Rustebakke Veterinary Service

07/25/2024

If you are being evacuated and need a safe place for your animals please contact the Nez Perce County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse.

Their contract info!
Tate 509-780-7293
Ashlee 208-791-1711

There are also several private parties willing to host and board your animals, if you are one of these parties, please feel free to add your information in the comments for public knowledge.

Our thoughts of safety and gratitude to everyone who can help, the firefighters, landowners and all of those affected by the fires.

07/18/2024

We are adding to our team! We are looking for a technician assistant to join our technician staff.

07/12/2024

Just a REMINDER, that we have switched our patient portal and texting communications to AllyDVM as of June 1st. If you haven't had the chance to download or explore this new program, please do so because there are a lot of new options for our clients to utilize.

You will need to use the email you have provided to the clinic as a log in to access all of your pets records, and use the following link to get set up on your smart phone or computer.

https://practices.allydvm.com?practice=rustebakke

07/10/2024

Do you have an indoor cat that would love to go outside, but don't want them wandering the neighborhood? How about a safe CATIO?!

Building a catio, or outdoor cat enclosure, can be a fun project that allows your cat to enjoy the outdoors while staying safe. Here are some things to consider when creating a catio:

Location
Choose a spot that's protected from the elements and shaded from the sun, but still well-ventilated. You can also remove any plants that are toxic to cats.

Size
Catios can range from a simple window box to a more elaborate space with tunnels and perches. If you're limited on space, it's more important to build up than out, as cats like vertical space.

Materials
Use sturdy materials that can withstand the elements and your cat's claws, such as exterior-grade timber for the frame. You can cover the frame with a material like galvanized wire mesh or timber lattice to allow light and air in while still keeping your cat safe. Other materials you might need include cedar shelves and a roof made of wire mesh or polycarbonate.

Design
You can get inspiration from other catios and pet enclosures online. You can also consider how you want your cat to enter the catio, such as through a cat door in a wall, window, or door. Some catio plans are designed to be enjoyed by humans too, with space for seating.

Here are some catio plans to get your ideas flowing!
https://spca.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/DIY-Window-Catio.pdf
https://spca.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/DIY-Enclosed-Porch-Catio.pdf
https://spca.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/DIY-Stand-Alone-Catio.pdf
https://spca.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/DIY-Catio-Extras.pdf

07/08/2024

**UPDATE: An internet connection had been restored.**

ATTENTION CLIENTS!!!

We are experiencing some issues with our Wi-Fi internet connection . Our phone system is web based so our phones are not working correctly at this time. You can call and leave a message if needed, and we will get back to you as soon as possible. We are working hard with our IT team fix the problem. Everything else should flow normally, if you have an appointment scheduled please still come at your scheduled time.

Thank you for your understanding.

-Your Rustebakke Team

07/08/2024

Keep your pets entertained this summer with some new games!

TREASURE HUNT
Keep your pet's senses sharp with a treasure hunt just for them. Just hide plenty of treats throughout your backyard or inside your house, using a range of spaces within reach. Placing them at different heights too. If your pet is new to this game, look to hide treats that are relatively easy to find. Once you're ready to begin, show them to their first treat and continue to encourage them to find the others. A simple "find the treat" command should suffice to get your pet's tail wagging. This is a great way to introduce your dog to the sport of scent work, which involves locating hidden target odors.

WATER GAMES
Many dogs enjoy water games in the backyard. A great way to do this is to set up a kid’s sturdy pool in the yard and fill it with water so they can splash about in. A sprinkler works great watch your dog run back and forth with happiness as they cool down. Fill a bucket full of water and let you pup play with a few balls as they take them out of the bucket. *Remember to always supervise your dog around bodies of water.*

BACK YARD AGILITY
Building your own agility course in the backyard or in your living room can be a fun way to give your dog or cat some mental and physical exercises. Walk your dog or show your cat through the course and have him jump through a hula hoop, or hop over one or two rolled-up blankets, or weave through some little mini cones. Building an agility course doesn’t need to be expensive. You can use everyday objects that you can find around your home. Just be creative, and let your imagination run wild. Here are some household objects to start with: old blankets, pillows, towels, hula hoop, large open-ended box, kitchen stair, stool, a pole on two boxes, ball, frisbee, and more!

SITTING ON THE PATIO
Research has found spending time outdoors with your pets has really increased the bond between the two. We are also healthier for being active outdoors and enjoying the summertime weather. After being active, relax on the deck or patio with your pup enjoying a cool drink of your favorite refreshments and a frozen pet treat from our shared recipes!

07/03/2024

The following are 5 easy at home frozen treat recipes you can make for your dog to help cool down this summer:

BUT Before heading to the kitchen, there are a few ingredients you should always avoid when baking for your pets. NEVER put xylitol (an artificial sweetener that can sometimes be found in peanut butter), raisins, grapes, or chocolate in your dogs’ treats!

1. Peanut Butter and Fruit Freezies

Ingredients:
1 cup berries (strawberries, blueberries or raspberries)
¼ cup water
A few tablespoons of peanut butter that doesn’t contain xylitol (check the label!)
Directions:
Wash and clean fruit (cut tops off strawberries)
Puree fruit in a blender with water
Place fruit puree in an ice cube tray or silicone mold, filling ¾ of the way
Add a small amount of peanut butter to each mold
Freeze until completely frozen

2. Fruit and Yogurt Freezies
Ingredients:
1 cup fruit (berries, apple, melon, banana, pineapple)
Remember: NO GRAPES!
1 cup Greek or plain yogurt
Directions:
Clean and prep fruit – dice fruit to small pieces that will fit into the ice cube tray
Place diced fruit into ice cube trays or silicone mold
Fill mold with yogurt
Freeze until completely frozen

3. Cantaloupe Ice Cream
Ingredients:
2 cups frozen, diced cantaloupe
2 tbsp plain yogurt
Directions:
Clean, dice and freeze cantaloupe
Place cantaloupe into a food processor with yogurt and blend until smooth
Serve frozen. Optional: top with some of your dogs’ kibble!

4. Frozen Banana Bites
Ingredients:
1 banana
1 ½ cups watermelon
1 cup pineapple
Directions:
Puree watermelon and pineapple
Slice banana
Place banana into silicone mold or ice cube tray
Fill mold to top with the watermelon/pineapple puree
Freeze until solid

5. Frozen Kong
Pre-made cheese-like aerosol products or peanut butter can be used to fill the Kong and then freeze, or you can make your own delicious mixture! Following are a few examples:
Cheese Kong: 1 cup of boiled potato, ½ cup plain cottage cheese, ½ cup low-fat cheese
Fruit Kong: 1 banana, 1 cup yogurt, 1 tsp. honey
Chicken and carrot Kong: 1 cup cooked sweet potato, handful of shredded, boiled chicken, handful of cooked carrots, 1 tbsp. yogurt

07/01/2024

SUMMER SAFETY FOR HORSES

Keep Your Horse Hydrated. Always make sure your horse has access to clean drinking water, for most horses, this means drinking at least eight to ten gallons of water a day. However, as the temperature increases, your horse can lose a significant amount of water through their sweat and may need to drink more to stay hydrated.

Use Sun Protection. Just like people, horses can get sunburned. The pink areas around your horse’s eyes and muzzle are at the greatest risk, and it’s essential to reduce your horse’s UV exposure when possible. Sunscreen with zinc oxide can effectively block UV radiation. Another great option to protect sensitive areas is a fly mask with built-in UV protection.

Prevent Heat Exhaustion. As the temperatures rise, so does your horse’s risk of heat exhaustion. Also known as heat stress. Heat exhaustion occurs when environmental conditions cause your horse’s body temperature to rise above 103 F. When this occurs, horses can experience elevated heart rate, an elevated respiratory rate, profuse sweating, and lethargy. Heat exhaustion can also increase your horse’s risk of dehydration and colic. To reduce your horse’s risk of heat exhaustion, avoid exercising your horse during the hottest parts of the day and look for shade when possible. You may also need to adjust your ride time, and intensity as your horse acclimates to the warmer weather. If your horse becomes overheated, you can use cool water to help bring their body temperature down. A re**al thermometer can also be useful for monitoring your horse’s temperature. Seek out veterinary care if you feel your horse may be experiencing heat exhaustion.

Stay on Top of Your Horse’s Preventative Care
During the summer months, you may be traveling to horse shows or getting together for a relaxing trail ride with friends. While these are great opportunities to make memories with your horse, they can also put your equine companion at increased risk of disease. Before traveling or socializing with new horses, make sure your horse is up to date on their vaccines. Some facilities and events will also require your horse to have a negative Coggins test and health certificate.

06/28/2024

SUMMER PET DANGERS MINI SERIES PART 2

SWIMMING & POOL SAFETY!

You may be thinking, "really, swimming and pool safety, all dogs can swim instinctively!" While this may be somewhat true, instincts do kick in during survival, dogs are like people, not all of them like the water or are great swimmers. If you have a pool, or are going to a river or lake, here are some safety tips for your four-legged besties:

1. Find a doggie lifejacket! For the dogs who don't love to swim, or just aren't great at it, a doggie lifejacket would be a great idea to keep them safe when they hanging out poolside or on the beach. You'll be able to safely get them in the water to cool off without having to worry about them having trouble swimming.
2. Have a safety measures in place. Make sure you have an enclosure around your pool to keep your pet(s) from trying to wander around your pool, or swim in it when you aren't there to supervise. A solid pool cover, and pet-friendly pool ladders, ramps, or stairs, are great safety tools as well to use and train your dog how to safely get in and out of the pool.
3. Wash off those chemicals! If you treat your pool with any kind of chemicals, even salt water pools, make sure you are giving your pup a good rinse off after they are done swimming. The chemicals in the pool water can cause skin irritation like redness, dryness, itching, or flaking. The subsequent chewing and scratching can lead to a skin infection and a visit to the veterinarian.
4. Always SUPERVISE around water. Please be super conscience of your dog's energy level especially when swimming and retrieving from water. Dogs want to please their owners, and in doing so will keep bringing a ball or stick back even after they have spent their energy. If you are throwing something to be retrieved into water, and your pet is struggling, please stop throwing the item. Although your dog may seem to want to continue, it is your responsibility to keep them safe and know when they need a break.

You and your pet can have a ton of fun in the water this summer whether it's at the beach, on a boat, or in your backyard. Just remember, safety is the number one rule around water for EVERYONE.

06/26/2024

Summer Pet Dangers Mini Series!

Over the next couple of weeks, we are going to post some things to keep in mind and watch for as our summer temperatures begin to climb. Keep your eye out for these super educational pieces, and on your pets, as sometimes these dangers can sneak up on ya!

DEHYDRATION AND HEAT STROKE

Dehydration and heatstroke are very real threats when the dog days of summer are upon us. Animals should always have fresh, clean water available, whether it’s summer or the dead of winter. Carry portable water bowls on walks and if or when you take them on vacation or long car rides. Short-nosed dogs, like pugs, Japanese chins and bulldogs, pets with dark fur or skin, animals that are overweight or ones that have thick coats (like Himalayan or Persian cats), are especially prone to heat stress. Watch out for these symptoms:

-Excessive lethargy
-Decreased urination
-Dry gums
-Refusal to eat
-Sunken eyes
-Weak or off-balance
-Decreased skin elasticity (Gently pinch your pet’s skin near the shoulder up into the shape of a tent. If the skin is slow to snap back, your pet may be dehydrated).

NEVER LEAVE YOUR PET(S) IN A VEHICLE - Vehicles can reach temperatures over 150 degrees in the summer very quickly. Please don't ever leave your pet in the vehicle, in the summer months especially, as this can cause heatstroke and death.
AVOID HOT SAND AND PAVEMENT - If it's hot too hot to the touch, it will be too hot for your pets paws as well!
LIMIT EXERCISING YOUR PET(S) DURING THE HOTTEST PART OF THE DAY, AND WAIT FOR COOLER TEMPERATURES!

Panting is how pets cool themselves off. The hotter a pet is the more it will pant. Usually this is a good sign that they are working to cool themselves down. However, if it unusually heavy and continues over a longer than normal period of time, contact your veterinarian right away for an appointment.

Other ways to cool your pup include fans, ice packs, frozen treats, ice cubes, kiddie pools and sprinklers. Your kids and dog will have a blast.

06/24/2024

The first days of summer are finally here! Make sure that you get your flea and tick medications before you venture out to the great outdoors! You can pickup Bravecto from our office, and Nexgard is easily ordered through our online pharmacy.

Please let us know if you need any assistance ordering by calling the clinic. Below is a link to our online pharmacy where you can have the medication autoshipped each month straight to your home.

https://vetsource.com/pet-owners/?sc=po

06/23/2024

Just a REMINDER, that we have switched our patient portal and texting communications to AllyDVM as of June 1st. If you haven't had the chance to download or explore this new program, please do so because there are a lot of new options for our clients to utilize.

You will need to use the email you have provided to the clinic as a log in to access all of your pets records, and use the following link to get set up on your smartphone or computer.

https://practices.allydvm.com?practice=rustebakke

06/23/2024

We have some escapees on Van Arsdol Street in Clarkston. Does anyone recognize these fugitives? If so call Dr. Rustebakke or Asotin County Sheriff Dispatch at 509-758-2311

06/22/2024

06/20/2024

DID YOU KNOW: July 5th is the busiest day of the year for animal shelters across the country. Why? Many dogs (and some cats, although not as commonly) experience a fear of loud noises ("noise phobia"). July 4th is often celebrated with fireworks and loud noises that trigger a fear response in some dogs. Some dogs become so fearful of the noise that they try to run away from it, including escaping and running as fast as they can away from the noise. This is why our shelters are so busy on July 5th!

Depending on the type of animal you have and the severity of their fear, here are some signs of pet noise phobia:

Hiding
Trembling or shaking
Seeking out the owner
Urinating or defecating
Pacing/Panting
Chewing
Digging
Barking or howling

How can you calm your dog's fear of loud noises?
Your pet may be comforted by being in a smaller, confined space such as a crate (if they are accustomed to a crate), a bedroom, closet, or bathroom. Play soothing music or turn on the TV for your pet. Human company helps, but try not to over-indulge your pet with sympathy. Give your pet attention and act like everything is normal!

Never Use Punishment
Under NO circumstances should punishment be used when you are helping your pet overcome noise or storm phobias, especially if there has been physical damage that occurred while you were away. Punishment only serves to increase the pet’s anxiety and fear. Keeping your pet calm and relaxed is a requisite part of helping your pet(s) overcome their anxiety.

Wraps & Shirts
Some dogs respond well to the various capes and wraps available, including Anxiety Wrap (anxietywrap.com), and Thundershirt (thundershirt.com). The Anxiety Wrap and Thundershirt are designed to apply gentle pressure to the dog’s torso, resulting in fear reduction by maintaining “swaddling” pressure and applying acupressure.

Some medications have also proven useful in calming the pet during stressful noise events. If you would like to further discuss these options, please give us a call. If your pet normally takes prescription medication for noise phobia and you need a refill, please allow a 24 business hours notice for us to prepare the medication refill for you.

06/17/2024

**SUMMER PROMOTION**

SPAY AND NEUTER DISCOUNTS ALL SUMMER!

Call today to schedule your pet(s) to get spayed or neutered and enjoy $10, $15, or $20 off!

(509) 758-0955.

06/16/2024

Happy FURther's day! We hope everyone can take some time to enjoy and celebrate with family and friends today.

-Your Rustebakke Staff

06/15/2024

We look forward to seeing you in the future! Thank you for your review!

★★★★☆ "They were excellent. They got me in on a emergency and were very accommodating! Staff was wonderful I would have given them five stars but I've only been there one time but I will continue to patronize this veterinarian"

06/11/2024

Happy Tuesday Friends!!

We have a new entrance for our Large Animal Clients!

Since we now have five great doctors on staff, we’ve been working very hard to create a space for them to make private calls and complete important paperwork. In doing so, we are experimenting with new routes of entry, and have also added a technician/receptionist to help you with all of your questions, medications, and check-ins!

All of our clients will please enter the building through the North/main entrance for appointment check-ins and anything you may need for your large or small animals needs. If someone is not at the Large Animal desk to assist you, please inquire at the main front desk.

We are hoping this will provide all of our clients with the best customer service possible. We appreciate your grace while we try our best to give you all the best quality care at your visit from check-in to check-out.

06/08/2024

My partner in crime today!!! Zippy girl came out to hang with me ♥️

PS - it’s because I’m her favorite!

PSS - 🤫 Don’t tell the other staff because they will be jealous! 😂

Happy Caturday friends!

06/05/2024

Are you looking for a job?! We are hiring!!

06/04/2024

Tis' the season for adventures and outdoor activities! Please make sure your pet has their vaccines up-to-date and flea and tick medications on board as you head out to your summer time fun.

You can call or text us at anytime to see if and when your pet(s) are due for any vaccines, and to grab some flea an tick medication.

Call or text (509) 758-0955.

06/03/2024

With Independence Day right around the corner, don't forget there are things you can do to help your pet(s) feel more comfortable during the celebrations. Loud noises and extra guests can add to making your pet(s) feel more anxious and not entirely their normal, lovable selves. Call our office to see how we can help your four-legged family members feel more at ease during the holiday.

05/31/2024

We have a new communication and patient portal for you to utilize! It is live now, so please use the following links to download the new app! There is an android version and an Apple version. This program will take the place of OttoFlow, which we will no longer be using as of today.

Apple Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/petpage-by-allydvm/id6443568264

Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.allydvm.ast

Also if you have a few minutes (literally) this short video will give you a brief overview on how to use the mobile app version of AllyDVM. You will need to use the email you have on your account with us at the clinic. If you need to verify the email on your account with us, or update it, please contact us so we can make this a smooth transition and you can start using AllyDVM today!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwkY1dlbrfE

05/24/2024

We will be closed on Monday May 27th, to observe Memorial Day.

Today, and everyday, we would like to honor our fallen heroes and extend our gratitude, respect and highest regard to the brave souls who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. May their courage inspire us to live with purpose and with kindness.

05/20/2024

Let's see all of those cute doggos! Post a photo below 😍

05/18/2024

We are so excited for June 1st! We are upgrading our communication services to AllyDVM, which will replace the OttoFlow program that we currently use. There will be new features including up-to-date vaccination records you can easily access whenever you need to through the app, we will still be able to communicate via text, and so many other features we are excited to utilize and make our communication with our clients even better.

As the date gets closer to switch over to AllyDVM, we will have more information on the downloadable app and we will be able to help with any questions that may come up.

We are really looking forward to this upgraded communication platform as it will help further our goal to provide our clients with the best possible service(s) with our clinic.