Mayerthorpe Veterinary Services

04/24/2026

It’s Veterinary Receptionist Appreciation Week… and honestly, where would we be without them?
Probably lost on some gravel road. Definitely triple-booked. Likely answering our own phones… badly.

Our receptionists are the heart of the clinic — juggling ringing phones, wrangling appointment schedules, calming worried pet owners, and somehow understanding messages like:
“Yeah, my dog’s acting weird… you know… just weird.”

They can switch from booking a routine nail trim to helping with a calving emergency in about 30 seconds flat — all while being greeted by muddy boots, shedding dogs, and the occasional escapee cat in the waiting room.

In a rural clinic, they’re not just receptionists — they’re multitaskers, problem-solvers, translators, and sometimes even traffic control for trucks and trailers.

So this week, we just want to say thank you for everything you do — the patience, the humor, the organization, and the calm you bring to even the busiest (and messiest) days.

We appreciate you more than coffee on a Monday morning… and that’s saying something.

💙 Drop a comment or give a shoutout to our amazing reception team!

04/18/2026

Our thoughts and hearts go out to the family and clinic that have recently experienced the loss of a valued member of our Veterinary community from Airdrie 💔

Below is a copied/pasted comment from a fellow veterinary professional (NOMV)

It’s an important reminder of what goes on behind the scenes in every vet clinic. Kindness and grace for each other go a long way💜

Veterinary medicine is a rewarding, demanding, emotional, and heartbreaking career.

We get to care for those who cannot speak for themselves. But we also see what happens when they aren’t cared for the way they deserve—and sometimes, we can’t fix it.

That stays with us.

This profession has one of the highest su***de rates.And this week, we lost someone close to home.A good one.

I don’t usually post things like this, but we have been crying for help for a long time—and it feels like no one is listening. Something needs to change.

Costs are rising beyond what people can afford. Care is being delayed or declined. And the people in this field are the ones carrying the weight of those decisions every single day.

Receptionists are yelled at, blamed, and undervalued—while being the emotional front line for every client and every case.

Technicians are exhausted. Understaffed. Overextended. They are doing the jobs of multiple roles at once, trying to hold everything together, while watching patients go without the care they need.

Veterinarians are drowning in caseloads, making impossible decisions, and being told they’re only in it for money.

And through all of it—we care. We care so much it hurts.

We remember the ones we couldn’t save. We think about the ones who left without treatment. We carry those cases home with us.

So when someone says, “I couldn’t do that—I love animals too much,” what they don’t understand is… that’s exactly why we do this.

This week, we lost a veterinarian—a wife and a mother.

If this industry contributed to that loss in any way, that is something we cannot keep ignoring. Not One More Vet (NOMV) means something. It means we need awareness. It means we need support.

And it means we need change—before we lose more people who have given everything to this profession.

02/21/2026

Recently, I had to make the incredibly difficult decision to say goodbye to my own beloved companion. His spirit and mind were still strong, but his body was no longer able to keep up without significant discomfort.

End-of-life decisions are never easy, and many families struggle with wondering how to measure “good days” and quality of life.

If you’re walking this road, know that you’re not alone. The decision is never about giving up. It’s about love.

Hold them close. Treasure the good days. ❤️

01/12/2026

As we enter baby season 🐂🐑🐴, we’d like to remind clients to please be prepared for emergencies. Our vets work hard to attend to all urgent cases promptly, and having a safe, warm facility available—or a trailer ready to transport animals to the clinic—helps us deliver care efficiently and safely. We appreciate your cooperation and preparedness.

12/17/2025

12/04/2025

12/04/2025

11/21/2025

Thank you to the team at Delaney Vet Services for this info!

There have been a number of confirmed cases of EHV/EHM lately, both in Canada and the USA. So here’s what you need to know about the disease 🚨

Equine Herpesvirus is a common virus in horse populations worldwide. The most common species are EHV-1, which causes respiratory infections, abortion and can cause neurological disease (EHM), and EHV-4, which most commonly causes respiratory disease.
The disease is highly contagious and gets spread through nasal secretions, both through direct (nose to nose contact) and indirect (through equipment, people,…) contact.

When infected, most horses will develop a fever, become lethargic, go off feed and water. If the disease progresses, respiratory signs (like coughing and nasal discharge) and neurological signs (ataxia, trouble swallowing, loss of tail tone, weakness in the hind end,…) can become apparent.

As this is a viral infection, no specific treatment is available. Treatment of the disease is therefore largely focused on supportive care (IV fluids, anti-inflammatories,…).

This is why prevention is so important!!!
There are things you can do to help control the spread and help protect your horse.
We recommend vaccinating against EHV, especially if your horse is frequently in contact with other horses.
Practice strict biosecurity when visiting with your horse at the barn and when travelling. Avoid contact with other horses, use your own food and water bucket, don’t share grooming supplies, etc.

Herpes vaccines cover for type 1 and type 4, but the vaccine is made for respiratory and abortion form of the disease. There is not a vaccine made for the neurological/meningitis form, which is what our biggest concern is today.

If you have questions regarding the disease, or you suspect your horse may be affected, please do not hesitate to reach out to us via phone (780-922-3647) or email ([email protected])
The AAEP also has some great resources for owners at aaep.org/resource/ehv-faq-for-owners/

11/21/2025

Thank you Westhills for the info!

FAQ: Regarding Equine Herpesvirus (EHV)

11/21/2025

Worried about equine disease in the province or if planning travel to the states? This is a great site to bookmark and check regularly.

Updates on current disease outbreaks are listed here as they occur and will include the date listed, disease name, location and current status. Specific premises will not be named but the general location by town, county and state will be listed. When locations, events or horses are at risk they wil...