Stepping Stone Animal Hospital Introduce
For pet owners in the Kansas City metro area, particularly those residing in Gardner and Johnson County, finding a veterinarian who combines advanced medical expertise with genuine, compassionate care is essential. Stepping Stone Animal Hospital, located in Gardner, Kansas, has established itself as a premier destination for comprehensive and personalized veterinary medicine. This practice is dedicated to fostering long-term pet health, moving beyond simply treating current symptoms to developing proactive plans that prevent recurring issues and ensure a high quality of life for all patients.
Stepping Stone Animal Hospital prides itself on providing a welcoming and clean environment. Clients frequently remark on the clinic’s pleasant atmosphere, noting that it is "clean and even smelled good," a small but important detail that contributes to a positive visit for both pets and their owners. The philosophy of care here is holistic and focused on the individual animal. This approach involves taking the necessary time to listen intently to a dog or cat's full history before collaborating with the owner on a customized treatment and preventative health strategy.
A significant highlight of this local Kansas business is its leadership, as it proudly identifies as a **women-owned** establishment. The team, which includes professionals like Dr. Morgan (Dr. Dunker), is frequently praised in the local community for being caring, thorough, and respectful of the client's time. For a pet owner, receiving same-day appointments for urgent initial checks—even for newly rescued pets—demonstrates a strong commitment to local service and immediate care availability, establishing Stepping Stone Animal Hospital as a trusted partner in the health and happiness of pets across the Kansas region.
Stepping Stone Animal Hospital is conveniently situated in the growing community of Gardner, Kansas. Its location ensures ease of access for local residents and those commuting from surrounding Johnson County areas.
The clinic’s address is: 971 E Lincoln Ln, Gardner, KS 66030, USA.
Recognizing the diverse needs of the community, Stepping Stone Animal Hospital is committed to providing excellent physical accessibility for all visitors. The facility is equipped with several features to ensure a comfortable experience for every client:
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
For planning your visit, the hospital operates on an efficient schedule, and while they strive to accommodate same-day visits for urgent needs, **appointments are recommended** for all regular checkups and non-emergency procedures. The facility also includes comfortable amenities for waiting clients, including a clean and accessible restroom.
Stepping Stone Animal Hospital is a full-service animal hospital providing a wide and impressive range of veterinary services, from essential preventative medicine to advanced medical and surgical procedures. Their service offerings are designed to care for pets across all life stages, including guidance for new puppies or kittens, and specialized geriatric care for senior pets.
Key services available to Kansas pet owners include:
- Preventative Medicine: Annual exams, regular checkups, regular exams, and vaccinations to establish a baseline of pet health and detect issues early.
- Diagnostic Capabilities: Cutting edge diagnostic tests, full blood work, heartworm tests, and other diagnostic procedures utilizing their advanced in-house laboratory for rapid and accurate results.
- Dental Care: Comprehensive care for dental disease, which is vital for a pet's overall systemic health.
- Surgical Services: Offering general medical procedures, spaying and neutering, as well as specialized services like orthopedic surgery for pets with complex orthopedic issues.
- Specialty Medicine: Includes advanced treatments such as allergy testing, dermatology, and working with complex orthopedic conditions.
- Geriatric & Hospice Care: Dedicated care for senior pets, managing age-related conditions, providing pain management, and offering compassionate hospice and euthanasia services.
- Support Services: Pain management protocols, care for guide dogs, shelter medicine expertise, and guidance on pet insurance options.
- Pet Owner Support: Taking the time to listen to pet history and developing a joint plan, ensuring the staff is nice and respectful of client time.
What makes Stepping Stone Animal Hospital a preferred choice for local Kansas pet owners is the intentional way they blend expertise with an exceptional client and patient experience. The following highlights showcase the hospital's commitment to quality:
- Client-Centered Experience: The hospital emphasizes a low-stress, comfortable visit, noted by customers for the clean, bright exam rooms and a pleasant environment that even "smelled good."
- Proactive, Not Reactive Care: The veterinary team focuses on identifying and preventing recurring issues, creating a comprehensive health plan rather than simply treating the immediate problem.
- Hands-On, Compassionate Exams: Veterinarians, such as Dr. Morgan (Dr. Dunker), are known for their gentle approach, including getting "on the ground with my dog" to help the animal feel comfortable during the exam.
- Advanced In-House Diagnostics: Access to a proud, well-equipped in-house laboratory allows for quick and efficient diagnostic tests, from heartworm checks to full blood work, speeding up treatment plans.
- Fair and Transparent Pricing: Customers consistently praise the reasonable pricing, noting they did not feel pressured or like they were experiencing a "shake down like other vets," reinforcing trust and honesty.
- Women-Owned Local Business: Supporting a locally rooted, women-identified business that is deeply invested in the community's pet health.
- High Friend Recommendation Rate: The practice earns strong word-of-mouth recommendations, a testament to its quality of service and positive outcomes for pets.
If you are a Kansas resident looking for thorough, compassionate veterinary care in the Gardner area, you can easily connect with Stepping Stone Animal Hospital using the following contact details. We encourage calling ahead to schedule your visit.
- Address: 971 E Lincoln Ln, Gardner, KS 66030, USA
- Phone: (913) 938-6977
- Mobile Phone: +1 913-938-6977
Choosing Stepping Stone Animal Hospital means selecting a veterinary practice built on the foundations of trust, advanced care, and genuine respect for pets and their owners. For Kansas pet families, the clinic offers an exceptional value proposition centered on personalized attention.
The quality of the initial experience—as highlighted by a customer with over forty years of owning dogs—is a strong indicator of the clinic's standard. The ability to secure a same-day appointment, especially for a newly rescued animal, removes significant stress during an emotional time. Moreover, the practice's commitment to developing a long-term care strategy, focusing on prevention over continuous treatment, is a fiscally responsible and medically sound approach that truly benefits the longevity and well-being of your beloved companion.
From a professional standpoint, the availability of advanced medical services, including orthopedic surgery, specialty medicine, and in-house laboratory testing, ensures that your pet's needs can be met right here in Gardner, often without the need for referral to outside facilities for complex diagnostics. When these high-level technical services are delivered with the described level of kindness—such as a vet getting down to the dog's level to ensure comfort—it creates an unparalleled standard of care. This blend of cutting-edge treatment and old-fashioned compassion makes Stepping Stone Animal Hospital a truly worthwhile and excellent choice for any pet owner in the Kansas region.
Stepping Stone Animal Hospital Cat
- Veterinarian
- Allergy Testing
- Animal Hospital
- Annual Exams
- Cutting Edge Treatments
- Dental Disease
- Diagnostic Tests
- Full Blood Work
- Geriatric Care
- Guide Dogs
- Heartworm Tests
- Hospice And Euthanasia
- In-House Laboratory
- Laboratory Tests
- Medical Procedures
- Medical Treatment
- New Puppy Or Kitten
- Orthopedic Issues
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Other Diagnostic
- Pain Management
- Pet Health
- Pet Insurance
- Preventative Medicine
- Regular Checkups
- Regular Exams
- Senior Pet
- Shelter Medicine
- Spaying And Neutering
- Specialty Medicine
- Veterinary Services
Stepping Stone Animal Hospital Details
- From the business
- Identifies as women-owned
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Amenities
- Restroom
- Planning
- Appointments recommended
Stepping Stone Animal Hospital Photos










Stepping Stone Animal Hospital Location
Stepping Stone Animal Hospital
971 E Lincoln Ln, Gardner, KS 66030, USA
Stepping Stone Animal Hospital Reviews
compassionatepricesbabiesquestionsfurdeskthe officeflower arrangementstonesrescue dogs
★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1- Stepping Stone was recommended to me by two different friends, and I am so glad. We recently rescued a shelter dog and were able to book an appointment for an initial check the same say I called. The desk staff was friendly, efficient, and helpful, and Morgan (Dr, Dunker) was very caring and thorough in her exam. Prices were reasonable, the building easily accessible, and the exam rooms were clean and bright. I have since recommended Stepping Stone to three other pet-owning friends. This was my best experience with a new vet in over forty years of owning dogs. August 26 · Beverly Redding
- Wonderful experience. Was my first visit and able to get same day visit. Took the time to listen to my dogs history and came up with a plan to treat my dog and prevent recurring issues instead of just treating the current problem. Place was clean and even smelled good when you walked in. All the staff were nice and respectful of my time. The vet literally got on the ground with my dog and helped her feel comfortable. Pricing was very reasonable. Didn’t feel like a shake down like other vets I’ve seen. I’ll be working with these guys moving forward. August 13 · james riddle
- The vet and staff that have worked with my dog are amazing. I have an American Akita and I took him to have his teeth cleaned and then I took for another health problem. In the past, he was afraid of the vet, would cry, and refuse to get out of the car. The staff at Stepping Stone spent time with him. They have been so compassionate toward him. I can tell watching his behavior that he trusts them and the care for him has been superior. He recovers so quickly under their care. The services are outstanding!! Thank you so much for the fantastic care of my boy!! August 01 · Catherine Sheridan
- I'm so glad I found this pet hospital. As soon as you walk in your greeted by a super calm, sweet black dog. Wish I could remember his name.Everyone is friendly and kind. They take time with you and your baby. You don't feel rushed. You can tell they care. OMG they actually treat your baby right there in the room with you! Right? They didn't rush at her. They tried to give her a little time to get calmed down.I got a followup phone call checking on my girl Moose and a post card in the mail!I highly recommend this office for your family. Doctors in general are scary, but these have to be my new favorites. February 17 · Lauren I
- I was terrified to put my 14 year old dog through surgery. I went for a meet and greet trying to find someone I was comfortable with and Dr Sara Smith sat on the floor with us and gave us a very thorough description of the surgery and gave comfort in sharing a personal story. I took him in for his surgery today and had the best experience. From the woman at the front desk to the personal phone calls from Dr letting me know he was being taken in for surgery and when he came out, to the bravery certificate he came home with. The team at Stepping Stone will be our new animal care team. A+, 5 stars I’m so glad I trusted Dr Sara and her Team with my old man. May 20 · Molly Corder
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