Nomad Veterinary Services

04/23/2025

I’m not normally one to share personal details, so if you just want to see cool cow things then this post is going to be on the sappier side. For those that tried to contact us today thank you for your patience.

We had to say goodbye to our dog Emmett today. He developed hemangiosarcoma that spread to his heart which is an extremely lethal and rapidly progressing condition, so it came out of nowhere. We adopted him in 2018 immediately after moving to Stettler and he’s been through all of our life changes. He kept me company when Brie finished her degree in Kamloops and helped me through some tough times, he hung out during the Covid lockdowns, he moved into our new home in Delburne, he welcomed our second dog into the family, he hung out with us the week after our wedding, he cuddled Brie during her pregnancy, and he was Violet’s best friend. He was our partner in crime through thick and thin. Now he’s gone and there’s a space in our house where he should be. And that sucks.

So take this as a reminder to hug your partner, read a book to your kids, play at the park with your puppy a little longer, or cuddle up with you cat next to a fire. There’s never enough time, but each second is revealed as precious when you lose a part of the family.

Goodbye Emmett. Your memory will live on.

04/16/2025

🐰🌸 Easter Hours Update 🌸🐰

Wishing all our clients a joyful and peaceful Easter weekend! 🐣💐
Here’s what our schedule looks like:

📅 Good Friday – Available for large animal emergencies only
📅 Easter Monday – Open regular hours

If you need us for a large animal emergency over the holiday/Weekend, don't hesitate to call 📞 403-588-0220.

From all of us at Nomad Veterinary Services – Happy Easter! 🐶🐮🥚

04/13/2025

Sometimes the late night calls are worth it for the views.

04/11/2025

Thanks to the Bow-Inn 4-H Beef Club for hosting me and the awesome mug! Happy to answer any and all questions and give back a little to the next generation of farmers.

04/08/2025

New C section rule!

I need to close the case to the clippers. There may have been some... contamination that got into the case. You can see if you look hard enough on the bottom right of the last photo. It makes cleanup and sterilization a lot more finicky 😅

She stood up after we left and we got a live calf, so a win overall. Thanks to the rancher for having plywood and a surgery bucket so we kept things mostly sterile.

For large animal emergencies dial 403-588-0220 and hit 1. If it's safe for me to work you will get right through to my cell. If it isn't you will know right away.

04/03/2025

03/30/2025

🐾🐄 Busy Season, But We’re Still Here for Your Pets! 🐴🐶

Calving season is in full swing, and we’ve been busy with large animal emergencies. But we want to assure our small animal clients that we haven’t forgotten about you!

If your cat or dog needs care, we are still offering small animal services when time allows. If you’re flexible and understanding, we can put you on a list—this way, if Dr. Colin is in your area and has time, we can arrange a visit.

We can also book appointments, but please keep in mind that they may need to be adjusted if a calving emergency arises.

📞 Reach out to us, and we’ll do our best to fit you in! Thank you for your patience and support.

03/26/2025

🚨 Content Warning: Graphic Images 🚨

A new record for me! 📍 This is the farthest south I’ve driven for a call—past Irricana by about 10 minutes. When calving emergencies happen, I don’t mind the drive if I can be of assistance!

This heifer was facing a tough situation—a bull calf that was just too big to deliver naturally. A few telltale signs tipped us off:
🔸 Large feet—a sign the calf might not fit
🔸 Head hitting the pelvis without much pulling effort

At that point, it was clear—C-section time! Here’s how the procedure went:

1️⃣ First, I administer an epidural to provide comfort and stop mom from pushing.
2️⃣ Next, I numb up the side, clip, and sterilize everything to prep for surgery.
3️⃣ We locate the calf, lift the back legs out of the incision, then carefully open the uterus to deliver the calf.
4️⃣ The rancher takes over calf care while I close the uterus, flush the abdomen, and stitch up the muscle layers.
5️⃣ Finally, pain control and antibiotics ensure the new mom is comfortable and protected.

This mama is now recovering well, and her calf is doing great!

📸 (Swipe for photos—graphic surgical images ahead)

🐮 Calving season is unpredictable—if you need help, don’t hesitate to call! Nomad Veterinary Services is here when you need us.

03/24/2025

Shoutout to Dr. Colin, who recently volunteered his time and supplies to the Los Cabos Humane Society while on vacation in Mexico! 🐾🌴

03/18/2025

Sometimes you just have to laugh at the weather, the snow, the mud, and the long days — and that’s exactly what Dr. Colin does 😄🧊💪

Whether it's sunshine, sleet, snow blowing sideways, or knee-deep mud, we're out there keeping your animals healthy and your farms running. Huge thanks to all our amazing clients who trust us to be part of your operation — you make the cold days worth it!

03/15/2025

We’ve got a vet box! We’ve been looking forward to this since we struck out on our own. Brie is especially excited because she won’t need to drive surgery packs to me anymore. This also makes it easier to handle emergencies. Previously, we were stuffing emergency gear into nooks and crannies, but now everything has its place

03/09/2025

Analyzing bull semen is an important part of herd management. 🐂 Dr. Colin carefully examines semen slides to assess quality, motility, and overall fertility. This ensures your bulls are ready to work before you turn them out. We’ve seen it multiple times over the years – a trusted bull doesn’t perform as expected, and you don’t find out until preg test time. Dr. Colin recommends that every bull on your property receives a semen test each year. Yes, even newly arrived purebreds – there’s a lot of time between their test and your turnout.

03/06/2025

Chronic bloating in calves can be a real pain. They often need tubing to help release the gas so they can breathe properly. If it gets bad enough, surgery is needed to let the gas out through the side.

The process starts with clipping, cleaning, and numbing the area. Then we remove a small round section of skin and attach the rumen (the first stomach) to the skin. After that, the calf gets antibiotics and painkillers, and once it's all done, we send them back to their pen to finish out the feeding period.

You might have seen a similar procedure using a plastic trocar, but Colin prefers doing it surgically. He finds it gives better results.

02/23/2025

📍 Here to Stay – Committed to Central Alberta for the Long Run!

At Nomad Veterinary Services, we're figuring out how to make things works as a family. So far, we've managed to pay the mortgage every month—a big first step in building a lasting practice—and we’re incredibly grateful for your continued support.

You might have talked to our new part time receptionist, Stephanie. With her help, Brie and Violet get to enjoy time at Mom's group in Delburne, a workout class, or to go for a swim at the Stettler Recreation Centre. My family and I have put down roots in this wonderful community, and we’re here to stay.

I’d love to say we’ve added a part-time vet so I can sneak in a swim too, but we’re not quite there yet—maybe someday! 😆

Dr. Colin

02/18/2025

Biweekly local business shout out! Amy's Bakery