Steve Carter, DVM

Dr. Steve Carter graduated from Colorado State University school of veterinary medicine in 1981. He returned to his first job in Park city Utah to practice companion animal medicine. He sold that practice to join Valley Animal Medical Center in 1984 in Indio California. Dr. Carter developed a sport horse practice at El Dorado Polo Club in 1985 and opened the first equine surgical hospital in the Coachella Valley, Desert Equine Hospital in 1986. He also maintained a surgical practice at Helen Woodward Veterinary Hospital in Rancho, Santa Fe, California. He founded the Desert Trails Foundation with Barbara Sinatra and Merv Griffin in 1987. Through their efforts, many of the equestrian trails in and around the eastern Coachella Valley were created, established, and protected. He has been a member of desert riders for 30 years. 

 In 1993 Dr. Carter moved to Salt Lake City to spend time with his family. He became chief of staff of Willow Creek Veterinary Hospital in 1993 to 1998 and was instrumental in designing and establishing this award-winning AAHA hospital in South Salt Lake.  He then retired to his Wyoming ranch until 2001 when he returned to the Coachella Valley. He served as chief of staff of Valley Animal Medical Center 2001 to 2003. Dr. Carter consulted with a privately funded animal rescue with Aaron Keck in Kona, Hawaii establishing an animal medical surgical hospital and rescue center from 2005 to 2008. He then built Carter Animal Hospital in 2004 in Thayne, Wyoming. In 2010 he opened Teton Animal Hospital in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Carter Animal Hospital in Cathedral City, California in 2007. Dr. Carter had additional private referral surgical practice in Casper, Lander, and Boulder, Wyoming.

While practicing in Wyoming he served on the board of Lucky’s place animal rescue in Star Valley and Teton Valley Animal Shelter in Idaho along with the Jackson Hole Humane Society. Currently, he is living in Rancho Mirage, California, and Bedford, Wyoming.  He is a member of the AVMA, CVMA, WVMA AAHA, and SDVMA, and a Fellow of the American Laser Society. Dr. Carter maintains his private pilot's license and is a member of the Cirrus Pilots Association. Dr. Carter welcomes all new clients to Carter Animal Hospital in Cathedral City; LGBT owned and dedicated to exceptional care for our expanding community.