Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Your Trusted Partner for Veterinary Care in Polson, MT
Southshore Veterinary Service has been serving the Polson, Ronan, and greater Mission Valley communities for over 50 years. Our small animal practice is dedicated to providing professional and compassionate care for pets and their owners. With a combined experience of decades in veterinary medicine, our team prioritizes the health and well-being of every animal entrusted to our care. We emphasize personalized treatment plans tailored to each patients unique needs while maintaining open communication with pet owners. Our facility offers comprehensive services including routine checkups, diagnostics, surgical procedures, and emergency care guidance.We take pride in building lasting relationships with both animals and their families through consistent, empathetic service. Our doctors bring diverse backgrounds, including international veterinary education and decades of clinical practice across the United States. We continually invest in continuing education to stay current with advancements in veterinary science and technology. Our commitment extends beyond clinic walls through community education initiatives and local animal welfare partnerships. At Southshore Veterinary Service, we recognize that pets are cherished family members and strive to earn that trust daily.
Services
Small Animal Care
Emergency Services Guidance
Routine Checkups
Surgical Procedures
Diagnostic Testing
Details
- Year established: 1973
Highlights and features
- We've provided veterinary care in the Mission Valley for over 50 years
- Our team includes veterinarians with international education and clinical experience
- We offer comprehensive medical and surgical services for small animals
- Emergency service guidance available during regular business hours
- Doctors maintain active continuing education in veterinary medicine advancements
Services
Small Animal Care
Our small animal practice specializes in comprehensive medical care for household pets. We provide preventive medicine, chronic condition management, and acute illness treatment tailored to each animal's specific needs. Our approach emphasizes early disease detection and client education to promote long-term pet health while maintaining a comfortable environment for all patients.
Surgical Procedures
We perform various surgical interventions ranging from routine spays/neuters to complex soft tissue surgeries. Our fully equipped surgical suite maintains strict aseptic protocols with continuous patient monitoring throughout procedures. Doctors utilize modern anesthetic protocols and post-operative pain management strategies to ensure patient safety and comfort during recovery periods at home.
Diagnostic Testing
On-site diagnostic capabilities enable rapid assessment of pet health issues through blood work, urinalysis, and fecal testing. We also utilize advanced imaging technologies including digital radiography for internal organ evaluation. Timely results allow us to develop targeted treatment plans while minimizing patient stress during the diagnostic process for both acute and chronic conditions.
Emergency Services Guidance
While not providing after-hours emergency care, we offer critical assessment and triage guidance during regular business hours for sudden pet health crises. Our team helps determine appropriate urgency levels for situations like trauma, poisoning, or severe illness while coordinating with regional specialty facilities for after-hours care requirements across the Mission Valley area.
Routine Checkups
Regular wellness examinations form the foundation of preventive pet healthcare. Our comprehensive checkups include physical assessments, vaccination updates, parasite prevention planning, and age-specific health screenings. These visits allow early identification of potential health concerns while establishing medical baselines that help track each pet's unique wellness trajectory over time through different life stages.
People
Dr. Ulrike A. Sawall-Rodriques
Owner/Veterinarian
Dr. Sawall-Rodriques graduated from Freie Universitt Berlin after working in her family's German veterinary clinic. She joined Southshore Veterinary Service in 2002, earned U.S. veterinary licensure in 2007, and now leads the practice. Her clinical focus includes small animal medicine and surgery, with particular interest in maintaining work-life balance for pet owners through comprehensive preventive care plans.
Dr. Deborah Caldwell-Skow
Veterinarian
Dr. Caldwell-Skow earned her veterinary degree from Colorado State University in 1980. With 30 years operating a Colorado veterinary practice and Quarter Horse farm, she joined Southshore Veterinary Service in 2016. Her expertise includes mixed animal medicine with emphasis on geriatric care and client education about senior pet health management through Montana's changing seasons.
Questions
What animal species do you treat?
We specialize in small animal care for dogs, cats, and common household pets. Our equipment and expertise focus on companion animals rather than livestock or exotic species.
Are emergency services available after hours?
Currently we only provide emergency guidance during regular business hours. For after-hours emergencies, we recommend contacting regional specialty clinics directly for urgent care needs.
What locations do you serve?
Our primary service areas include Polson, Ronan, and the entire Mission Valley region. We focus on providing veterinary care to the communities surrounding Flathead Lake in Montana.
How does the clinic handle surgical procedures?
All surgical procedures occur in our sterile surgical suite using modern equipment. Patients receive continuous monitoring with individualized anesthetic plans, and we provide detailed post-operative care instructions for home recovery periods.
