WSU veterinary hospital closes to large ag animal emergencies, after hours

Washington State University’s veterinary teaching hospital has stopped accepting emergency and after-hours in-house cases for agricultural animals due to staffing shortages. The change has raised concerns among veterinarians and ranchers who rely on the hospital for advanced care and referral services.

Located on WSU’s Pullman campus, the hospital will continue to provide mobile services but has suspended around-the-clock in-hospital treatment for livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats. Equine and reproductive services remain unaffected.

The in-house large animal unit, designed for specialized care and advanced diagnostics, has seen a steady decline in cases over the years. In 2024, the hospital managed 87 agricultural animal cases compared to 2,500 small animal emergencies. Budget constraints, faculty recruitment challenges, and the demands of 24/7 coverage have made it difficult to sustain this level of service.

Veterinarians in rural areas say the closure of the in-house option eliminates a critical referral resource for complex cases. Many rural clinics lack the equipment and personnel to manage high-level care and rely on institutions like WSU for backup. Without access to advanced diagnostic tools and emergency care, rural practitioners face increased burdens — and producers must travel greater distances to find help.

The situation also underscores the nationwide shortage of large animal veterinarians, particularly those trained in food animal medicine. With fewer opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience in livestock care, concerns are growing about the preparedness of new graduates. Many students entering veterinary programs come from urban backgrounds and have limited exposure to agricultural settings. Without a functioning teaching hospital focused on large animals, veterinary students may graduate without the practical skills necessary for food animal practice.

WSU officials state that the changes do not impact the university’s veterinary curriculum. Students will continue to participate in required rotations and coursework, including ambulatory work, feedlot visits, lambing, and cattle medicine. However, the loss of the in-house large animal service marks a significant shift for the college and would make WSU the first veterinary school in the western U.S. without such a facility.

In rural communities, access to veterinary services for livestock has become increasingly limited. When veterinarians retire, many clinics close without successors to take over. The demand for services far exceeds the supply, especially in remote regions where veterinary care is essential not only for animal health but also for regulatory compliance, food safety, and market access.

Veterinarians report that producers are now transporting animals across the state — sometimes over mountain ranges — just to obtain basic care. New laws requiring prescriptions for livestock antibiotics have only added to the urgency, as many ranchers struggle to find a veterinarian who can write and fill them.

There is growing recognition that public investment is needed to support the food animal veterinary workforce. Proposed solutions include loan repayment programs, grants for rural facilities, competitive salaries, and expanded training pipelines. Without these efforts, the shortage of large animal veterinarians is expected to worsen, with serious consequences for the agricultural sector and national food security.

Despite the current limitations, WSU continues to explore funding options and strategic partnerships to eventually restore full in-house agricultural animal services. For now, rural practitioners and livestock owners are left to navigate an increasingly strained system with fewer resources and growing uncertainty.