Recognizing the Signs of Immune-Mediated Blood Disease Getting a diagnosis for a serious blood disorder used to mean a long drive to a specialty hospital and days of uncertainty. Immune-mediated diseases, where the body's own defenses begin attacking red blood cells or platelets, require fast and accurate diagnostic work because the window for effective intervention [...]

Surgical Correction of Entropion and Ectropion: Techniques and Outcomes When Squinting Means More Than a Bad Hair Day You know that look your dog gives you when the sun is in their eyes? A little squint, maybe a head tilt. Totally normal. But when the squinting doesn't stop, or you notice tear stains that won't [...]

Lymph Nodes 101: What They Do and Why They Sometimes Swell You're giving your dog a scratch behind the ears, grooming your horse after a ride, or checking on your goats, and then you feel it: a firm lump that wasn't there before. That moment of surprise can instantly turn into worry, especially when you [...]

Glucose Curves, Home Monitoring, and Remission: The Diabetes Journey Getting a diabetes diagnosis for your pet can feel overwhelming at first. Suddenly there are insulin injections to give, feeding schedules to follow, and blood sugar numbers to track. It's a lot to take in, and it's completely normal to feel uncertain about what comes next. [...]

What to Expect From a Senior Wellness Visit (And Why It Matters) Dogs and cats age faster than we do, so big health changes can happen between yearly visits. High blood pressure, thyroid issues, arthritis, and hidden masses can progress quietly, making early screening essential. Simple tools like blood pressure checks, thyroid tests, and X-rays [...]

Uncovering Hidden Dental Disease With Pet X-Rays You know your pet needs dental care if you can see a broken tooth or inflamed gums, but what if a painful dental issue is completely invisible? It's a surprising fact that more than half of dental disease in pets is hidden beneath the gums, where you can't [...]

Antimicrobial Resistance: What It Means for Livestock Producers You want what’s best for the animals under your care, and when they are sick, reaching for an antibiotic feels like the fastest way to help them recover. But what if that treatment isn't working as well as it used to? The challenge of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is [...]

Awake Dental Cleanings: Why They Put Pets at Risk Non-anesthetic dental procedures may look effective on the surface, but they hide disease below the gumline. Without proper tools or pain control, pets remain vulnerable to infection and discomfort. Anesthesia ensures a complete and humane cleaning. At Rustebakke Veterinary Service, we understand that anesthesia concerns are [...]

Calm Cattle, Better Outcomes: Reducing Stress in Handling and Transport Stress affects everything from weight gain to immune function in beef cattle. Low-stress handling techniques, quiet movement, and proper transport conditions minimize injuries and improve performance. Managing stress is key to welfare and profitability. Whether you're hauling cattle to market, moving them between pastures, or [...]