10/19/2026
Keeping Rural Veterinary Care in Western Colorado
If you’ve followed Dr. Dennison’s Facebook posts over the past several years, you know that he often shares information about the veterinary shortage happening across our country—especially the shortage of large-animal veterinarians serving rural communities.
The USDA estimates that close to 240 counties in 46 states have veterinary shortages, and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) reports that the number of large-animal veterinarians has declined by about 90% since World War II.
Research points to several reasons why students may choose not to go into large-animal or rural veterinary medicine. Long hours, stressful working conditions, and the high cost of veterinary school all play a role. But money matters, too. Veterinarians working with pets can often make more than those working with livestock. For a new vet carrying a mountain of student debt, it can be hard to justify working long hours in inclement weather in rural western Colorado when a companion-animal practice in Denver offers better pay. Simply put, treating Bubba the Bulldog can pay better than treating Bruno the Bull.
As a result, many states and organizations have started offering scholarships, loan-repayment programs, grants, and other incentives to encourage large-animal veterinarians to practice in rural communities. At a national or state level, this is a great start.
But you might be asking, “What can I do about it?”
Or maybe you’re asking, “What is Plateau Valley Animal Hospital doing about it?”
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Here’s what Plateau Valley Animal Hospital is doing:
We mentor.
We encourage young people to get involved and learn about veterinary medicine. It’s not uncommon to see a young client helping around the practice, trying to palpate a calf, restraining an animal, watching a procedure, or asking a million questions.
If we want more veterinarians in rural communities in the future, we have to start by showing young people what rural veterinary medicine actually looks like. It isn’t always glamorous, and there are definitely long days, but it is incredibly interesting, varied, and rewarding.
We support.
For many years, Dr. Dennison has worked closely with 4-H and FFA students in the Plateau Valley and across the state. Dr. Perkins continues that work today.
These kids are our future farmers, ranchers, veterinary technicians, veterinarians, and agricultural professionals. Supporting them means more than just answering questions. It means helping them see that there is a future for them in agriculture and in rural communities.
We teach.
Dr. Perkins began working with us when she was in her second year of veterinary school. Dr. Hunt graduated from vet school this summer and is now working with us as an apprentice to gain additional hands-on experience. Another veterinary student, Amanda, has spent the past two years interning with us in R***e and will be back in February for more hands-on experience.
Dr. Dennison and Dr. Perkins are both natural teachers. They take the time to explain what they are doing, demonstrate procedures, answer questions, and—perhaps most importantly—let students and newer veterinarians get their hands dirty and gain real-world experience.
That takes time. It takes patience. And it takes a willingness to let someone learn. But that’s how veterinarians are made.
We grow in rural communities.
Plateau Valley Animal Hospital opened in Collbran. We traveled to Cedaredge for a few years. We expanded into R***e. We are looking to expand into Meeker.
We love small communities. We want to be part of these communities.
We know rural communities have unique needs, and we believe providing veterinary services in these communities is part of our responsibility. When a community has access to a veterinarian, it supports not only the animals, but also the people, businesses, and agricultural operations that depend on them.
We apply for grants.
We haven’t gotten one yet, but we keep trying.
We’re hoping that in one of these application cycles, one of our veterinarians will receive a rural veterinary grant or loan-repayment assistance to help offset the enormous cost of veterinary school. That kind of financial support can make it easier for veterinarians to build their careers, put down roots, and continue caring for the animals and people who depend on them.
Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about bringing veterinarians to rural Colorado. It’s about making it possible for them to stay.
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So, what can you do?
Be supportive.
A while back, when we introduced a veterinarian who was joining our practice, someone made a comment along the lines of, “Great, another graduate who doesn’t know what they’re doing.”
We understand the concern behind that kind of comment. We know it can be difficult to put your animals in the hands of someone who is new to practice. Experience matters—especially when you’re dealing with valuable livestock and complicated medical situations.
But remember: every experienced veterinarian was once a new graduate.
New veterinarians need opportunities to learn, make decisions, gain experience, and grow. They need experienced veterinarians willing to teach them, and they need clients willing to give them a chance.
So please be patient. Ask questions. Give constructive feedback. And when one of our newer veterinarians does a good job, tell them. A little encouragement can go a long way.
And, yes—understand that veterinary medicine costs money.
We know our clients are working hard. We know the agricultural economy is challenging, and every expense matters. We also know there often isn’t much profit left at the end of the day.
But the reality is that the cost of providing veterinary care has increased, too. And believe us when we say there isn’t a profit left at the end of our day, either.
If we want to keep veterinarians—both large- and small-animal—in rural America, we have to recognize the value of the services they provide. That may mean accepting that veterinary fees sometimes need to increase to cover the costs of equipment, medications, vehicles, insurance, staff, and all the other expenses that come with operating a veterinary practice.
We don’t want veterinary care to become unaffordable for our clients, but we also need to ensure our practice remains financially sustainable so we can continue providing care when it’s needed.
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While the change we make may seem small compared to the nationwide shortage of rural veterinarians, if enough small communities take similar steps—one kid, one student, one internship, and one veterinarian at a time—we can make a meaningful difference.
That’s what we’re trying to do at Plateau Valley Animal Hospital.
