501-566-1508
The Countryside Animal Hospital team of skilled veterinarians welcomes you to our practice. Proudly serving the Hot Springs and areas. At Countryside Animal Hospital, it is our daily privilege to provide quality vet care to your cherished pet, with compassion and competence. We hope to ensure a positive impact on our patients, pet owners and the local community.
Dent Burks, DVM
Multiple winner of the Number One Veterinarian in the Sentinel-Record's Reader's Choice Awards, Dr. Dent Burks is a long-time member of our community founding Countryside Animal Hospital in 1984. His exceptional patient care and client follow-up has earned him a reputation for excellence that has become the foundation of our practice. Dr. Burks is a graduate of the University Of Tennessee College Of Veterinary Medicine and lives in Royal with his wife Myra and their three dogs and one cat. The pets keep them company now that their children Matthew and Laura are away at school. Matthew is going to begin Baylor Dental College in the fall and Laura is currently enrolled at UAMS.
Lyndsey Windle, DVM
The most recent addition to our full-time staff is Dr. Lyndsey Windle. Dr. Windle is a 2009 graduate of Louisiana State University. Dr. Windle is originally from Dallas, TX. She loves to read, raise orchids, and go to the movies. Dr. Windle has four dogs - Rhodesian Ridgebacks named Nala, Emma, Pi, and Basil - and two cats named Ava and Sophie . We welcome Dr. Windle’s gentle nature and exceptional skills.
Robin Viscardis, DVM
Dr. Robin Viscardis graduated from Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine and joined our staff in 1996. She is our resident expert with the ultrasound machine and is beloved by many clients for her patient and laid back manner. Originally from Magnolia, Arkansas she lives in Hot Springs with her husband Craig and three sons Ryan, Grant, and Luke. The Viscardis family has two dogs and a cat. We are happy to welcome Dr. Viscardis back on Tuesdays and Thursdays as well as thanking her for filling in on an as-needed basis to help us out with our busy schedule.
Darrell M. Riffel, DVM
Dr. Darrell Riffel was born in Marion, Kansas and graduated from Kansas State University Veterinary College in 1965. He has practiced Veterinary medicine in Arkansas for over 40 years and is a past President of the Arkansas VMA. Dr. Riffel. Dr. Riffel stepped down as President and Senior Partner of three AAHA hospitals located in Little Rock in 2001. He and his wife Jane moved to Hot Springs Village where he pretends to be retired when he is not helping us out on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. It's a privilege to have such a distinguished member of the Arkansas Veterinary community as a member of our team.
Jarod Williams, DVM and Heather Williams, DVM
Dr. Jarod Williams started at Countryside in January 2011. He is a board certified small animal veterinary internal medicine specialist and is residency trained in veterinary emergency and critical care. Dr. Williams is also a certified veterinary acupuncturist and one of a short list of veterinary specialists in the US with advanced training in both western and eastern veterinary medical disciplines. Dr. Williams has authored multiple veterinary scientific publications, book chapters and has participated in numerous lectures. Dr. Williams is specifically passionate about ultrasound, endoscopy, minimally invasive surgery, endoscopic laser surgery, pain management and integrative medicine for all kinds of veterinary medical issues (endocrine, intestinal, liver, kidney, urinary tract, neurologic, infectious, immunologic and oncologic…). Dr. Williams has a bachelor’s degree in accounting, he then went to veterinary school at Virginia Tech (VMRCVM), completed his internship in Chicago and residencies in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Prior to moving to Hot Springs, he worked at a 24 hour 30 doctor specialist and emergency referral center for 12 years. Dr. Williams spends his spare time with his beautiful family (Dr. Heather Williams and baby girl Cecelia!!!), their two dogs and two cats. Dr. Williams has very close knit and loving family in Hot Springs that he relies on regularly! When he is not working or with his family, Dr. Williams is in the woods on his mountain bike or swimming across a large
body of water!!!
Dr. Heather Williams graduated from Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2006 and went on to complete a small animal internship at VCA Veterinary Referral Associates in Gaithersburg, Maryland. After internship completion, Dr. Williams worked as en emergency veterinarian and as the anesthetist for a veterinary advanced imaging center providing CT and MRI studies for dogs and cats. She remained in Maryland until 2011 when she and her husband, Dr. Jarod Williams, moved to Hot Springs with their daughter Cecelia, 2 cats, and 2 dogs. Dr. Williams is originally from Hot Springs and is happy to be back in her hometown with her family. When not working as a veterinarian or spending time with her family, she enjoys photography, snowboarding, and tennis.
