Veterinary Medical Centers

Northern Kentucky vet for dogs and cats, built around real relationships

Veterinary Medical Centers is a locally owned Northern Kentucky veterinary practice for dogs and cats, with convenient Fort Thomas and Independence locations, relationship-based care, and easy appointment scheduling.

New here?

New to Northern Kentucky Veterinary Medical Centers? Start with a wellness visit, request an appointment, or message our team with questions.

Cat receiving a gentle veterinary exam at Veterinary Medical Centers
Same-week appointmentsNew patients welcome
Fear-Free CertifiedSame-week appointmentsFort ThomasIndependenceLocally ownedDogs and catsWellnessDental careSurgeryBehavior supportFear-Free CertifiedSame-week appointmentsFort ThomasIndependenceLocally ownedDogs and catsWellnessDental careSurgeryBehavior support

Find Care

Find the right care for your pet

Whether your pet is due for a checkup, showing new symptoms, or starting care with our team for the first time, we’ll help you find the right next step.

Best for new pets and first-time visits

New puppy or kitten visit

New pets need a thoughtful start. We help with first exams, vaccine timing, parasite prevention, nutrition, and practical questions for life at home.

Common reasons to book
  • First vet visit
  • Puppy and kitten vaccines
  • New pet questions

Local Vet Center

A locally owned vet center that treats you like neighbors

Veterinary Medical Centers is rooted in Northern Kentucky. Our care is personal, calm, practical, and relationship-based, whether your pet needs everyday wellness or help with more complex health needs.

Local relationships

VMC is rooted in Northern Kentucky, with a vet team that gets to know your pet's history, your goals, and what helps visits feel easier over time.

Clear communication

We explain what we see, what matters now, what can wait, and what each recommendation means before moving forward.

Practical care plans

Care should fit your pet and your family. Our team talks through options, costs, timing, and next steps in plain language.

Dog and cat care

From routine wellness to dental care, surgery planning, sick visits, and senior support, we care for dogs and cats at both NKY locations.

Calm, comfortable visits

We work to make each visit feel as low-stress as possible with gentle handling, patient pacing, and a team that understands pets may need time to settle in.

Continuity over time

By caring for your pet across life stages, we can notice changes earlier, track ongoing needs, and recommend next steps with more context.

Vet Services

Vet services for dogs and cats in Northern Kentucky

From first visits and vaccines to dental cleanings, surgery, diagnostics, and ongoing wellness, our vet team helps pets stay healthy through every stage of life.

Wellness Exams

Routine visits help your local vet team monitor health, catch changes early, and keep care on track.

Parasite Prevention

Year-round guidance for heartworm, fleas, ticks, and intestinal parasites in Northern Kentucky.

New Clients

New to our vet center? Here’s what to expect

01

Choose your location

Pick the Fort Thomas vet location or Independence vet location based on what is easiest for your day.

02

Schedule your visit

Request an appointment online or call your local VMC team for help choosing the right appointment type.

03

Send or bring records

Vaccine history, medications, prior exam notes, and adoption paperwork help us understand your pet faster.

04

Meet your vet team

We take time to learn your pet's history, answer questions, and complete a thoughtful exam.

05

Leave with a clear care plan

You leave with practical recommendations, follow-up timing, and next steps for your dog or cat.

First Visit

What to expect at your first visit

Starting with a new veterinarian should feel simple. We’ll review your pet’s history, talk through your concerns, complete a nose-to-tail exam, and help you understand the best next steps for your pet’s health.

Plan Your First Visit
01

Before your appointment

Bring vaccine records, medication details, and any questions you want to discuss.

02

During the exam

We’ll review your pet’s lifestyle, health history, symptoms, and complete a thorough physical exam.

03

After the visit

You’ll leave with clear recommendations, prevention guidance, and follow-up instructions if needed.

Northern Kentucky Locations

Choose your Northern Kentucky veterinary location

With two convenient Veterinary Medical Centers locations in Northern Kentucky, our team is here to support dogs, cats, and the people who love them.

Northern Kentucky location

Veterinary Medical Centers of Fort Thomas

Veterinary Medical Centers of Fort Thomas provides local veterinary care for dogs and cats in Fort Thomas and nearby Northern Kentucky communities, including wellness visits, preventive care, dental care, diagnostics, surgery support, and everyday guidance.

2000 Memorial Parkway, Fort Thomas, KY 41075
(859) 442-4420

Monday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Serving Fort Thomas, Newport, Bellevue, Dayton, Highland Heights, and nearby Cincinnati-area pet owners.

Northern Kentucky location

Veterinary Medical Centers of Independence

Veterinary Medical Centers of Independence provides trusted veterinary care for dogs and cats in Independence, KY and nearby Northern Kentucky communities, including wellness visits, preventive care, dental care, diagnostics, surgery, and ongoing health guidance.

4147 Madison Pike, Independence, KY 41051
(859) 356-2242

Monday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Serving Independence, Alexandria, Taylor Mill, Covington, Erlanger, and nearby Northern Kentucky pet owners.

Local Service Area

Local veterinary care across Northern Kentucky

We proudly care for pets from Fort Thomas, Independence, Newport, Bellevue, Dayton, Highland Heights, Alexandria, Cold Spring, and nearby Cincinnati-area communities.

Fort ThomasIndependenceNewportBellevueDaytonHighland HeightsAlexandriaCold SpringCincinnati-area pet owners

Meet Your Vet Team

Meet the veterinarians behind your pet’s care

Our doctors combine years of clinical experience with a practical, relationship-based approach to veterinary medicine. We take time to explain what we find, answer your questions, and help you make confident decisions for your pet.

Dr. Kristi Baker, practice owner and veterinarian at Veterinary Medical Centers
Kristi Baker, DVMPractice Owner & Veterinarian

Dr. Kristi brings more than two decades of veterinary experience to pets and families across Northern Kentucky. Her background includes general practice, emergency veterinary medicine, and long-term leadership at Veterinary Medical Centers of Independence and Veterinary Medical Centers of Fort Thomas. She is known for combining practical medical guidance with a calm, approachable style that helps pet owners understand their options and feel confident about next steps.

20+ yearsin veterinary medicine
DVMveterinary medical training
Leadershiplocally owned practice
Dogs and catspreventive and relationship-based care
Veterinary medicine education
  • Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Doctorate Veterinary Medicine, 2000 to 2003
  • Purdue University, Clinical Rotation, Veterinary Medicine, 2003 to 2004
Becky Golatzki, DVMVeterinarian

Dr. Golatzki supports the same thoughtful standard of care across wellness visits, sick pet appointments, preventive medicine, and client education. Her approach reflects the VMC commitment to clear communication, practical recommendations, and comfort-focused veterinary visits for dogs and cats.

Veterinariandog and cat medical care
EducationDoctor of Veterinary Medicine
Communicationclear guidance for pet owners
Dogs and catswellness and medical visits
Veterinary medicine education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Preventive-first care

We focus on catching small changes early through exams, vaccines, parasite prevention, dental checks, and age-appropriate screenings.

Clear explanations

We explain findings, options, and next steps in plain language so you understand what is happening and why.

Low-stress handling

Our team works to make visits calmer with gentle handling, patient pacing, and a pet-first approach.

Relationship-based medicine

We get to know your pet over time, which helps us notice changes and recommend care that fits their needs.

The Whole Team

People who love what they do.

From the front desk to the treatment room, every person on the VMC team is here because they genuinely care about animals.

CaraVMC Team

A caring member of the Veterinary Medical Centers team.

AprilVMC Team

A caring member of the Veterinary Medical Centers team.

JessVMC Team

A caring member of the Veterinary Medical Centers team.

Pawstimonials

Pawstimonials from pets and their people

Edith, a Veterinary Medical Centers pet patient in Northern Kentucky

Edith

The team made Edith’s visit feel calm and easy. I left knowing exactly what was going on and what to do next.

Edith’s pet parent · Northern Kentucky
Ezra, a Veterinary Medical Centers pet patient near Fort Thomas

Ezra

They took time to answer every question and explain the plan in a way that made sense.

Ezra’s pet parent · Fort Thomas
Marshall, a Veterinary Medical Centers pet patient near Independence

Marshall

From the front desk to the exam room, everyone was kind, patient, and helpful.

Marshall’s pet parent · Independence
Wilson, a Veterinary Medical Centers pet patient receiving local Northern Kentucky vet care

Wilson

I appreciate having a local vet team that remembers my pet and treats us like neighbors.

Wilson’s pet parent · NKY

Want your pet to be part of our story?

Start with an appointment or message our team with questions about the right next step.

Pet Care Guides

Helpful pet care guides from your local vet team

Puppy & Kitten Care

Kitten Vaccines in Northern Kentucky: A Simple First-Year Guide

Kitten vaccines help protect young cats from serious infectious diseases during their first year of life. Learn when to schedule kitten vaccines in Northern Kentucky and why indoor kittens still need veterinary care.

6 min readRead guide

Wellness

Vet Checkup in Northern Kentucky: How Often Should My Dog or Cat See the Vet?

Most healthy dogs and cats should see a veterinarian at least once a year, but puppies, kittens, senior pets, and pets with ongoing health concerns may need more frequent checkups.

5 min readRead guide

Clinic News

Our New Website Is Live

Veterinary Medical Center has a new website designed to make it easier for pet families in Fort Thomas, Independence, and Northern Kentucky to find care, request appointments, and connect with our team.

2 min readRead guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about vet care in Northern Kentucky

Next Steps

Ready to schedule a visit with your Northern Kentucky vet team?

Choose your location, request an appointment, or call our team. We’ll help you find the right next step for your dog or cat.