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Again, we are so thankful for our incredible community and each and every one of our clients for being so flexible and understanding with our curbside-only service for the last few months.

That being said, we have once again opened our doors to give our clients the option of accompanying their pet/horse inside the clinic/equine exam room for their exam and treatments. 

We are still reducing the amount of traffic into the building to one client / patient at a time. Please see our new protocol below:

WHAT TO EXPECT – Large and Small Animal appointments:

Small animal clients, please park beside the clinic closest to the front of the building.

Equine and large animal clients, please drive around the cul-de-sac at the end of the road and park your trailer in the gravel parking lot.

When you arrive, please call the clinic 446-2815 to let us know you are here.

We will ask if you would like to come in for your appointment, wait in the vehicle, or drop off your pet and come back at a later time.

As before, if you would prefer to wait outside or drop off, Dr. Gruber will discuss exam findings either in person (outside) or by phone. We will then proceed with treatments as decided by you and Dr. Gruber. 

If you accompany your pet into the exam room, we will have our technicians and Dr. Gruber handle your pet, to reduce close contact with multiple clients. We will maintain a 6ft distance from you as best as we can. We will continue cleaning high traffic areas, door handles, counter tops, merchant machines etc. between each client to help reduce transmission. 

MEDICATION / FOOD PICK-UPS:

When you arrive, please call the clinic 446-2815 to let us know you are here. We will let you know if you can come in and get them (if the reception area is clear of other clients / patients). If not, we will bring them to your vehicle as before.

We can take payment over the phone and are still accepting credit cards, cash or checks.

We appreciate your cooperation as we all do our part to slow the spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses. Please call the clinic if you have any questions or concerns 406-446-2815. We look forward to getting back to ‘normal’ and ‘Together, We Can Do This!”

During the heat of the Summer, many pet owners turn to sprinklers and a trip to the lake to cool off their dog. A hidden danger of playing with water is Water Intoxication, an uncommon emergency illness to become familiar with.

What is it?

Water intoxication, also known as hyponatremia is a relatively rare but potentially fatal condition caused from ingesting excessive amounts of water. 

When your pup is playing with water, whether diving into a lake or river to retrieve a ball or biting at a hose or sprinkler for long periods of time, they can inadvertently ingest a large volume of water very quickly. This is possible if they drink an excessive amount after exercise as well. 

Excessive amounts of water will dilute their body’s electrolytes causing alarming and even fatal electrolyte imbalances. The cells in their body will begin to swell with water. If the cells in their brain swell, their central nervous system will become affected and can result in seizures, coma and even death. 

Symptoms include:

• loss of coordination
• lethargy
• bloating
• vomiting
• glazed eyes
• excessive salivation
• difficulty breathing
• seizures
• coma

Water intoxication can progress very quickly. If your pet has been playing with water and begins to show any of the above symptoms, please contact your veterinarian immediately or take them to the closest emergency facility.

Treatment:

Aggressive treatment at a veterinarians office may include IV delivery of electrolytes (sodium/chloride), diuretics and medications to reduce brain swelling. These treatments are used to reduce swelling of the brain and cells, but in severe cases some patients symptoms cannot be reversed. 

How can I avoid it?

Make sure your dog takes regular breaks from the water play. If they drink their whole water bowl quickly after exercise, wait until they are settled before refilling. 

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call us at 406-446-2815. 

As always, the safety of our clients, staff and patients is at the forefront of everything we do at Red Lodge Veterinary Clinic.  We are so fortunate to be healthy and able to serve you and your animals to the best of our abilities.

In order to continue to do so we will once again be offering curbside-only service until further notice. We truly appreciate your business and have your best interests at heart.

What to expect:

We will follow the same format as we did previously for our curbside service, please see below. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call us at 406-446-2815.

Small Animal Visits

What to expect:

Please stay in your vehicle and call us at the office, (406) 446-2815, when you arrive to the clinic. We will come out to your vehicle and bring your pet in for their examination and treatments. Dr. Casey Gruber will discuss the exam findings and treatment options (if applicable) by phone. Once we are done, we can collect carside/curbside payment at that time, or can process payment over the phone. All medications, products or food will be brought to your vehicle.

Equine In-Clinic Visits

What to expect:

When you arrive, please stay in your vehicle and call the clinic at (406) 446-2815. We will come out and bring your horse to the exam room. Dr. Casey will discuss the exam findings and treatment options by phone. When we are done, we will bring your horse back to your trailer. We can collect carside/curbside payment at that time or take payment over the phone. We will bring all prescription medications or products to your vehicle.

Medication Refills, Food or other Products

One of our team members will bring your products out to your vehicle when you arrive.

Please call ahead to give us time to get your products ready, and also when you arrive.

If you have any questions, please give us a call at (406) 446-2815 and we will address any concerns you may have.

Thank you for your understanding,

Red Lodge Veterinary Clinic

Finally the weather has warmed up and we are all spending some much needed time outside. Our parasite ‘friends’ are also thrilled that we are out hiking with our dogs and riding our horses.

The most common tick in Montana is the Rocky Mountain Wood Tick. (See pictures)

Even at our high elevation in Red Lodge, we begin to see ticks in mid-March or even earlier depending on weather. Ticks do not jump or fly (luckily), instead they lie in wait on vegetation and climb on to your pet or horse as they pass by and attach to the body.

It is important to check your horse routinely and your pet thoroughly after being outside. Pay close attention to the under belly, under the neck area, behind (and inside) ears and the head. Ticks can even be found inside you pets mouth attached to the gums!

There are several diseases that can be transferred to both humans and pets from our local ticks, such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. The Black Legged Tick which carries Lyme’s Disease is not known to be found in Montana.

Even without disease transmission a large infestation of ticks can cause lethargy, anemia and other health concerns.

Removing ticks:

– Use tweezers and grasp the mouth parts as close to the skin as possible, pull directly away from your pet or horse.

– Do not twist as you pull as you may break off the mouth parts under the skin and this can lead to irritation and infection at the bite site.

– Do not crush the ticks while they are attached to prevent disease transmission.

– Place them in rubbing alcohol to kill before disposal, or burn them.

– Wash your hands thoroughly after handling ticks.

We have multiple options for preventing ticks and other external parasites on your horses and livestock – each product last approximately 2 weeks per treatment:

– Equi-Spot – Topical oil based drop that is applied to the body
– Topical Dusting Powder for Ticks and Lice – Applied to the mane and tail head
– Pour on – Clean Up II – Applied to the base of the mane and tail head
– Topical Fly Spray – Endure

Here is a good article about tick control in horses:

AAEP – Tick Control in Horses

For pets we carry the following products:

Effitix Plus or Effipro Plus – Topical drop applied once per month
Credelio (dogs only) – Oral tablet given once per month
Bravecto (dogs only) – Oral tablet given every 3 months

Call us today for more information! 406-446-2815

First, we would like to thank our clients for being flexible and understanding over the last 6 weeks. Since March 23rd we have been operating with a curbside only service approach.

Starting today, May 6th, we will be giving clients the option of accompanying their pet/horse inside the clinic/equine exam room for their exam and treatments. 

That being said, we are still reducing the amount of traffic into the building to one client / patient at a time. Please see our new protocol below:

WHAT TO EXPECT – Large and Small Animal appointments:

Small animal clients, please park beside the clinic closest to the front of the building.

Equine and large animal clients, please drive around the cul-de-sac at the end of the road and park your trailer in the gravel parking lot.

When you arrive, please call the clinic 446-2815 to let us know you are here.

We will ask if you would like to come in for your appointment, wait in the vehicle, or drop off your pet and come back at a later time.

As before, if you would prefer to wait outside or drop off, Dr. Gruber will discuss exam findings either in person (outside) or by phone. We will then proceed with treatments as decided by you and Dr. Gruber. 

If you accompany your pet into the exam room, we will have our technicians and Dr. Gruber handle your pet, to reduce close contact with multiple clients. We will maintain a 6ft distance from you as best as we can. We will continue cleaning high traffic areas, door handles, counter tops, merchant machines etc. between each client to help reduce transmission. 

MEDICATION / FOOD PICK-UPS:

When you arrive, please call the clinic 446-2815 to let us know you are here. We will let you know if you can come in and get them (if the reception area is clear of other clients / patients). If not, we will bring them to your vehicle as before.

We can take payment over the phone and are still accepting credit cards, cash or checks.

We appreciate your cooperation as we all do our part to slow the spread of COVID19 and other illnesses. Please call the clinic if you have any questions or concerns 406-446-2815. We look forward to getting back to ‘normal’ and ‘Together, We Can Do This!”

Red Lodge Veterinary Clinic’s – New COVID-19 Curbside/Carside Service Protocol

Red Lodge Veterinary Clinic is closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation throughout our state, country and worldwide. In order to reduce the number of people entering our hospital, we have decided to only allow patients, and employees into our facility. This will reduce exposure to our clients, staff and facility. We really appreciate everyone’s help with social distancing. We are still offering ALL of our regular services, and look forward to assisting you.

Small Animal Visits

What to expect:

Please stay in your vehicle and call us at the office, (406) 446-2815, when you arrive to the clinic. We will come out to your vehicle and bring your pet in for their examination and treatments. Dr. Casey Gruber will discuss the exam findings and treatment options (if applicable) by phone. Once we are done, we can collect carside/curbside payment at that time, or can process payment over the phone. All medications, products or food will be brought to your vehicle.

Equine In-Clinic Visits

What to expect:

When you arrive, please stay in your vehicle and call the clinic at (406) 446-2815. We will come out and bring your horse to the exam room. Dr. Casey will discuss the exam findings and treatment options by phone. When we are done, we will bring your horse back to your trailer. We can collect carside/curbside payment at that time or take payment over the phone. We will bring all prescription medications or products to your vehicle.

Medication Refills, Food or other Products

One our team members will bring your products out to your vehicle when you arrive, to limit the number of people entering the hospital. Please call ahead to give us time to get your products ready, and also when you arrive.

These are uncertain times for all of us, and we ask for your patience and understanding as new information is continuously reported and new protocols are established.

As always, it is our priority to keep your animals healthy. Now, we are doing our part to make sure you stay healthy too!

If you have any questions, please give us a call at (406) 446-2815 and we will address any concerns you may have.

Red Lodge Veterinary Clinic

We are OPEN and providing our same level of service

We understand the concern in our community due to the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19). We want you to know that we are taking the risk seriously. Most important, we hope you, your family and your pets are staying healthy during this challenging time.

We are writing to let you to know the steps we are taking to continue to provide quality care for your pets, while keeping you and our team safe.

In addition to our regular cleaning and disinfecting protocols, we have also increased the frequency of disinfecting high traffic areas, such as, reception counter tops, door knobs, exam room seating, tables, credit card machines and bathrooms. We are following the CDC recommendations to keep our team and clients healthy.

We have extra hand sanitizer in all areas of our hospital that we request you use on arrival and on your way out. We support our team and ask they stay home if they are not feeling well.

If you are showing symptoms of or test positive for COVID-19

If you are showing symptoms or test positive for COVID-19, have traveled to a high-risk area in the last 14 days, have been in contact with someone who has been showing symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19. We request to reschedule non-urgent medical care for your pet(s). If your pet requires a visit, or we cannot reschedule for medical reasons, we ask that you have a healthy friend of family member bring your pet in.

If you are not unwell, but are concerned about exposure

Please call the clinic when you arrive and we can come out to your vehicle and bring your pet in. We will discuss the exam findings by phone and proceed with treatment as requested.

For all others bringing their pet(s) in we ask that you follow these recommendations to reduce potential exposure:

• Limit the number of people bringing your pet into the clinic for care.
• Stay 3-5 feet away from others while waiting in reception. If preferred, after you check in, you may wait in your vehicle and we can call you when we are ready for you to come in.
• Use hand sanitizer in exam rooms, bathrooms, and reception.

Equine and Large Animal Appointments

Follow the same protocols as listed above. If you are concerned about exposure, call us when you arrive and we will come out and meet you at your truck/trailer.

After-Hour Emergencies

Dr. Gruber will still be providing emergency care after-hours and on weekends. If you have been symptomatic, or directly exposed to COVID-19, we ask that you have a healthy friend or family member bring the patient in for care. if this is not possible, make sure that Dr. Gruber is aware of your situation, and we will do our best to help your pet(s) while reducing exposure to our doctor and staff.

We can bring medications and food out to your vehicle.

We carry many medications and pet food in-clinic. If you are concerned about exposure, you can pay over the phone and one our team members can bring your products out to your vehicle when you arrive. Please call ahead to give us time to get your products ready, and also when you get here.

We offer Home Delivery

Please use our online store to order medications, over-the-counter products, pet food and more Delivered directly to your door! Click the link below to get started.

VETSOURCE ONLINE PHARMACY – HOME DELIVERY

How is COVID-19 affecting pets?

The latest information does not show evidence of any risk to pets in contracting COVID-19 or being able to transmit the disease to humans.

What if my pet is coughing, sneezing or showing other COVID-19 symptoms?

As with any virus, we ask that your pet stay in the vehicle until we are ready to see them. Please check-in with reception and we will ensure that your pet does not have contact with other pets. Dogs and cats can contract other illnesses that produce the same symptoms, such as Bordetella Bronchispetica (kennel Cough), Canine Influenza, Feline Herpesvirus etc.

We are doing everything we can to continue to provide service to the community while following recommended guidelines to prevent transmission of COVID-19. We are monitoring the situation closely and will provide updates if changes to our protocol is necessary.

Please contact us with any questions or concerns. 406-446-2815 or redlodgevet@gmail.com

Please follow these links for updates:

CDC UPDATES

WHO UPDATES

WASAVA UPDATE

AVMA UPDATE FOR PET OWNERS

** THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED ** We hope to reschedule at a later time this year. Please check back!

Red Lodge Veterinary Clinic is proud to host our 3rd annual Equine Educational Seminar. Thanks to the help from our sponsors MWI Animal Health and Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica we are once again able to offer this informative event at no charge to you! The location of the event is the Bull N’ Bear event room (upstairs) on Wednesday, April 15th. Doors open at 5:30pm, talks start at 6:00 pm and will go until 9:00pm. Food and drinks will be provided.

We are passionate about educating horse owners and enthusiasts on some common and not so common areas of interest. In the past we have touched on topics such as PPID (Cushings Disease), laminitis, lameness, vaccinations and infectious diseases. Stay tuned for this year’s topics! Follow our event on Facebook for updates! 3rd Annual Equine Seminar – FB Event

Please RSVP by April 5th. 406-446-2815 or email us at redlodgevet@gmail.com. The previous events have ‘sold-out’ and we had a wait list. So RSVP early to ensure a seat! We look forward to seeing everyone on April 15th. 

In February we will once again be offering a 20% discount on equine dental floats. In-clinic appointments only. Call us today 446-2815 to reserve your spot.

EQUINE DENTAL HEALTH:

Horses with dental problems may show obvious signs, such as pain or irritation, or they may show no noticeable signs at all. This is because some horses simply adapt to their discomfort.

For this reason, periodic dental examinations performed by your equine veterinarian are essential to your horse’s health. It is important to catch dental problems early. If a horse starts behaving abnormally, dental problems should be considered as a potential cause. Waiting too long may increase the difficulty of remedying certain conditions or may even make remedy impossible.

Look for the following indicators of dental problems from the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) to know when to seek veterinary attention for your horse:

1. Loss of feed from mouth while eating, difficulty with chewing, or excessive salivation.
2. Loss of body condition.
3. Large or undigested feed particles (long stems or whole grain) in manure.
4. Head tilting or tossing, bit chewing, tongue lolling, fighting the bit, or resisting bridling.
5. Poor performance, such as lugging on the bridle, failing to turn or stop, even bucking.
6. Foul odor from mouth or nostrils, or traces of blood from the mouth.
7. Nasal discharge or swelling of the face, jaw or mouth tissues.

Oral exams should be an essential part of an annual physical examination by your veterinarian. Every dental exam provides the opportunity to perform routine preventative dental maintenance. Mature horses should get a thorough dental exam at least once a year, and horses 2 –5 years old should be examined twice yearly.

Learn more about proper dental care at www.aaep.org/horse-owner

CANINE and FELINE DENTAL HEALTH:

The cause of gum disease is the same in cats and dogs as it is in people. Gum disease is an infection resulting from build-up of soft dental plaque on the surfaces of the teeth around the gums. The bacteria in dental plaque irritate the gum tissue if plaque is allowed to accumulate, which often leads to infection in the bone surrounding the teeth. Hard dental tartar (calculus) consists of calcium salts from saliva deposited on plaque. Tartar starts to form within a few days on a tooth surface that is not kept clean, and provides a rough surface that enhances further plaque accumulation. Once it has begun to grow in thickness, tartar is difficult to remove without dental instruments. – From VOHC.

Once tartar forms on the teeth, mechanical removal with an ultrasonic scaler and hand instruments followed by high frequency polishing is required to return the teeth to a health state. Annual or bi-annual prohylactic cleaning is recommended to prevent the advancement of periodontal disease. 

Contact us today to learn more! 446-2815