately owned animals are limited to routine and elective care and are strictly on an appointment-only basis. The clinic strongly encourages all clients to establish a relationship with a local, civilian veterinary practice off post. This is crucial because the VETCEN **does not provide after-hours or emergency care** and is not staffed for overnight hospitalization. Pets requiring immediate or intensive care outside of business hours must be referred to a civilian facility in the surrounding Clarksville or Kentucky area.

A critical first step to accessing care at the Fort Campbell Veterinary Center is pet registration. All pets living on the installation are required to be registered with the VETCEN within a short time of arrival. Even for service members living off-post, registration is mandatory before an appointment can be scheduled. While the facility strives for efficiency, clients should be prepared for the possibility of wait times and potential rescheduling due to the demanding mission requirements of Government Owned Animals. Documents must be registered and confirmed in the system before an appointment can be secured.

Location and Accessibility

The **Fort Campbell Veterinary Center** is located on the Fort Campbell installation, which spans the Kentucky and Tennessee border near Clarksville, Tennessee. The official Kentucky-side address is: **5289 8th St, Clarksville, KY 42223, USA**. The clinic is situated adjacent to the CIF (Central Issue Facility).

The facility is designed to be fully accessible for all military community members, offering **Onsite services** with thoughtful features to ensure ease of access.

• **Accessibility Features:** The location provides a dedicated **Wheelchair accessible parking lot**, a ramped or level **Wheelchair accessible entrance**, and a comfortable **Wheelchair accessible restroom** inside.
• **Amenities:** A standard **Restroom** is available for clients.
• **Planning:** All services for privately owned animals are provided on an appointment-only basis. **Appointments recommended** is the standing policy, and an appointment must be secured in advance. Furthermore, pet registration is a mandatory pre-requisite, requiring paperwork to be submitted and processed before the pet can be seen. Due to the high caseload and mission requirements, clients must adhere to a strict cancellation policy to avoid 'No Show' penalties, which could result in termination of services.

Services Offered

The **Fort Campbell Veterinary Center** provides essential and routine veterinary services for the pets of its eligible client base—active duty, retired military, and reservists and their dependents. These services are key to maintaining pet health, meeting housing requirements, and preparing for military moves.

• **Routine Wellness and Prevention:**
  • **Preventive Care** and wellness screenings.
  • **Vaccinations** for dogs and cats, including rabies, distemper/parvo, and others required by Fort Campbell Housing Policy.
  • Micro-chipping services, which are mandatory for pets residing on the installation.
  • Fecal exams and heartworm testing.
• **Routine Medical and Surgical:**
  • Limited sick-call examinations and medical treatment.
  • Limited elective **Ambulatory Surgery** such as routine **Spay and Neuter Surgeries**.
  • **Dental Clinics** providing essential cleaning services.
• **Regulatory and Travel Services:**
  • Issuance of **Health Certificates** for domestic and international travel (PCS). Military veterinarians are often USDA endorsed, making the process much cheaper and more convenient for health certificates required for travel to destinations like Korea, Japan, and Hawaii.
  • Assistance with **Overseas Suitability Screening** and ensuring compliance with the stringent requirements for international pet travel, including necessary blood tests like FAVN.
  • Pet registration and record maintenance via a global electronic medical record system.
• **Logistics and Refills:**
  • **Pharmacy Refill** services, though a 48-hour notice is generally required.

Features / Highlights

The Fort Campbell Veterinary Center is a unique and valuable asset to the military community in Kentucky, offering specific benefits tailored to the needs of military families and their pets.

• **Support for the Military Community:** The clinic's services are primarily for active duty, retired, and reservist service members and their dependents. This dedicated focus ensures services are aligned with military life, particularly the strict pet regulations on post.
• **PCS and Travel Expertise:** A significant highlight is their proficiency and lower cost for issuing **Health Certificates** required for both domestic and international travel during a Permanent Change of Station (PCS). They provide detailed guidance on the often-complex requirements for pet travel.
• **Teaching Hospital Environment:** The VETCEN hosts the First-Year Graduate Veterinary Education Program, bringing in new military doctors annually. This structure, which includes board-certified specialists in fields like emergency critical care and public health, provides availability for more in-depth medical cases and surgeries than typical military clinics.
• **Advanced On-Site Equipment:** The clinic is well-equipped with modern technology, including radiology, two surgical suites, two dental tables with radiograph capabilities, and an **In-House Lab** for necessary diagnostics.
• **Electronic Records System:** The facility utilizes a global electronic medical record system, which simplifies the process of transferring a pet's recent medical records from one military facility to another worldwide, greatly assisting families during frequent moves.

Contact Information

For eligible clients to register a pet, request an appointment for routine care, or begin the process for a travel health certificate at the **Fort Campbell Veterinary Center**, please use the contact information provided below.

• **Address:** 5289 8th St, Clarksville, KY 42223, USA
• **Phone:** (270) 798-3614
• **Mobile Phone:** +1 270-798-3614

What is Worth Choosing This Veterinary Care

For the military community in the Kentucky area, choosing the **Fort Campbell Veterinary Center** is an unparalleled value, mainly due to its specialized support for military life. The clinic’s primary strength lies in its deep knowledge and cost-effectiveness in managing pet-related requirements for military housing and the often-stressful Permanent Change of Station (PCS) process. Getting a travel **Health Certificate** on post, for instance, is significantly more affordable and convenient than securing one from a civilian veterinarian who may require an additional, costly USDA endorsement in Nashville.

Furthermore, the VETCEN provides essential, accessible routine care, including necessary **Vaccinations** and microchipping, which are mandatory for pets residing in on-post housing. The presence of board-certified specialists and veterinary interns from the First-Year Graduate Veterinary Education Program elevates the quality of care available for routine and limited surgical cases. While it's imperative to maintain an off-post relationship for **Emergency Care**, the Fort Campbell Veterinary Center serves as an invaluable, dedicated resource that understands and prioritizes the unique health and regulatory needs of pets belonging to our service members and their families in Kentucky. The combination of its mission focus, expert military veterinarians, and vital travel services makes it the go-to choice for eligible pet owners in the Fort Campbell area.

Fort Campbell Veterinary Center

5289 8th St, Clarksville, KY 42223, USA