State/Territory
Idaho
Shortage Location - Must Serve
Asotin County (Washington), and Nez Perce County (Idaho)
Shortage Location - May Serve
Garfield, or Columbia Counties (Washington) or Latah County (Idaho)
Location Center
Clarkston, WA (99403) and Lewiston, ID (83501)
VSGP Status
Open
VMLRP Status
(Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program)
Open
Priority of shortage
Critical
Fiscal year
Percent FTE
(Full Time Equivalent, based on a 40hr work week.)
30
Type of Shortage
(Veterinary Practice Area / Discipline / Specialty)
Type II Shortage: Private Practice – Rural Area Food Animal Medicine
Must serve
(minimum 50% of time)
Beef Cattle
Small Ruminant
Nominator Name
Amber Itle
Nominator Title
State Veterinarian
Nominator Org
Washington State Dept of Agriculture
Nominator Email
Nominator Phone
360-961-4129
Importance/Objectives of Veterinarian
Service by a veterinarian in this area is extremely important to the local economy, as well as the general well-being of food animals. Veterinarians are necessary to manage herd health, aid in tracking movement, providing producer education, identifying zoonotic or emerging diseases and guarding food animal safety. Livestock production, particularly cow-calf production, is robust in this area. According to NASS, beef cattle inventories in this area are vast with over 35,000 head. Additionally, there are over 8000 sheep, goats and pigs which are under-served in the region.
Veterinarians and producers in Washington report there are only 2 part time veterinarians available to do food animal work in this area. One is trying to transition to retirement while the other is already semi-retired and only offering limited farm consults. Latah county (Idaho) has no resident vets to cover production animal services and the only mixed animal clinic in Nez Perce county has lost 2 vets to retirement in the last 10 years. The saleyard in Nez Perce county has had to bring a veterinarian out of retirement to service the market on sale days to meet regulatory requirements for marketed livestock.
There is a tremendous demand for emergency services in this area which the existing practices are incapable of meeting. Producers along with backyard hobby farmers are forced to drive 1-2 hours to the WSU Veterinary School for emergency services.
Veterinarian Medical Activities & Services
Producers and other livestock owners in the community will look to the veterinarian as a trusted source of advice and expertise in the care and treatment of their animals. The veterinarian would be expected to host and/or participate in producer, 4-H, and other meetings to provide the community with updated information on animal husbandry and veterinary care.
The activities of a veterinarian in this area would include implementing vaccination and preventative health protocols, providing herd health services, and providing individual care to sick or injured farm animals. Along with the daily responsibilities of a mixed practice, the seasonality of cow-calf production means a veterinarian in this area can expect to be busier during the calving and breeding season in the spring and fall, and less busy during the summer when cattle are turned out on summer grazing pastures. In the fall when cattle are gathered off their summer pastures veterinarians will be required to perform pregnancy checks and assist in the processing (vaccinating, castrating, and deworming) of the cattle. In the spring, prior to turn out, the veterinarian can expect to be busy providing obstetrical and neonatal care (correcting dystocias, performing caesarians, replacing prolapses, and treating sick and scouring babies) for their client’s livestock. Bull breeding soundness evaluation and trich testing proficiency would also be required.
Becoming a category 2 accredited veterinarian is essential to practice in this area. Large and small producers, including back yard hobby farmers, can all require the services of an accredited veterinarian. Interstate or international movement of animals require a certificate of veterinary inspection which often has associated vaccination or testing requirements which can only be completed by an accredited veterinarian. Also, there is a sale barn in Nez Perce county Idaho which would benefit from having accredited veterinarians in the area.
Historical Efforts of Recruiting/Retaining a Veterinarian
Recruitment of food animal veterinarians has become nearly impossible for rural practices in this region of southeast Washington and Northwest Idaho because of location and salary disparity compared to small animal practices. The majority of local veterinarians providing services for food animals have been actively looking for associates or partners for many years with minimal response.
To promote long term investment in the community, many practices have offered buy in options as a way to attract veterinarians and prevent the clinic from closing, however, these efforts have proved fruitless.
Job postings in professional magazines such as JAVMA and Bovine Practitioner, advertisements in State VMA newsletter and website, and postings on job boards at veterinary meetings & veterinary colleges have proved expensive and unsuccessful. While fulfilling, offering externships, mentorships, and supporting area students interested in attending veterinary school, has also proved to be unsuccessful
Consequences of Not Securing/Retaining a Veterinarian
The shortage of veterinarians in Southeast Washington is not only impacting the care of food animals and the production of safe food from these animals, but it is also greatly taking its toll on the mental and physical health of the current vets providing services in the area. With a shortage of available veterinarians, producers are left with few options for obtaining veterinary services, often at the expense of animal welfare, antimicrobial resistance, and food safety. Producers attempt things beyond their skill level (correction dystocias, enucleations, inappropriate euthanasia) without pain mitigation. Animals are treated unnecessarily and inappropriately with pharmaceuticals, at incorrect dosages with no regard to withdrawals before slaughter or marketing. Veterinarians in these rural areas are the keystone to educating producers and providing the rationale for animal husbandry, immunization programs, early disease recognition and the impacts of zoonotic diseases. Veterinarians recognize and report emerging and foreign animal disease and are the agents of interstate and international livestock movement. There is a critical need for food animal veterinarians to safeguard animal health and protect the economic vitality of this agricultural region.
Idaho’s agriculture industry is estimated to generate $20 billion annually. With a population of only 1.8 million people, agriculture is both directly and indirectly the economic backbone for Idaho citizens and businesses, and especially integral to the local economies, comprising 17% of total economic output and 12.5% GDP. Idaho ranks as the #3 dairy state in the nation (NASS 2022) for cheese and milk production, as well as number of dairy cattle. Due to the state’s infrastructure, which includes food animal veterinarians, Idaho enjoys a strong export market for dairy and beef products. Food animal veterinarians are critical to maintain Idaho’s safe and wholesome food supply. Their efforts with the livestock industry are integral in preventing disease and early detection in the event of a disease outbreak. They also play an important role in educating youth to develop the next generation of livestock producers and animal health professionals. Without the assistance of federally accredited food animal veterinarians, state and federal regulatory agencies could not maintain a safe and wholesome food supply for the public and for our domestic and international trading partners.
Community Aspects
This shortage area tucked in the far southeast corner of Washington and including Nez Perce and Latah counties in Idaho is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream. With over 300 days of sunshine and mild winter weather there are plenty of opportunities to get out and enjoy the stunning scenery and participate in all manner of outdoor activities. Separated by the snake river, this area provides access to the impressive snake river Hells canyon recreation area and its 214,000 acres of wilderness. Whether you enjoy hunting, fishing, boating, hiking, biking, camping, or just relaxing and communing with nature you will find it all here.
Known for abundant forests and magnificent lakes, northern Idaho offers both adventure and relaxation. The region offers three ski resorts, big, meandering, trout-filled rivers and hundreds of miles of biking and hiking trails. Northern Idaho is also home to the International Selkirk Loop. A unique 280-mile-long scenic route winding through Idaho, Washington and Canada, the Selkirk Loop is designated as one of only 32 All-American Road National Scenic Byways in the U.S. and is one of the Top 10 scenic drives in the Northern Rockies.
Small tight knit, welcoming communities make the perfect environment for any veterinarian wanting to take root and grow within the community. You will be a trusted source of advice and expertise and a welcomed asset to the community.
Page last updated: February 6, 2025