Large Animal Care

Our veterinarians provide treatment to large animals, including: horses, cattle, pigs, goats, chickens, sheep and other large exotic animals.

When moving animals across state lines, or internationally, a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) is required. We are certified to provide health certificates.

• All animal(s) must be inspected by a veterinarian within the last 10 days to issue CVI.
• CVI is valid for 30 days from the date of animal inspection.
• Additional testing or criteria may be required by individual states or events. It is important that you verify this prior to scheduling your veterinary visit.
• We require two days notice prior to issuing a CVI.
• Additional fees apply.

Absolutely. We make farm calls for routine healthcare, reproductive issues or consultations and emergencies, such as:

• Elective and emergency surgeries
• Sick animal evaluations and treatments
• Sedated equine dental examinations
• Vaccinations and routine examinations
• And more!
   

Yes. Our vets are trained in identifying, managing and monitoring reproductive health in your large animals, including:

• Emergency obstetrics procedures
• Herd reproduction evaluations and management consultations 
• Palpations or ultrasonography to determine pregnancy and reproductive status
• Cattle embryo transfers
• Breeding soundness exams

Yes! Our veterinarians offer surgical services to your large animals. We offer a wide range of surgeries, both general and specialized for large animals.

External laboratories commonly used by NURVC:

• Antech: CBC & blood chemistry panels
• University of Minnesota Milk Quality Laboratory: Bulk tank culture; composite cow & quarter samples; bedding cultures
• Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and Sage Labs: Small ruminant biosecurity screening test
• Newport Laboratories: Autogenous vaccination production
• Michigan State University: Mineral analysis

When submitting tests to an external lab, please call to verify proper procedure for sample collection.

• Samples must be received by the clinic before 3 PM M-Th to ensure same day shipping.
• Friday sample shipping is discouraged. Please call to arrange testing.
• Not all testing is performed Monday through Friday by our external laboratories. If testing is pre-planned, it may be beneficial to collect samples and ship on specific days.

Our clinic provides in-house and external laboratory services for large animals.

We provide the following in-house testing:

• Fecal floatation
• Complete Blood Count
• Fibrinogen
• Blood chemistry analysis for liver values; calcium and phosphorous; electrolytes
• Drop off in house testing will be charged an emergency fee if received after 5 PM.

New clients will be required to fill out new client forms prior to scheduled appointments. Forms should be completed and given to the veterinarian at your scheduled appointment, or physically mailed to the clinic.
Please do not email forms containing secure information.

Large Animal Client Form

In order to provide veterinary medical advice to our clients, prescribe prescription medications, and issue VFDs; our veterinarians must have a valid Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship.

“Veterinarian-client-patient relationship” means a relationship in which the conditions in paragraphs (a) to (d) have been met:

• The veterinarian has assumed the responsibility for making medical judgments regarding the health of the animal and the need for medical treatment, and the client has agreed to follow the instructions of the veterinarian.
• The veterinarian has sufficient knowledge of the animal to initiate at least a general, preliminary, or tentative diagnosis of the medical condition of the animal. The veterinarian must be acquainted with the keeping and care of the animal by virtue of an examination of the animal or medically appropriate and timely visits to the premises where the animal is kept.
• The veterinarian is available for consultation in case of adverse reactions or failure of the regimen of therapy. 
• The veterinarian maintains records documenting patient visits, diagnosis, treatments, and drugs prescribed, dispensed, or administered, and other relevant information.

VCPR visits should include a farm walk-through with the veterinarian and review of current farm protocols and are valid for 12 months.

What is a VFD?

Veterinary Feed Directive went into effect January 1st, 2017. A VFD is a written statement issued by a licensed veterinarian that authorizes the use of a VFD drug in or on an animal feed. This written statement authorizes the client (the owner of the animal or animals or other caretaker) to obtain and use animal feed containing a VFD drug or combination VFD drug to treat the client’s animals only in accordance with the conditions for use approved, conditionally approved, or indexed by the FDA. A VFD is also referred to as a VFD order.

• All feed additive antibiotics require a VFD to administer.
• VFDs require a valid and up to date VCPR.
• VFDs are issued through a program we use called Global Vet Link. You will receive a copy of your VFD via email from GVL. The feedmill you indicate you would like the VFD sent to will be sent a copy via GVL.
• Only people listed on VFD prescription are able to pick up medication at the feed mill.
• You’re required to keep a hard copy record of any VFD we issue to you for the duration of 2 years after the VFD expiration date in case of audit.
• There is a fee for issuing a VFD.
• We require 1 hour advance notice to fulfill a VFD request, but it may take up to 24 hours to complete.
• VFD prescriptions are valid for up to 6 months.

This information is required on a lawful VFD:

• Client’s name, business or home address, and telephone number
• Premises at which the animals specified in the VFD are located
• Name of the VFD drug(s)
• Species and production class of animals to be fed the VFD feed
• Approximate number of animals to be fed the VFD feed by the expiration date of the VFD
• Indication for which the VFD is issued
• How you intend to feed: TMR or top dressed
• If TMR: average DMI/hd/day
• Feed mill you would like the VFD sent to