Nutrition
Pet & Livestock Nutrition
Proper nutrition is the foundation of health for all animals, from small pets to large livestock. As animals age, their dietary needs change, and providing the right balance of nutrients is essential for growth, performance, and overall well-being. Our team can guide owners in selecting diets that meet the unique needs of their pets and livestock, helping them maintain ideal weight, prevent disease, and thrive at every stage of life.
Small Animals
A good diet is central to health. As the body ages, it requires different levels of nutrition. In general, puppies and kittens require higher protein and higher calcium levels than adults and seniors. Pet food that is labeled as a food for “all life stages” is actually puppy or kitten food, so it is only good for puppies or kittens. Adults need a lower level of nutrition, and seniors even less. Remember that cats are not small dogs. Cat food generally has far more protein than dogs need. Dogs get dog food, cats get cat food. In the United States, as with human health, the general trend if for us to overfeed our animals. Obesity in pets causes a broad range of disorders, from diabetes to heart disease to osteoarthritis. Please consult with the professional staff at JDRVC to determine the ideal weight of your pet, the appropriate amount to feed it, and how to reach a healthy weight. We carry Hill’s Science Diet pet foods to help you offer your pet high quality nutrition to meet its special needs.
Large Animals
Most of our large animals are experts at digesting forages that are not very digestible for the rest of us. Feeding high-quality forage ensures that your livestock will gain, perform, thrive, and breed back as you expect them to. Avoid feeding moldy feeds to horses, as it can cause colic, and to cattle, as it can cause abortion. Overall, feeding a good quality long-stemmed forage is important to ruminants and horses, stimulating good gut function. Adding concentrates can be effective in increasing weight gain, but over-supplementing concentrates can cause bloat in ruminants, colic, and laminitis in horses. In general, the John Day Valley bottom and out through Fox, Long Creek, and Ritter are selenium and copper-deficient, and our livestock require supplementation of these minerals. Some areas of Bear Valley and Izee have high, to even toxic, levels of selenium. Have your feed tested for its micronutrient profile. We can help you with blood and liver testing, also, which can help you determine your herd’s supplement needs. Supplying minerals means more that just feeding salt.
Office Hours
MON – FRI 8AM – 5PM
SATURDAY 8AM – 12PM
24 Hour Emergency Care
This veterinary clinic is amazing. The care that the vet staff gives is incredible. Everyone is so nice, and they truly love each pet that comes in. They have so many goodies too and anything I could ever need for my puppy. There is never a wait when I come to my appointments, they are efficient and personal. Wish I could give them 10 stars!
— Janina B
Nutrition That Keeps Animals Thriving
We work with pet and livestock owners to create nutrition plans tailored to each animal’s needs. Whether it’s determining the ideal weight for your dog or cat, selecting high-quality forage for your livestock, or identifying the right supplements for your herd, our team provides expert guidance to keep your animals healthy and thriving. From weight management to specialized diets, we’re here to make feeding your animals simple and effective.
Take the Next Step in Better Nutrition
Whether you’re caring for a family pet or managing a herd, the right diet makes all the difference. Let us help you create a plan that supports long-term health.
