Triton Veterinary Service

10/02/2019

This is the link for SAVE

10/02/2019

As of today we officially bid adieu to Triton Veterinary Service. While retiring the name is bittersweet we are excited to be officially merging the practice into SAVE with Dr. Celeste Grace. What does this mean for our clients? Better service, better coverage and the future addition of another veterinarian to the team. Will continue to be available at our same daytime phone numbers:

Dr. Grace: 208-946-8444
Dr. Grimmett 208-659-6264
After hours emergencies: 208-946-1998

Be sure to like SAVE on Facebook to stay abreast of all of the exciting changes in store!

09/28/2019

With the nasty change of weather we always get questions about how to keep the horses warm and colic free. With abrupt changes in weather like this, especially if it brings wind and moisture horses can get chilled as they haven’t yet completely haired up. Here are a few things you can do this weekend.

1. Feed extra hay. Horses keep themselves warm by fermenting long stem fiber. Keep hay in front of them when it’s abruptly cold like it is this weekend. Of course, use common sense with this recommendation. Obese horses, horses prone to founder or other metabolic concerns should not have an abrupt diet change. If you are having trouble deciding the best course of action, call!

2. Blanket. I know it’s controversial but if have a horse that is prone to colic, is less than a 6 body condition score, is older, or has a thin hair coat it may help to put a waterproof blanket on for the next 48 hrs. It doesn’t mean you will now need to blanket all year. Just until this crazy weather passes. A waterproof rain sheet may be enough to provide a wind break and keep them dry improving their ability to thermoregulate and not burn so many calories. Of our 9 horses 3 are wearing blankets and 6 are not. There is no hard and fast rule here. Use your best judgement.

3. Feeding a soaked feed with additional salt may help with water consumption over the next couple of days. We usually see gas colics (related to barometric pressure changes we think) on the forefront of these weather changes and impaction colics on the tail end from not drinking enough water.

Stay safe everyone! Living in these northern climates is not for the faint of heart!!

09/19/2019

Crazy case of the day! This poor little goat and his friend were minding their own business in their backyard in Sandpoint when a couple of bears decided to fuel up for winter. Unfortunately, the little friend was carried off as a midnight snack and this guy escaped by sacrificing his tail when the bear bit his butt! We had to amputate the tail but this goat will live to tell the hair raising tail! Er, tale!

09/03/2019

Imagine walking out to find your horse with an injury of this caliber. We can often tell the degree of damage by the rate of breathing on the line when we pick up the phone. It can be super scary. But, the old adage “Time heals all wounds” is true. With good wound care the body has an amazing capacity to heal. What may seem catastrophic and beyond repair can look much different in just a couple weeks. This wound was on the mid thorax of an older gelding. We aren’t sure what caused it but seems most likely to be some gate hardware. The original injury was 8/1. The last picture is from today. Kudos to his owners for first rate wound care.

07/29/2019

Just a little clarification on the services we offer. We work on all manner of domestic livestock. We are happy to help you keep your animals healthy at your facility. We do however require a few small concessions to be of service to you. Here are some things to keep in mind before scheduling your appointment.
1. We do not offer dart gun sedation. Any sedation we administer does need to be given through an injection which requires the animal be caught and contained in such a manner that we can safely do that.
2. Catching and restraining the animal is the responsibility of the owner. We are happy to assist if asked but generally prefer that part is done before we get there.
3. There is not an animal that I have met that will generally miss the fact they are receiving an injection just because their head is in a bucket of grain. It helps some of them, for sure, but does not count as a means of restraint.
4. My DVM degree is not a roping, wrestling or training degree. That stuff is out of my pay grade. I’m getting too old. I would like to live past paying off my student debt and I have years to go yet.
5. Cattle must be restrained in safe fencing that is rigidly secured. Cattle panels tied together with twine do not count. Head catches are necessary for anything involving the head of the bovine patient. I know they are expensive and it’s a hassle but see rule #4 and #1 for further information on that point.

There is a world wide shortage of large animal veterinarians out there. Breaking the above list of rules resulting in injured veterinarians is a big part of the reason. Keep us safe and we will happily show up to help you with your farm animal Veterinary needs. But, be forewarned, the older I get the better I get at walking away from the rodeos!!

07/25/2019

Big leap forward today in keeping our equine companions healthy and happy! This has been a long time coming.

BIG WIN FOR HORSES TODAY! 🇺🇸🐎🇺🇸

The American Association of Equine Practitioners hails today’s passage of the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act (H.R. 693) in the U.S. House of Representatives! The legislation was approved by an overwhelming 333 to 96 bipartisan vote, and it will help end the cruel practice of horse soring, which is the deliberate infliction of pain to exaggerate a horse’s motion for the purpose of gaining an advantage in the show ring.

“For many years the AAEP has championed legislation to end this cruel practice, and today’s vote in the House is a victory for horses,” said Dr. Jeffrey T. Berk, 2019 AAEP president. “We now will work for passage of the Senate version of the bill.”

Our sincere thank you goes to Rep. Kurt Schrader and Rep. Ted Yoho, both veterinarians, who have been instrumental in securing this huge win for horses!

You can read our full statement here: https://aaep.org/news/equine-veterinarians-praise-passage-anti-soring-legislation-us-house
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06/27/2019

Meet the new pup! Tormund is doing the summer rounds while Paddy takes some time to hang out at home in the shade. We almost always have one red dog with us and if you catch Doc Jenni on a weekend or after hours call the Green Hornet may be full of big red dogs!!

He’s seriously the cutest little videoing partner around😊

06/01/2019

This one kept us busy for several hours this afternoon. Gotta love a big repair. I’ve included the picture of the tiny little hook she caught herself on.

05/16/2019

05/11/2019

Goaties!!! One of the many blessings of spring.

05/04/2019

Today was one of those days in rural mobile veterinary medicine when there were more emergencies than regularly scheduled appointments attended. It can be so frustrating for not only us but the poor client left waiting for hours or being forced to reschedule when these things happen. Especially when we are already booked solid for the next two weeks. Thanks to our clients for always being so understanding when these things occur. Someday it may be your emergency we are rushing off to!! Our apologies today to those we didn’t get to and those we kept waiting for hours like these cattle awaiting trich testing, bangs vaccination and preg checking before heading to pasture.