Large Animal Vet Near Me: How to Find One Fast

Whether you have a sick cow at 2 a.m. or just need a routine herd health visit, finding a large animal vet near you is one of the most important things you can do as a livestock owner. The problem: large animal vets are not as common as small animal practices, and in rural areas they can be spread thin.

This guide walks you through exactly how to find a farm vet near you — fast.

What Is a Large Animal Vet?

A large animal veterinarian specializes in cattle, horses, goats, sheep, swine, and other livestock. Unlike companion animal vets (dogs and cats), large animal vets typically offer mobile farm call services — meaning they come to your property rather than you hauling animals to a clinic.

Some practices are mixed animal (both small and large), while others are large animal exclusive. If you specifically need a livestock vet, filtering for large animal exclusive or food animal exclusive practices is worth doing.

How to Find a Large Animal Vet Near You

1. Use a Specialized Directory

The fastest way is to use FarmVetGuide — a directory of 9,500+ verified large animal veterinary practices across all 50 states. You can filter by species treated, emergency availability, mobile farm calls, and USDA accreditation. Browse by your state to see all practices in your area:

• Large animal vets in Texas
• Large animal vets in Kentucky
• Large animal vets in Oklahoma
• Large animal vets in Montana
• Large animal vets in Kansas
• Large animal vets in Iowa
• Large animal vets in Nebraska
• Large animal vets in Missouri

2. Contact Your State Veterinary Medical Association

Every state has a veterinary medical association (VMA) with a member directory. Search for "[your state] veterinary medical association" — most have a searchable online directory filtered by species and practice type.

3. Ask Your Feed Store or Neighbors

In rural communities, word of mouth is often the fastest source. Feed store staff, auction barn employees, and neighboring ranchers typically know which vets are reliable and which ones actually answer emergency calls at night.

4. Check with Your County Extension Office

USDA Cooperative Extension offices often maintain local livestock resource lists, including large animal veterinary practices in the county. This is especially useful in areas where Google searches return limited results.

Emergency: Need a Large Animal Vet Right Now?

If you have a livestock emergency, time matters. Here is what to do:

1. Search FarmVetGuide filtered by emergency services — practices that offer 24/7 or after-hours on-call are flagged in the directory.
2. Call your regular vet first — even if they cannot respond, they usually have an emergency coverage arrangement with a colleague.
3. Contact the nearest veterinary school — if you are within driving distance of a land-grant university with a vet school (Texas A&M, Cornell, UC Davis, Colorado State, etc.), their teaching hospital usually offers large animal emergency services 24/7.
4. Know your livestock emergency signs — for cattle: bloat, difficult calving, injury. For horses: colic, foaling complications, lacerations. Getting a diagnosis right when you call speeds up the vet's response.

For a full guide on cattle emergencies, see: Cattle Emergency: When to Call the Vet Immediately.

What Does a Farm Call Cost?

Most large animal vets charge a farm call fee on top of the cost of services. This covers their travel time and mileage. Farm call fees vary widely by region — typically $50–$200, with rural areas sometimes higher due to distance.

For a full breakdown by state, see: Farm Call Costs by State: What Large Animal Vets Charge in 2026.

What to Look for When Choosing a Large Animal Vet

• Species experience — not all large animal vets treat all species. A primarily equine practice may have limited cattle experience. Check the species listed in their profile.
• Emergency availability — does the vet offer after-hours on-call? For livestock operations, this is critical.
• Mobile vs. haul-in — can the vet come to your farm, or do you need to haul to a clinic? For cattle especially, mobile service is usually essential.
• USDA accreditation — required for health certificates and Coggins tests if you move or sell animals across state lines. Look for USDA-accredited practices.
• Proximity — in emergencies, a vet who is 20 minutes away is more valuable than a slightly better vet who is 90 minutes away.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far will a large animal vet travel?

Most large animal vets will travel 30–60 miles for routine farm calls, often further for emergencies. Travel range varies significantly — always ask a new vet about their service area before an emergency arises.

Do large animal vets do house calls?

Yes — mobile farm call service is standard for large animal medicine. Most cattle and equine vets are primarily ambulatory (they come to you). Some have a haul-in clinic for procedures that require more equipment, but routine exams and treatments happen on-farm.

Can a small animal vet treat livestock?

Generally no. Large and small animal medicine are very different specialties, and most companion animal vets do not have the training, equipment, or legal authorization to treat livestock. You need a vet with specific large animal experience.

What if there are no large animal vets near me?

This is a real problem in many rural areas — the USDA has designated hundreds of counties as Veterinary Shortage Areas. Options include: telemedicine consultations for non-emergency issues, building a relationship with a vet who travels further for established clients, and working proactively with your county extension office to build a herd health plan before emergencies happen.