August business recognition goes to Veterinary Services

The Imperial Chamber of Commerce has awarded the August Business of the Month to Veterinary Services located on Highway 61.
The vet service is available to take care of most large animals and pets alike.
“Cattle are predominately the majority of large animals that we see,” said veterinarian and co-owner Dr. Troy Worth.
Dr. Nicole Hendricks is the other co-owner and resident exotic animal vet, Worth said.
“I’ve neutered a pet rat, spayed a pot bellied pig, trimmed the beak on a parrot, trimmed nails on a flying squirrel and neutered pet rabbits and guinea pigs, to name a few,” Hendricks said. “I’ve never had to do anything with a snake though.”
Worth said they have seen an increase in more pet goats and sheep—not a part of herds of these animals.
Hendricks is also the only vet on staff who performs a corrective procedure for dogs called a Cranial Cruciate Ligament rupture. (This is the equivalent to a torn ACL in humans.)
Worth also has a specialty where he does chiropractic work on horses and dogs, he said.
“Our large animal care covers an average of about a 50-mile radius,” Worth said.
Two associate veterinarians, Dr. Jake Johnson and Dr. Meghan O’Callaghan, are on staff as well providing care for pets and livestock along with Hendricks and Worth for surrounding towns, he said.
Birds of a feather
All four veterinarians on staff graduated from Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, one of the largest veterinary research facilities in the nation.
“Nicole and I were actually classmates at Iowa State vet school, not realizing at the time we would someday be business partners,” Worth said as Hendricks nodded in agreement.
Veterinary Services has been serving clients for over 30 years, being first established in the 1980s by the late Dr. Lex Thompson and Dr. Dave Johnsen.
Worth became a business partner with Thompson in 2014, and Hendricks purchased Johnsen’s half of the business in 2019 following his retirement.
The four doctors on staff are available for any livestock and pet care needs.
Supporting staff for the vet clinic are Candace Cayer, vet technician; Sarah Kitt, vet assistant; Mikaela O’Brien and Susan Kunnemann, both secretaries.
Also working with staff are four part-time high school kennel helpers and one or two part-time seasonal help with large animals, Worth said.
Although not part of the Veterinary  Services staff, two pet groomers rent space for their grooming businesses.
Worth and his wift, Angie, have three children: Hayden, Hadley and Henley.
Hendricks and her husband, Chad, have two children, named Lane and Clay.
Johnson and his wife, Alex,  have two children, Sophie and Henry.
Clinic hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday.
Emergency service is available 24 hours a day by calling the office at 308-882-4838.
“We are hard at it serving the community,” said Worth.
Customer appreciation lunch
Worth wanted to invite the community to a Veterinary Services customer appreciation lunch at the Imperial Inn on Thursday, Aug. 19, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.