Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – Recognizing that the number of rural veterinarians in Aroostook County has gone to the dogs, James Hotham, DVM, decided to open Hotham’s Veterinary Services in Presque Isle.
James Hotham, DVM, recently opened Hotham’s Veterinary Services in Presque Isle. Located at 307 Centerline Road, Hotham offers veterinary services to both small and large animals. Pictured are, front row, from left: Sara Gray, veterinary assistant; and Ellen Trask, veterinarian assistant. Back row: Liz Dionne, licensed veterinary technician; Hotham, Stacie Hotham, business manager; Patti Bartlett, veterinary technician; and Darcey Cummings, veterinary assistant. For more information, call 768-PETS.
Located at 307 Centerline Road, Hotham offers veterinary services to both small and large animals.
“I primarily treat cats, dogs, horses and cattle,” said Hotham. “With cats and dogs, they come to me, but with large animals, I go to them. I’ve got a truck and it’s got a veterinary unit in it … all my medicines and equipment. I’ve got portable ultrasound machines and X-ray machines, so I can do a lot of diagnostic work right there on the scene.”
Hotham’s Veterinary Services officially opened in September.
“For the small animal, we offer routine health examinations, vaccinations, internal medicine, surgeries (both soft tissue and orthopedic), ultrasonography, ophthalmology … you pretty much have to do it all,” said Hotham. “With the large animals, I generally treat sick or lame horses, do vaccinations and health exams, whereas with cattle, it’s more management consulting, sick cow work, pre-productive work and some surgeries.”
After graduating from college, Hotham worked in Vermont at a large dairy practice.
“I then started a dairy practice on my own in Vermont and did that for a few years,” said Hotham. “After my dad passed away unexpectedly, I decided I wanted to move back home. I’m a native of Blaine and grew up on a potato and dairy farm.
“Once I moved home, I worked at the Presque Isle Animal Hospital for a few years,” he said, “and then I decided to go into business for myself. There’s a need in the county for more veterinarians and veterinary services. I like the area and I’m young, so I’m going to be here for quite a few years. I want to practice good quality medicine and surgery, and try to offer some things that aren’t offered locally.”
Hotham had the Centerline Road farmhouse completely renovated.
“The city of Presque Isle wouldn’t allow a veterinary hospital in a commercial zone,” he said. “They wanted me to be in an agricultural zone, so this property is in an ag zone, plus it’s handy to town. I’m up here near all the other professional buildings, and it’s a good, open area.
“This was an old farmhouse … dated back to 1896,” said Hotham. “It was rough looking, but it was straight, square, had good flooring and a good foundation. I added about 2,300 square feet. Next spring I’m thinking about building onto it to have a facility for people to haul in large animals … people who have horses that are sick or colicing or need procedures done. It’s easier for me to treat them here. The area’s so big; I end up traveling long distances. I go to Smyrna, Ludlow, and Fort Kent. Having a place here to treat large animals would allow me to see more animals.”
Hotham hopes to arrange an externship program with a veterinary school in Prince Edward Island where fourth-year students would come and spend a few weeks working with him. The students would stay in the facility’s upstairs studio apartment.
With a shortage of veterinarians in the region, Hotham said health emergencies can’t wait whether you’re a human or an animal.
“If you call one of the other vet practices in town and ask when you can get your cat spayed, it might be six weeks from now,” he said. “If you’ve got a problem today, you might have to wait.
“Here, you have quality of care. We always tend to spend more time with the client and educate them. We also do follow-ups, and have a well-trained staff that is compassionate about the animals,” said Hotham, noting that he is looking for another veterinarian to join the practice. “For most of the people who come in, pets are extended family and we recognize that.”
Hotham said, as time goes on, he hopes to add more specialized equipment to help keep pet owners from traveling downstate.
“We’re in an economically depressed area,” he said. “Mean family incomes are kind of low, and a lot of the practices don’t have specialized equipment. Oftentimes if an animal needs a special procedure or a diagnostic test, they have to go to Bangor or further south. As things allow, I’d like to try to get some of that equipment here and maybe be a referral area for local places.”
A graduate of Central Aroostook High School, Hotham received his bachelor of science degree in animal and veterinary sciences from the University of Maine at Orono. He received his doctor of veterinary medicine degree from the University of Prince Edward Island’s Atlantic Vet College.
Hotham’s Veterinary Services is open from 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.
“We do offer 24-hour emergency service,” said Hotham. “You never know when there’s going to be a crisis.”
For more information, call 768-PETS.
During a recent open house at Hotham’s Veterinary Services in Presque Isle, a teddy bear clinic was held. Shown examining a bear are, from left: Anna Robinson and Elizabeth Hotham.
