A new chapter in a long Lexington veterinary tradition

When Dr. Meghan Ryan became the owner of Lexington Animal Hospital in 2017, she stepped into a practice with a history already woven into Rockbridge County. The hospital traces its local service back more than six decades, caring for dogs and cats just west of Lexington.

Ryan brought experience from both routine practice and emergency medicine. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania’s veterinary school in 2010, she completed a small-animal medicine and surgery internship in Springfield, Virginia, then worked in several states before taking over the Lexington hospital.

That varied background informs a practice offering preventive care, diagnostic services and treatment. Ryan’s professional interests include surgery, internal medicine and dentistry, alongside the relationships that develop with animals and their families over time.

The veterinary team includes Dr. Mollie Fox, a Virginia Tech graduate who returned to Southwest Virginia in 2015 after working in Georgia, Florida and Texas. Fox began working with the practice before its ownership change and continued with Ryan, adding continuity as well as experience. Her training also includes canine rehabilitation.

Licensed veterinary technicians, assistants and reception staff round out the hospital. Several describe connections to local schools, farms and communities—a reminder that a neighborhood animal hospital is also a workplace for people rooted in the area.

For Lexington families, the result is an established local practice with a continuing story: familiar surroundings, a team with varied training, and a daily focus on the animals entrusted to its care.