Easily accessing a veterinarian is becoming a challenge for some rural areas. Retirement, increasing demand for veterinary services and losing new graduates to practice in more populated areas are just a few reasons for the shift.

Russ Daly, DVM, SDSU professor and Extension veterinarian, says that there’s work happening to address the need on academic, state and even national levels.

“There are things that are being done,” Daly said. “Local SDSU spin on it… we do have what we call the two plus two program, or the professional program for veterinary medicine, designed to try to keep some of the South Dakota, regional students here.”

The program, a collaborative effort between University of Minnesota and South Dakota State University, celebrated their first graduates this past spring.