Meet the Vets at Switzerland Animal Hospital Switzerland Animal Hospital was established in 1985 to serve the clients and patients of Northwest St. John’s County. It is located at the lighted intersection of SR 13 and Roberts Road which was still a dirt road back then, and most of Julington Creek Plantation existed solely on paper. Dr. Bredehoeft (“Dr. B”) was working at a large veterinary hospital in Mandarin. He had a wonderful rapport with his patients and clients and when the opportunity presented itself in 1999, he purchased Switzerland Animal Hospital from the former owner. He added the adjacent lot the following year to provide his canine patients a secure walk on and off the leash, and plenty of privacy when the need arises. The mission of SAH is to practice exceptional veterinary medicine in a compassionate and professional environment. As a kid, Dr. Bredehoeft spent many summers at his aunt’s farm in northern Germany. Falling asleep next to a newly born calf bedded on fresh hay gave him a love for animals and he knew that he was going to become a veterinarian. Dr. B first came to the US as a 1 year exchange student in California and fell in love with the American way of life. After graduating from the Veterinary College of Hannover in Germany in 1985, he spent 4 years practicing large animal medicine before moving his family to Jacksonville and shifting his focus to small animal medicine, including pocket pets exclusively. He continued his training in veterinary dental medicine during a sabbatical year in the Baltimore area while working with Dr. Ira Luskin (past president of the American College of Veterinary Dentists). Dr. B spent an additional 5 years as chief of staff at a local emergency clinic. This background prepared Dr. B for any challenge that might arise in a hospital setting on any given day. He lives with his wife Barbara and 5 children, along with their re-careered black lab “Polly” and their adopted Norwegian Forest Cat “Ernie”. He loves jogging, biking and hiking. His favorite hobbies are mountain climbing and traveling. In 1997, Switzerland Animal Hospital was one of the first veterinary hospitals in NE Florida to incorporate a CO2 laser into its surgical protocol. It allows for extreme precision in surgery with less discomfort to the patient and faster recovery than with conventional scalpel surgery. Over the years, SAH has grown into a 3 doctor practice. Dr. Christine Cunningham joined SAH in 2014. She attended UF for her undergraduate degree and received her doctorate in veterinary medicine from Purdue University in 2008. She practiced as a small animal veterinarian in North Carolina for 6 years be-
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Dr. Christine Cunningham
Dr. Michael Bredehoeft fore moving back to Jacksonville to be closer to family. Dr. Cunningham has a special interest in internal medicine, endocrinology, chronic pain management and dermatology. When she is not working, she enjoys playing volleyball, running marathons and spending time with her husband Mark, their three children, their cat “Chester Copperpot” and her dog “Percy Harvin”. Dr. Carla Rodrigues joined Switzerland Animal Hospital in 2017. She graduated from Ross University in St. Kitts, West Indies in 2013. Dr. Rodgrigues received advanced training in canine rehabilitation and is currently completing her certification in acupuncture. With Portuguese being her first language, Dr. Rodrigues is bilingual and feels fortunate to have grown up immersed in the Portuguese culture. She loves traveling and spending time with her rescue dog “Stella”. We are excited to be working with an architect specializing in the design of veterinary hospitals for another addition and remodel as we have outgrown our current space. This will give us additional room for a designated dental suite, as well as a grooming parlor and separate feline and canine spaces. Our favorite thing to do in St. Johns is to jog the trails at Alpine Grove Park and visit our daughter and the grandkids in Julington Creek Plantation. We truly love our clients and patients, and couldn’t imagine practicing anywhere else.
Dr. Carla Rodrigues, CCRP