Meet Dr. Steve Pelton
Leading Hearthstone Animal Clinic with passion, expertise, and compassion, and treating every patient like one of his own.
My story
A general practitioner who treats your pet like family.
I grew up in Churchville-Chili, New York, roaming the fields and woods with my Irish Setter. One snowy night when I was seven or eight, my dad and I found an old Black Labrador half-frozen in the snow and barely alive, and we got him to a vet who brought him back. A year later I lost my own dog to a rare kidney cancer. Those two things set the course for the rest of my life.
I left New York for Texas A&M, earned the Dean's Award for Biomedical Science all four years of undergrad, and graduated from its veterinary school in 2000.
My first job out of school was VCA Spring Branch, and I stayed 7 years. They made me the youngest medical director the company had picked at the time, so I learned early how to run a busy hospital. But I wanted a practice of my own, where I set the standard of care.
In 2007 I found Hearthstone for sale. It had been a Cypress practice since 1982, the right size and the right fit, so I bought it that August. I've run it ever since. That's 26 years in practice now, and I still see every patient myself.
At home in Cypress, my wife Amanda and I have two daughters and a house full of rescues, most of them strays that found their way to us, including a clinic-doorstep cat named Crypto. Being a dad made me a better vet. I feel the same worry about my own animals that you feel about yours.
Fun fact: I'm also a big tech and AI nerd. When I'm not seeing patients, I'm building apps and free websites for pet owners, like KidneyCats.org for cats with kidney disease and newpuppy.vet for a puppy's first year. See what I've built ↓
Professional philosophy
The bond between pets and their families is one of the most precious in life.
The bond between a pet and their family is one of the most precious things in life. My job is to understand that bond and protect it, with care that honors what your pet means to you.
After 26 years of doing this, I keep it simple. Gentle hands with your pet, straight talk with you, and a plan that treats the medical problem and the worry that comes with it.
Dr. P
The tech side
Part vet, part tech nerd.
Outside the exam room, I'm usually building something. I've always been the guy who has to try the new thing the week it comes out, and these days that's AI. I write code, build websites and apps, and run more of this clinic on tools I made myself than you'd probably guess.
By Anthropic's own usage numbers, I'm in the top 0.01% of people coding with Claude, their AI. Mostly that means a lot of late nights and a family that's very patient with me.
The part I'm proudest of is that a lot of it turned into free sites for pet owners. No ads, no sign-ups, just the answers I give in the exam room, there at 2 a.m. when you actually need them.
KidneyCats.org: for the night you hear "kidney disease"
When a cat is diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, most owners go home with the news and a page of lab numbers, and then they're up all night worrying. KidneyCats walks you through the first two weeks, one step at a time: how to read her numbers, fluids at home, food and nausea, what can't wait until morning, and how to know when it's time.
I've had kidney cats of my own, so I wrote it the way I'd want someone to talk to me. Many cats live good years with CKD. It's free, with no products and no sign-up.
Visit KidneyCats.org →PawNotes: a tool I built for my own team
Ever send a message to the back and wonder if anyone saw it? PawNotes is the note system our team uses all day. A message stays on a teammate's screen until they clear it, so nothing about your pet gets lost between the front desk and the treatment room. Here's the 85-second tour.
More things I've built
newpuppy.vetFree tools and guides for a puppy's first year: what's normal at each age, the shot schedule, potty and crate training, and when to call.Visit newpuppy.vet →
itchydog.vetA daily dog allergy forecast for your ZIP code, plus straight answers on itchy skin, paws and ears.Visit itchydog.vet →
FutureProof.vetWhere I write for other vets about using AI in a real clinic: what actually works, and what still doesn't.Visit FutureProof.vet →
The Hidden EconomyA side project for fellow numbers nerds: interest rates, credit and the plumbing under the stock market, scored and updated every day.Take a look →Education & career
The path to Hearthstone.
B.S. in Biomedical Science
Texas A&M University. Advanced Biotechnology Option and Veterinary Science.
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine. Graduated Cum Laude.
VCA Spring Branch
Seven years in a busy Houston hospital, where I became the youngest medical director VCA had picked at the time.
Bought Hearthstone Animal Clinic
A Cypress practice open since 1982. I've owned and run it ever since.
Specialties & interests
What Dr. Pelton focuses on
A particular passion of Dr. Pelton's is laparoscopic, minimally invasive surgery, especially the laparoscopic spay. Working through two or three keyhole incisions instead of one long opening means far less pain, minimal tissue trauma, and a noticeably faster recovery for your pet.
Laparoscopic Spay & Minimally Invasive Surgery
Tiny "keyhole" incisions, sealed under camera guidance with no tearing of tissue, for dramatically less pain and a quicker return to normal.
General Practice
Comprehensive wellness care for dogs and cats.
Preventive Medicine
Vaccination protocols and wellness planning.
Soft Tissue Surgery
Routine and advanced surgical procedures.
Diagnostic Medicine
Advanced diagnostic imaging and laboratory work.
Dr. Pelton in action
Hands-on, compassionate care
Gentle & compassionate care
His gentle approach ensures every pet feels safe and comfortable during their visit.
Collaborative team approach
Working alongside a skilled team to provide comprehensive, personalized care for every patient.
About Hearthstone Animal Clinic
Hearthstone Animal Clinic is an independent veterinary practice located at 14606 FM 529, Cypress, TX 77095. Founded in 1982, the clinic is owned and operated by Dr. Steve Pelton, DVM, who has practiced veterinary medicine since 2000. The clinic specializes in dogs and cats, offering wellness exams, soft tissue surgery, dental care, diagnostics, laser therapy, and end-of-life care. Hearthstone is currently accepting new patients. Office hours are Monday through Friday 7am to 6pm, Saturday 8am to 12pm.
Experience the Dr. Pelton difference.
When you choose Hearthstone, you are choosing a team that genuinely cares about you and your pet. We take the time to listen, to explain, and to treat every patient like one of our own.
Get Your Pet SeenOr call or text (281) 859-9244