Vet Spotlight: Dr. Kade Grende
From waterfowl to big game, Dr. Grende brings his outdoor expertise to his hunting dog patients
Dr. Kade Grende: “I admire their unrelenting desire to do their job for their owner. That kind of loyalty and determination to perform at a high level is very hard to find in any other breed or species.”
Welcome to Vet Spotlight, a profile series where we highlight members in the Hunt.Vet directory.
If you’re an avid waterfowl hunter and fan of retrieving breeds, you’re in good company with Dr. Kade Grende. Co-owner of Shelley Veterinary Hospital along the Snake River in Shelley, Idaho, Dr. Grende practices smack dab in the heart of many wingshooters’ bucket list duck hunting destinations.
Dr. Grende was an early member of the Hunt.Vet directory and a big supporter of the work we do to connecting sporting dog enthusiasts with veterinarians who understand the unique needs of canine athletes. Here’s a snippet of our conversation with him.
HV: What inspired you to become a veterinarian?
HR: I became a veterinarian as part of a lifelong love of labradors and waterfowl hunting. I have a passion for medicine and combining medicine with the ability to spend time with and help sporting dogs is a win-win scenario.
HV: How did you get into working with sporting dogs specifically?
HR: My interest with sporting dogs stems from owning them myself and having an admiration for their drive and determination to complete their jobs. I also feel that across the veterinary industry there is generally a disconnect between the hunting community and veterinary medicine that would be beneficial for both parties if corrected.
HV: What kinds of sporting dog cases do you see most often in your practice?
HR: I most often see lameness cases either due to lacerations or orthopedic issues in the sporting dogs at our clinic.
HV: What’s one simple thing owners can do at home to keep their dogs healthier in the field?
HR: I think one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to ensure that the dog is hunt ready is a high quality diet and routine exercise regimen that provides a lean body condition with adequate muscle mass for their jobs.
HV: Do you have a go-to product or piece of gear you recommend to your sporting dog clients?
HR: I do not have one single go-to product that I recommend however I am a huge fan of Purina for high quality diets, and I am a firm believer in their joint health diet. I am a fan of any high quality product that protects these animals from harsh conditions - like Gunner Kennels.
HV: What’s the one sporting dog trait you admire most?
HR: I admire their unrelenting desire to do their job for their owner. That kind of loyalty and determination to perform at a high level is very hard to find in any other breed or species.
HV: Why did you join Hunt.Vet?
HR: I joined to be part of a like minded community that is focused on providing quality medicine from veterinarians who also specialize in treating sporting dogs as well as interacting with enthusiastic owners. This partnership can enhance both the health of these canine athletes as well as our understand of how best to serve the sporting dog community.
