Rusty Ridge Animal Center

While it may not be dominating headlines, the recent confirmation of New World Screwworm in a dog in New Mexico and a few ruminants in Texas serves as an important reminder that some threats extend far beyond a single animal

This is not just another parasite

New World Screwworm is a devastating pest whose larvae feed on living tissue, causing severe wounds, infections, suffering, and even death if left untreated. While dogs and cats can be affected, the greatest concern is often for livestock, wildlife - our farmers, ranchers, producers

A single outbreak can have widespread consequences. Threats to livestock health and supply increase operational expenses, which ultimately impact the cost of beef, milk, and other products. This is a significant economic impact affecting local and national agriculture

The U.S. worked incredibly hard to eradicate New World Screwworm decades ago, which is why every suspected case is taken very seriously. Early detection and rapid veterinary intervention remain critical tools for preventing its spread

As summer travel, livestock shows, rodeos, fairs, and 4-H events ramp up, awareness becomes even more important. If you’re traveling with pets, exhibiting livestock, or spending time around animals from different regions, take a few extra moments to monitor for wounds, unusual swelling, drainage, or maggot infestations and seek veterinary attention promptly if concerns arise

Fortunately, this is not currently a local problem for our area, but preparation and awareness are some of the best defenses we have

Strong partnerships between animal owners, producers, and veterinary teams help protect not only individual animals but entire communities and industries.

Knowledge is Power!
Stay informed, stay vigilant, and enjoy a safe summer!

- Dr. Joe & the Rusty Ridge Crew

Looks like when the weather heats up, so do the emergencies!

Thank you to all of our families and their pets for their patience and understanding with the extended wait times today. From upset stomachs to unexpected injuries, it was one of those Saturdays

We’re incredibly proud of our team for rolling with the punches, keeping tails wagging, and making sure every patient received the care they needed when they needed it. It takes a special group to handle a day like today with smiles still intact

Now that the dust has settled, it’s finally time for us to dig into these homemade cinnamon buns 😍

We see plenty of interesting cases every day, but sometimes a patient comes in carrying a little extra baggage…

In this case, a 15 cm x 18 cm mass weighing just over 3 pounds was causing this pup some discomfort and was weighing her down

With some strategic planning, surgical wizardry, and a whole lot of teamwork, we were able to remove this massive pain in the back and get her a literal weight off their shoulders

From routine care to the cases that make us think a little bigger, Just another day at Rusty Ridge - there for you when your pets need you most

Wouldn’t be a normal day at Rusty Ridge without an abdominal exploratory

This happy guy came in after his appetite was a little rocky and he was having some on and off vomiting. X-rays showed a suspicious pattern that had us digging a little deeper, so exploratory surgery was recommended

Good thing his owner chose to proceed - because we uncovered quite the collection. Rocks, gravel, string, and what appeared to be enough grass clippings to maintain a respectable section of Augusta National ⛳️

Thankfully, surgery was a success and everything that didn’t belong was removed. This pup is now on the mend and will be back to running acres and acres of freedom in no time!

Coming Soon 🤗

The Wait Is Almost Over!

If you've been wondering what’s taking so long at Morris Hometown Vets, trust us—we're trying!

What started as a few unexpected twists and turns quickly became something much bigger. Instead of applying a few band-aids, we made the decision to start from the ground up. A blank slate. A fresh start. A chance to build the veterinary hospital we've always envisioned for our community

That means new mechanicals, new plumbing, new concrete, new steel, and countless hours of planning, problem-solving, and determination. Every decision has been made with one goal in mind: creating a facility that reflects what veterinary medicine should be for the families and pets of Morris

As the only locally owned veterinary hospital in Morris, nobody ever promised this journey would be easy. But nothing in life worth having is easy

What makes us especially proud is that this clinic is literally rising from the ashes through the hard work of local trades, local businesses, and local people. That's what Morris is all about—community pride, neighbors helping neighbors, and local supporting local

Have there been delays? Absolutely. Have there been moments where we wished construction moved at the speed of a greyhound chasing a squirrel? You bet

We're doing everything we can to keep things moving as quickly as possible. Of course, if anyone happens to have a winning lottery ticket, a spare pile of cash, or a few bags that accidentally fell off the back of a Brinks truck... give us a call. (Kidding. Kinda. (No but really, hit us up 😉))

The wait has been longer than any of us hoped, but we can promise you this:

From our family to yours, it will be worth it.

Thank you for your patience, your encouragement, and your support throughout this journey. We can't wait to welcome you and your pets into the next chapter of Morris Hometown Vets

The best is yet to come! 💙

This happy pup came to see us today for an surgical consultation after a rather unfortunate accident. If you met her in the exam room, you’d never guess she had a fracture - she was busy bouncing off the walls and showing off her best zoomies!

After reviewing her radiographs, we found an isolated ulnar fracture. While hearing the word “fracture” often makes people think surgery is automatically needed, that’s not always the case. Because dogs bear most of their weight through the radius, many isolated ulnar fractures can heal very well with proper alignment and external support

With a little sedation, a fracture reduction, and a stylish new splint, she was back to strutting her stuff in no time!

One of the most important parts of surgery isn’t knowing how to perform it, it’s knowing when surgery isn’t necessary. While we certainly enjoy helping patients through complex orthopedic procedures, we enjoy it even more when the best treatment plan is the least invasive one 💙

One minute this pup was playing, the next he was being rushed in after a freak accident left him unable to use his leg

X-rays revealed a tibial avulsion fracture - an injury that required surgical repair. We made sure to get this young guy into surgery quickly and give him the best chance at a smooth recovery

A few pins, a tension band, and some ortho teamwork later, he’s already starting to use the leg again!

Cases like these are a reminder that advanced surgical procedures aren’t just something you have to drive hours for or wait weeks to schedule. Providing this level of care, when pets need it most, is simply part of what we do every day at Rusty Ridge ❤️

Live look at the whole crew today 🫠

Nonstop from open to close - helping pets left and right, sprinkling in a rhinoscopy, a CT scan, and even a bloat surgery for good measure. Just your average Tuesday

As we continue growing and working toward adding more hours for our clients and patients, we’re always looking for great people to join the Rusty Ridge family. If you know an awesome Doctor or CVT looking to be part of something special, send them our way!

Just another day at Rusty Ridge - here for your pets when they need us most (powered almost entirely by caffeine)

What a crazy day that was, but around here, we wouldn’t have it any other way!

Just a friendly reminder that we will be closed on Monday, May 25th, in observance of Memorial Day

Memorial Day is more than just the start of summer or a long weekend. It’s a time to honor and remember the brave men and women who gave their lives while serving our country and protecting the freedoms we enjoy every day

From our family to yours, we hope you have a safe, meaningful, and memorable Memorial Day weekend❤️🤍💙

And because everyday is better with puppies… here you go!

We’re keeping the surgery cases rolling this week with another fascinating case

So to avoid facebook jail: ⚠️ SURGICAL PHOTOS: Viewer discretion advised ⚠️

This pup was referred to us for exploratory surgery after possibly eating a few things she definitely shouldn’t have. While we never recommend snacking on foreign objects… this may have been the one time it worked in her favor

After successfully removing the lodged items, we discovered a peculiar mass adhered to the intestines and mesentery...something that definitely shouldn’t be there

The owner approved the plan and our surgical team went to work carefully performing a resection and removal of the mass, preserving as much healthy tissue as possible along the way

And today, we received the news we were hoping for: Clean surgical margins, Non-neoplastic (meaning the mass was NOT cancerous!)

We rarely applaud our furry patients for eating things they shouldn’t… but in this case, that exploratory surgery may have happened for a very important reason. Thankfully, this pup is now on the road to a full recovery 💙