Welcome to Indian Hills Animal Clinic
We are committed to providing exceptional veterinary care to pets in Indian Hills and the surrounding areas.
Your Other Family Doctor
The staff at Indian Hills Animal Clinic in Tuscaloosa is committed to providing area pets and pet owners the finest veterinary care. We strive to be a welcoming and cost-conscious health care partner for your beloved companion.
Dr. Philip M Smith and Dr. Christina Vincent, along with a team of dedicated pet-care professionals, offer excellence in veterinary medicine for dogs, cats, pocket pets, and birds, all within a welcoming and safe environment. In addition to exceptional care, the clinic’s first-class pet boarding facility offers comfortable and safe accommodations for your pet while you are away from home.
Help your pet be happier and healthier!
Compassionate Pet Care in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Throughout the lifespan of our pets, we stress the importance of an annual physical examination. Thorough check-ups and preventive care can alleviate serious health problems. We offer a wide range of veterinary services to keep your companions feeling their best.
Pet Wellness Care
At Indian Hills Animal Clinic, we offer pet wellness care based on the belief that prevention is the best means to protect your pet’s well-being while minimizing the lifetime cost of care. This includes comprehensive semi-annual physical exams, laboratory work, nutritional counseling, specialized care for senior-aged pets, balanced vaccines, microchip pet identification, and a variety of other veterinary services.
Pet Dental Care
Regular veterinary dental check-ups at Indian Hills Animal Clinic in Tuscaloosa, combined with good dental hygiene at home, can increase your pet’s well-being and help ensure your pet leads the best life possible.
If left untreated, dental disease can not only be painful and inhibit proper nutrition but can also lead to serious systemic issues that may threaten your pet’s health before symptoms are noticeable.
Pet Surgery
Whether performing a routine veterinary surgery or an emergency procedure, you can be confident that our experienced medical staff will work hard to ensure each procedure is thorough and as stress-free as possible for both you and your pet.
At Indian Hills Animal Clinic, we fully understand the decision to allow your pet to undergo surgery is never an easy one.
Meet Our Doctors
Philip M. Smith, DVM
As a young Boy Scout in Birmingham, Dr. Philip Smith earned several merit badges in first aid and pet care, and his achievements ignited his long-term interest with animals. He nurtured these instincts by helping to take care of the family pets and rescuing baby birds, and caring for them until they could fly again. Later, while studying biology at Auburn University, Dr. Smith worked in a neighborhood veterinary clinic and performed kennel and veterinary assistant duties, such as assisting in radiography and surgery. While in college, he received academic recognition by making the Dean’s List, graduating with high honors, and participating as a member of Gamma Sigma Epsilon (Chemistry Honor Society).
Veterinary Career Beginnings
After earning his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1985, Dr. Smith began practicing veterinary medicine and opened Indian Hills Animal Clinic in July 1994. “My favorite aspect of being a veterinarian is seeing sick or injured animals restored to health and the joy it brings to their owners. Also, when a tentative diagnosis on a complicated case is confirmed by lab diagnostics and consultation, I realize how much I love my job,” Dr. Smith says.
A Passion for Pet Wellness
Throughout his career, Dr. Smith has encountered several memorable cases. “Once we had an emergency situation where a dog had jumped over a wrought-iron fence and landed on top of the pointed tip, which speared into his rear leg. We were able to surgically correct this wound, and the dog regained the full use of his leg,” Dr. Smith says. On another occasion, a cat suffered a gunshot wound to its face. “The bullet destroyed an inch of bone from each side of the cat’s jaw, but we were able to successfully repair it and nurse the cat back to full health.”
Dr. Smith is a member of the Tuscaloosa Veterinary Medical Association, the Alabama Veterinary Medical Association, and the American Veterinary Medical Association. His professional interests include internal medicine, gastroenterology, dermatology, cardiology, and avian medicine. Furthermore, Dr. Smith has received continuing education certificates in pain management, dentistry, and dermatology.
Community Involvement
Community service is very important to Dr. Smith. He and his staff helped the 2011 Tuscaloosa tornado victims by offering Indian Hills Animal Clinic as a temporary shelter to injured pets or pets who had lost their owners or homes. Each summer, he travels to Skagway, Alaska, where he spends one-week providing care to pets in this small town. He has also served on five mission trips to Kenya, where he administered rabies vaccinations and other care to pets in one of the local villages.
Dr. Smith likes to spend his free time with his wife, Caroline, a dietitian who often assists at Indian Hills Animal Clinic with special projects. Together, they enjoy activities with their now-adult children, including sports and entertainment. Dr. Smith also enjoys yard work, skiing, church activities, and playing with his three dogs and one cat.
Christina E. Vincent, DVM
Associate veterinarian Dr. Christina E. Vincent began working at Indian Hills Animal Clinic in July 2019. With professional interests in small animal practice and exotics, Dr. Vincent received her bachelor’s degree in biology from Center College in 2012 and her master’s degree in biological sciences from the University of Alabama in 2014. She earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Kansas State University in 2019. For Dr. Vincent, the best thing about being a veterinarian is getting to know clients and their pets. She said, “I enjoy building relationships with clients and their pets. It’s satisfying to care for that pet from the start of life through their senior years.”
A native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Dr. Vincent has had ties to Indian Hills Animal Clinic since a very young age. She started going to practice at the age of five with her first dog. “I have known everyone at the clinic for a long time, they are all like family,” she says. Before becoming a veterinarian, her first volunteer opportunity was with Dr. Philip M. Smith at Indian Hills Animal Clinic. She also volunteered at Lancaster Veterinary Center in Lancaster, Kentucky, while pursuing her undergraduate degree.
At home, Dr. Vincent has a three-year-old Australian Shepherd named Archer and a seven-year-old Hound mix named Tallulah. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her dogs and her family. She also likes hiking, reading, gardening, playing video games and watching Alabama football.