Zoetis Highlights Rural Veterinary Care Challenges
The company launched the third season of its video series addressing widespread shortages of large-animal veterinarians.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Veterinary Medicine
Live Poll
Is access to large-animal veterinary care in your community getting better or worse?
Zoetis premiered the third season of its documentary series Born of the Bond in Livingston, Montana, to spotlight the shortage of large-animal veterinary care across the U.S. The series examines how rural clinics navigate staffing demands and the ongoing difficulty of maintaining 24/7 emergency services.
Why it matters
Managing 24/7 on-call emergency services is cited as the primary driver for veterinarians leaving rural practices. Programs focusing on recruitment, mentoring, and loan repayment are essential to addressing these gaps in underserved regions.
In 2025, more than 500 U.S. counties across 46 states faced large-animal veterinary care shortages. Meanwhile, 95% of graduates from the Veterinary Training Program for Rural Kansas have fulfilled their rural practice commitments.
The players
Zoetis
An American global animal health company that produces medicine and vaccinations for pets and livestock.
National FFA Organization
A national youth organization that promotes agricultural education and leadership development.
Folds of Honor
A non-profit organization that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of fallen or disabled military members.
Stillwater Veterinary Clinic
A veterinary practice located in Absarokee, Montana, that recruits new staff to meet local animal health demands.
The details
Rural clinics are utilizing internships, job shadowing, and mentoring to attract new associates, with examples such as Stillwater Veterinary Clinic recruiting new staff to meet demand. These efforts aim to counteract the high turnover rates in practices that struggle with the burden of continuous on-call availability.
Timeline
2009: Zoetis began awarding bovine veterinary practice scholarships.
2022: Zoetis began donating to Folds of Honor.
2023: Zoetis began donating to the National FFA Organization.
2025: U.S. counties experienced large-animal veterinary care shortages.
October 29, 2026: The premiere event was held in Livingston, Montana.
Culture Shift
This effort follows a pattern established by the Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act, which sought to address rural service gaps by easing the delivery of care. Such initiatives highlight a growing focus on bridging the divide between urban specialty care and the essential needs of agricultural communities.
Residents in rural counties may face longer wait times or travel further to find large-animal veterinary care due to the documented provider shortages. These recruitment programs are designed to stabilize access to essential emergency services and maintain regional agricultural health.
The takeaway
Rural veterinary practices are increasingly relying on targeted mentorship and loan repayment to maintain 24/7 care. Strengthening these programs is a critical step for communities looking to retain specialized medical support in agricultural sectors.
Further reading
Learn more about the state of the industry by visiting the Veterinary Medicine section.
More information
To watch the series and view series episodes, please visit the official website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by National Hog Farmer.
Live Poll
Is access to large-animal veterinary care in your community getting better or worse?
