Our Story

Starts with one die-hard animal lover and a dream.

EST. 1978

Our Purpose

Our founder, Dr. Gary Oehmke, DVM had a dream…

In December of 1978, he started his own practice, naming it El Paso Animal Clinic as a tribute to the original name of Derby, Kansas. Starting with 0 customers, Gary’s dream quickly grew into a reality with great service, fair prices, and relationship building. He was eventually able to expand from less than half of a small office building to buy out the building itself.

10 Years Later

Ten years after starting a solo practice, El Paso welcomed its second vet, Dr. Jeff Herod, straight from Kansas State University. Continuing to grow, Dr. Erica McKinney joined the team in 2006, followed by Dr. Lynn Mork in 2014, Dr. Landon McQuilliams in 2017, Dr. Sarah Guengerich in 2019, Dr. Kristen Horsley in 2020 and Dr. Rachel Hand in 2020.

2017 to Today

In 2017, we outgrew the building where a dream was once an idea. Breaking ground in August, El Paso Animal Hospital expanded into the state-of-the-art facility it is today (bottom right). With a grand reopening on May 14, 2018, a bigger building wasn't the only change our clinic welcomed.

Renamed the El Paso Animal Hospital, we are now equipped with 8 examination rooms, multiple new treatment tables, luxury boarding suites, oxygen cages, digital x-ray systems, and more.