Hutto Veterinary Clinic • Hutto

Hutto Veterinary Clinic • Hutto

By Suzanne Haberman Friday, 12 June 2009

Nine years ago, Dr. John Holmstrom answered veterinary medicine calls in a “worn out Chevy,” which was his business’s home base. He still drives a Chevrolet, but the ton and a half super cab shines and carries the insignia of the Hutto Veterinary Clinic.

Holstrom has upheld an approach to medicine based on the way he grew up combined with the education he received from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine 38 years ago. He holds onto his veterinary roots, but said experience has made him wise in treating larger animals — the doctor is no stranger to broken bones.

“I’m not going to go out, rope a cow and tie her to a tree and do what I need to do to her,” he said, shaking his head. “I have done that before.”

Holmstrom’s employee, Dr. Catalina Thurstin, said the doctor’s methods may be “old school,” but they are effective.

“He’s going to be more hands on,” she said.

The doctor established his clinic in 2000 and employs Thurstin to help him perform surgeries on Hutto’s small animals, but Holmstrom still relies on his truck to go mobile, taking care of ranchers’ cattle, horses, pigs and small animals with emergencies.

“Having Thurstin allows me to do more large animal calls,” he said.

Today, the majority of the Hutto Veterinary Clinic’s clients bring in small domestic animals for vaccinations, surgeries and wellness exams. As Hutto urbanized, Holmstrom’s business shifted from 60 percent large animals to 80 percent dogs, cats and an occasional ferret.

Holmstrom described his interest in veterinary medicine as “nothing romantic.” Holmstrom went to high school in Georgetown where his agricultural teacher noticed he had a knack for dealing with animals and recommended he go to vet school.

In 1971, he graduated from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and joined the United States Military as a veterinary doctor. In Vietnam, Holmstrom cared for scout and sentry dogs trained to attack.

After the war, Holmstrom ran a practice in Stephenville for nearly seven years and worked for another clinic in Georgetown until the early ’80s when he quit to raise crops and cattle in Jarrell, Granger and Jonah, his current home and the place where he grew up. Holmstrom maintained his veterinary licensing for those 15 years, offering veterinary services to fellow ranchers out of his pickup truck.

“It was so good,” his wife and business manager, Linda Welch, said, “he decided to open his business in Hutto.”

His ranching experience makes him popular. Raising animals has helped develop Holmstrom’s familiarity with animal’s health needs. When he goes out on farm calls, he takes his background knowledge of how an animal is supposed to act when well, Thurstin said.

“If you’re not paying attention with your eyes,” Holmstrom said, “then you’ll miss something. You have to have a sixth sense about how the animal looks to you.”

At the ranch

The Hutto Veterinary Clinic is the only business on the east side of Williamson County to offer large animal services, Linda Welch said. Large animals include cattle, horses, sheep and pigs.

Hutto Veterinary Clinic, 665 W. Front St., 759-1048, www.huttovetclinic.com