About us

Welcome to Swartz Creek Veterinary Hospital!

Swartz Creek Veterinary Hospital is a full-service veterinary medical facility, located in Swartz Creek, MI. Our professional and courteous staff seeks to provide the best possible medical care, surgical care and dental care for their highly-valued patients. We are committed to promoting responsible pet ownership, preventative health care and health-related educational opportunities for our clients. We strive to offer excellence in veterinary care to Swartz Creek, MI and surrounding areas. Please take a moment to contact us today to learn more about our veterinary practice, and to find out more information about how we can serve the needs of you and your cherished pet

Our Doctors
Jeff Pinkston, DVM
Jeff has been associated with the veterinary field his entire life. He can remember as a very young child playing on the x-ray table while his mom and dad did emergency surgeries in the middle of the night. He started working at Swartz Creek Veterinary Hospital when he was eleven as a kennel boy and occasional receptionist. He continued to help out at the hospital and on his parent's horse farm through high school and while attending Mott Community College. He then transferred to MSU where he obtained his bachelors and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees. He came back to Swartz Creek Veterinary Hospital after graduation in 1994 where he worked as a veterinary associate for six years. He then worked at Companion Animal Hospital until January of 2008 when he purchased Swartz Creek Veterinary Hospital from his father. Since then he and his wife, Aubri, have worked hard to expand and update the practice. They have two lovely daughters, two dogs; Schmu and Chancy and two fish.


Carole Cocagne, DVM
Dr Cocagne always knew she wanted to be a veterinarian, but she was side-tracked along the way. She first attended the Univeristy of Michigan and graduated with a bachelor degree in business administration in 1989. After working for a stock option trading company in Ann Arbor for three years she finally decided to follow her dream of becoming a veterinarian. Dr. Carole Cocagne is a 1996 graduate of Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and worked in small animal medicine ever since. In September she joined the Swartz Creek Veterinary Hospital, and we are very glad she did! She lives in Grand Blanc with her husband Andy, and thier two children Natalie and Matthew. She also shares her home with a Pug named Snort, Ariana a shetland sheepdog, and two cats named Skipper and Brownie. She enjoys traveling, camping, reading and most importantly HALLOWEEN.

Krista Kline, DVM
Dr. Kline was born and raised in Swartz Creek, Michigan. She is a 1997 graduate of Swartz Creek High School and a 2002 graduate of University of Michigan-Flint, with a bachelors degree in biology. While pursuing her undergraduate degree Dr Kline was employed and also volunteered at Swartz Creek Veterinary Hospital. She is a 2007 graduate of Michigan State College of Veterinary Medicine. She has one dog named Cedar (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel) and one cat named Punky Brewster. Dr. Kline has a special interest in cardiology and oncology. When not working she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, exercising, photography, and shopping.

Nicole Stilson, DVM
Dr Stuksib is a 2000 graduate of Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine. She spent 11 years at Companion Animal Hospital prior to joining our staff in May 2011. Dr Stilson strives to treat each pet as her own and believes that preventative medicine is the best medicine. She has a special love for grey hounds and hopes to be back working with a rescue group when time allows.

Dr Stilson resides in Linden with her husband, Don, and their three sons; Nathan, Brandon and Cameron. Furry "kids" include: Luke, an English setter, Sonic the cat, and their newest addition, Summer a goldendoodle.

Dennis B. Pinkston, DVM
Dr. Dennis Pinkston grew up in the Swartz Creek area and graduated from Swartz Creek high school in 1958. He then attended Mott Community College for two years before going to Michigan State. He attended veterinary school there until he graduated in 1964. He then spent two years in the United States Army stationed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa as a meat inspector. Dennis also served as the Genesee county veterinarian for 20 years, and as the president of the Saginaw Valley Veterinary Medical Association twice. Early in his career he raced, trained, and drove harness horses in the area and was instrumental in bringing Sports Creek Raceway to Swartz Creek. He built Swartz Creek Veterinary Hospital in 1968. His wife, Karan - a famous painter with recognizable works currently in the hospital - helped him through the years to run the hospital. His children are Jeff Pinkston and Wendy Godfrey. He has three grandchildren, Emily, Ava and Lilly, a cat, Sugar, and a dog named Sophie. His son, Jeff, purchased the practice in 2008, and since his semi-retirement you may still see "Doc" around the hospital, but now he is much more involved in community affairs in around Swartz Creek.

our services

Your pet is an important part of your family, and when he or she is ill, you want the best medical care available.

The veterinarians and staff at our clinic are ready to provide your pet with cutting edge veterinary medical care. From wellness exams and vaccines to advanced diagnostics and complex surgical procedures, your dog, cat or ferret will receive high quality care at our hospital.

Adoptions Dental Care Emergency and Critical Care Fully Stocked Pharmacy Hospice and Euthanasia Services Microchipping Nutritional Counseling Pain Management Radiology (X-Rays) Surgery Ultrasound Vaccinations Wellness Exams