About Beartooth Animal Hospital

Beartooth Animal Hospital is the longest continually operating veterinary facility in Red Lodge, Montana.

Since the 1960s, this building has stood as a cornerstone of care for families, ranchers, and their animals.

“We never wanted to replace anything. We wanted to keep what made this place special and help it grow.”
Dr. Ellis Farstvedt

From Colorado to Red Lodge: A Family Story

Dr. Ellis Farstvedt and Dr. Mandi Holland met while working at and attending Colorado State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Ellis was completing his equine surgical residency and Masters Degree in Clinical Sciences, and Mandi was finishing her veterinary degree. They connected over a shared passion for equine performance medicine and a belief that good veterinary care starts with honesty. Early in their careers, they worked at Turf Paradise Racetrack in Phoenix, Arizona, where Mandi specialized in Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse sports medicine and Ellis continued advanced surgical work. Later, they moved to Bozeman, Montana, joining Copper Spring Ranch, where they began shaping the mobile sports medicine model that would evolve into Performance Equine Veterinary Services. They built Beartooth the old-fashioned way. In 2012 they launched their equine practice, then came to Red Lodge the following year with two small kids and a plan that fit the realities of a ranch town.

“We all lived in an RV out in the back of John Beug’s hayfield… That’d be… summer of 2013… First summer, we lived in the RV, then we purchased a home… in 2014.”
Dr. Ellis Farstvedt

When the old small-animal clinic sat empty, Ellis and Mandi reopened it with the help of Heather Graber and started building from almost nothing.

“We started with very minimal supplies and materials. Now we have pretty much high-end, state-of-the-art everything.”
Dr. Ellis Farstvedt

What Beartooth looks like today

• Full small-animal care with modern equipment and visiting specialists when needed
• A local team that adds capacity with contract veterinarians during busy seasons
• An equine connection through Performance Equine for sports medicine and elective referral surgeries

We keep small-animal services in town and connect equine cases to the right setting when advanced procedures are needed.

Carrying a Legacy Forward

Beartooth Animal Hospital continues a Red Lodge legacy that began nearly 60 years ago.

Mid-1960s to 1974

Dr. Andy Elting, a former Colorado State University instructor, founded the original Red Lodge veterinary practice. He balanced teaching, writing, and veterinary work, a sign of the thoughtful, community-minded care this clinic would become known for.

1974 to 2019

In 1974, Dr. John and Sue Beug purchased the practice and renamed it Red Lodge Veterinary Clinic. For 45 years, they cared for pets, livestock, and working horses across Montana and many neighboring states. Their compassion and steady commitment became the foundation that Beartooth proudly builds upon.

“We are proud to continue what John and Sue built. They cared deeply for this community, and we are honored to keep that going.”
Dr. Ellis Farstvedt

2019 to Present

Encouraged by the Beugs and longtime clinic manager Heather Graber, Ellis and Mandi reopened the practice as Beartooth Animal Hospital. Their goal was simple: to continue the Beugs’ family-first tradition while maintaining advanced diagnostics, surgical care, and equine expertise through Performance Equine Veterinary Services.

Heather Graber remains a vital part of the team, guiding daily operations with the same honest approach clients have trusted for years.

Dr. Tari Isham joined in 2020, expanding Beartooth’s capabilities and deepening its connection to the Red Lodge community. Our clients value Dr Isham’s unique ability to administer acupuncture treatments. Dr. Isham was an original part of our start-up team but has since dedicated more of his time to their family ranch in Clyde Park, MT. He currently serves our team as a relief veterinarian.

Dr. Carla Barker joined our team late in 2021 and has been a critical foundation for our small animal practice. She is very talented at listening to her clients and addressing their concerns with compassionate, knowledgeable care. Dr. Barker enjoys solving complex dental problems and diagnosing complicated medical conditions.

Dr. Bryna Schuchhardt comes to us from Park City, MT to help us primarily on Thursdays. She has been a part of our team since 2003. Bryna enjoys her time spent in the small animal surgery room and diagnosing patients. We are also thankful for her ranching background and ability to help with general equine practice.

Family and Community at the Heart

Ellis and Mandi live in Red Lodge with their children, Logan and Averi. After years of traveling between Montana, Arizona, and Alaska, they have built a life where family and practice are intertwined. Their kids grew up on horses, in the outdoors, and helping with medical care, learning the same principles their parents live by, honesty, compassion, and hard work.

“Veterinary medicine is not just a job. It is a relationship with animals, with people, and with this community.”
Dr. Mandi Holland

At Beartooth Animal Hospital, that sense of family extends to every client and patient who walks through the door.

Our Shared Philosophy

We believe veterinary medicine should always be personal and transparent. Whether we are treating a ranch dog, a show horse, or a barn cat, the process is the same: understand the problem, explain it clearly, and fix it with integrity.

“Good veterinary medicine is about trust. You earn that by showing up, telling the truth, and doing the right thing for the patient.”
Dr. Ellis Farstvedt

That principle connects Beartooth Animal Hospital and Performance Equine Specialists; two practices built on the same foundation of honesty and experience.

Continuing the Tradition

Our team is proud to represent both the history and the future of veterinary medicine in Red Lodge. From wellness visits to complex surgeries, we bring modern capability to a community that still values personal connection.  To learn more about our services, visit the Services Overview page or reach out through the Contact page to schedule an appointment.