Pueblo West native Bryan McDonald discusses how he started his practice as a mobile vet amid COVID

May 18—Bryan McDonald, a Pueblo West native always knew a regular 9-to-5 in an office was not the kind of life he desired.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, he knew becoming a mobile vet was his calling.

McDonald grew up on a cattle ranch, graduated from Pueblo West High School, earned his undergraduate degree in biology and Spanish from Colorado State University Pueblo, then went on to Colorado State University for graduate school.

After graduating and moving back to his hometown, McDonald started his own practice. Formerly known as Hamann-McDonald Veterinary Services, McDonald rebranded his mobile veterinary practice and is now Prairie Mountain Veterinary Services.

Starting a business is tough as is, but starting a mobile business amid a pandemic, McDonald noted, was ironically perfect timing.

"Vet school — they prepared me to be a fantastic doctor," McDonald said. "But starting a business is something they don't really teach you. So, it was a lot of trial and error. But I think one of the (benefits) of me being mobile, is that the pandemic wasn't able to hinder me quite as much."

Working solo, McDonald followed the standard social distancing policies and had protective equipment.

And because he specializes in large animal medicine, lameness, surgery and herd health management, limiting contact wasn't a difficult task.

"A lot of the animals I work with are farm animals on a ranch," McDonald said. "So, we're out in the open and I got to avoid a lot of that. It made it a little easier for me.

"But by no means, was starting a business quite what I expected. In the end I think it's worked out and I'm glad I've been able to help so many people."

While specializing in large animal medicine throughout his education, McDonald worked frequently with horses, cattle, goats and sheep.

Growing up on a cattle farm though, it made sense for McDonald to also specialize in herd health management.

"A lot of the cattle herds out here, I feel like, have kind of been without a lot of guidance," McDonald said. "There aren't a lot of vets who have kind of pushed newer methods or given (ranchers and producers) direction on what things can be done better."

McDonald noted the experience has been fun, having conversations with different ranchers and producers about how they can make themselves more profitable and marketable to different niche groups of agriculture.

While his specialty is in all large animal medicine, McDonald said his favorite aspect of the job is working in equine medicine and lameness.

"I thoroughly enjoy working up diseases in horses," McDonald said. "You're not sure what's wrong with them, but their gate is abnormal. It's a fun little investigation game we can play, trying to figure out what is really going on so we can treat it properly."

A year into his practice, McDonald is already looking to expand his services and branching into advanced areas of veterinary medicine that are not currently utilized.

"The vet I took over for and most of the vets in the area, really, don't use a lot of platelet rich plasma," McDonald said. "Biologics is the term we use, but it helps wounds heal. A lot of times in horse lamenesses and dog lamenesses as well, you can inject these biologics into their joints, tendons, sometimes even their wounds just to make them heal faster and better.

"They can come back to work sooner, they heal stronger, and it's really just an awesome way to boost the healing process besides just antibiotics and time."

McDonald also works with small animal medicine, but said he limits himself on what he can do. Currently, he performs vaccinations, wellness exams and takes sick calls.

"I don't have always have the equipment to handle small animal surgery per say," McDonald noted. "I can anesthetize horses and cows and lay them down to do pretty much any type of surgery. But with dogs, it's a little more finite if you will, in the materials that we need and to sedate them and run them under gas anesthesia.

"So, right now I am limiting my care. Coughs, ear infections, eye infections, lacerations — those are all things that I can comfortably treat out in the field. But, if I feel that they can get better service by going to a hospital, I will always refer them."

Atop being able to work through the pandemic, McDonald's practice has had the advantage of staying busy throughout the year because several vet clinics are not accepting new patients.

"It's a quick and easy way to kind of avoid the whole hassle of going out into public and risk coming in contact with other people," McDonald noted. "Mobile services have always been a good idea in my mind, but now more than ever, it's just one less step. You can just stay home and have the work come to you."

McDonald's services expand throughout Pueblo County, Westcliffe, Walsenburg and even to Colorado Springs.

While there are perks to the job, there are also downfalls, McDonald said. While he is able to visit different places all over the state, he does work alone and often has to make hard decisions about which cases to prioritize.

"The best part of my job, I think, is to get out and see this wonderful state we live in and visit with people on their own properties," McDonald said. "But I can't be in two places at once. It's really tough sometimes because I am busy, and you have one emergency out on the Mesa, and another out in Pueblo West."

McDonald said in the future he hopes to solve this issue by hiring another vet to work alongside him so that he can cover more space and time because from his experience, being a mobile vet provides convenience and comfort to the animals.

"I would say the majority of people love that I can come to their home," McDonald said. "The ease of it, their animal is less stressed and more comfortable. I don't know how many dogs I've vaccinated that the owners warn me, 'Every time we go to the vet, they are kind of aggressive so just be careful.' When we are at their own home, they don't even care."

McDonald said what he hopes the community knows most about his practice is that he is there, and available.

"When you can't get into your regular vet or are considering a mobile vet, I am always available to talk to," McDonald said. "Even if I can't always get to you, I am able to relay my thoughts on something you can try. I'm always the person that is going to give you an answer, even if I can't physically be there to see you."

Prairie Mountain Veterinary services is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday through Sunday for emergencies only.

McDonald added he is available for emergency services 24/7.

Chieftain and Pueblo West View reporter Alexis Smith can be reached by email at asmith@chieftain.com or on Twitter @smith_alexis27.