It’s Not Just Cute Puppies and Kittens
Dr. Ed Powell runs the Nodaway Veterinary Clinic in Maryville, Mo. with his father, Dr. Joe, and his daughter, Dr. Natalie. The clinic deals in both large and small animals, or, as Ed says, food animals and companion animals. When Ed was younger, he didn't dream of becoming a vet, but as he got older, he knew it was his calling. Now in his 34th year of practice, Ed continues to work to provide the best care possible to the animals of Nodaway County. The job is demanding, the hours are long, and Ed is always on call, but his passion for animal welfare keeps him going.
“People will look at the job and think it’s just cute puppies and kittens, but it’s hard, messy work. It becomes your lifestyle more than just a job.” Ed spends his days running between farms, checking on cattle and making sure local farmers can sell the best product possible. “You always want your clients to be successful because it’s their livelihood.” When he's not out, he's back at the clinic treating the pets in need. It's a different type of work. “Sometimes the role of the vet is a psychologist,” Ed says. He needs to be there to help owners make tough decisions about what comes next for their pet, or even whether there is a next. Despite all the challenges and hard work, Ed says he feels energized by the job.
Dr. Ed Powell, 63, exits a cattle shoot after performing pelvic exams on heifer cows at the Nodaway Veterinary Clinic in Maryville, MO, on September 22, 2026. Dr. Ed is in his 34th year of practicing veterinary medicine at his clinic, treating both large and small animals
Dr. Ed loads a syringe with antibiotics used for treating cattle on a farm outside Maryville, Mo. Dr. Ed spends much of his time traveling to his clients farms to treat their livestock around Nodaway County.
Dr. Ed and his daughter, Dr. Natalie, check ultrasounds of cows at a farm outside of Maryville, MO, on September 23, 2026. The ultrasound allows Ed to see how each cow’s pregnancy is developing so that farmers can understand the health of the next generation of their cows. Ed says, “You always want your clients to be successful because it’s their livelihood”
Dr. Ed uses ear tags to differentiate between artificially inseminated cows and bull-bred cows at a farm outside Maryville, MO. Cows need to be identified so that the veterinarians can properly track the cows’ pregnancies.
Dr. Ed measures a heifer's pelvic bone at the Nodaway Veterinary Clinic to help farmers determine when it is safe to breed their heifers. Despite the job being messy and unpredictable, Ed says the job keeps him energized
Dr Ed stops for a moment to take a break after treating a group of cows at the Nodaway Veterinarian Clinic in Maryville, Mo. Dr Ed travels between appointments all day. Breaks can be hard to find, and many last only for a few seconds.
Dr. Ed Powell, center, works with his father, Dr. Joe Powell, and his daughter, Dr.Natalie Powell, to treat a dog in critical condition at the Nodaway Veterinary Clinic in Maryville, MO. The dog was brought into the clinic after she was found pinned underneath a fertilizer container.
Dr Ed. prepared an injection site for a dog that was brought in outside regular office hours at the Nodaway Veterinary Clinic. The clinic holds regular office hours but Dr. Ed is always on call in case of an emergency.
Gizmo the dog receives a shot of antibiotics from Dr. Joe at the Nodaway Veterinary Clinic.
Dr. Ed closes his eyes and thinks for a moment about his schedule of the next day at the clinic. He says they need more vets to make the work load more manageable but it is hard to find people suited for this type of work.
Dr Ed leaves his clinic after hours to check on the livestock he is treating. Even after the clinic closes for the day Ed stays for hours after to make sure he has seen every animal at the clinic