Our Veterinary Blog | Animal Emergency & Referral Center of Minnesota (AERC) Back to School Pet Toxins and Hazards It’s time for a new school year! Whether your student is returning to in-person classes or continuing at-home learning options, remember that many school supplies, as well as common items found in backpacks and lunchboxes, can be toxic or hazardous to our pets. Please carefully review this list of potential pet toxins and dangers to be extra cautious of this […] Read More Reactivity in Dogs | Part III: Tips and Tricks If you haven’t read Part I or Part II, please do so before proceeding. Part III, our final part of our Reactivity in Dogs blog series, provides specific tools that I have used to help reduce or manage my dog’s reactivity. Your mileage may vary. Positive Training Many of Polo’s behaviors can be managed by training with […] Read More Reactivity in Dogs | Part II: Resources If you haven’t read Part 1 of this blog, you can do so here. Owning a reactive dog will suck the life out of you – quickly! With 34 years of experience in veterinary medicine, I thought I was prepared to take on a dog like Polo, but I was wrong. Triggers There are as many types of […] Read More What to Expect for Your Pet’s First Ophthalmology Appointment Like a human ophthalmologist, a veterinary ophthalmologist specializes in all things eye-related! Of course, veterinary ophthalmology is a bit different than human medicine – after all, pets can’t outright say if they have blurry vision or if they are experiencing pain, and they certainly can’t read letters off a chart for a lens prescription! Eye […] Read More Reactivity in Dogs | Part I: The Myth of the Good Dog Meet Polo We didn’t know Polo was reactive and aggressive until we’d owned him about a week. We’d taken our family of four, plus our little dog Sally, to meet him at the adoption center. He’d loved everyone – wagging his tail happily, chasing and playing with Sally. I’ve worked in veterinary medicine for over […] Read More Zante Currant Toxicity in Pets If you witnessed or strongly suspect your pet ingested grapes, raisins, or Zante currants, this is considered an “ORANGE” – or urgent case – on our Fast Track Triage system. We recommend calling ASPCA Animal Poison Control at 888-426-4435 for help determining if your pet consumed a toxic amount and for guidance on what to […] Read More Top 5 Preventable Pet ER Visits We see a lot of distinct types of pet emergencies working in an animal emergency hospital. While many of these cases are unforeseeable, some pet emergencies are preventable! Back in January of 2021, Dr. Anna Morrow, one of our emergency veterinarians, joined us on Facebook Live to discuss the top five preventable pet ER visits and what pet owners can do to ensure these emergencies don’t happen to their […] Read More Sand Impaction in Dogs: What Happens When Your Dog Eats Too Much Sand It’s summer, and that means it’s time to hit the beach! For many dog parents, Fido comes along for some fun in the sun. But before you start packing your beach bag, it’s important to be aware of the risks that come with visiting sandy beaches and outdoor play areas. While many dog owners know the dangers of overheating, as well as water dangers such as blue-green algae, water […] Read More Fireworks and Pets If your pet is burned or wounded by fireworks and explosives or is experiencing seizures or tremors after ingesting explosive materials or debris, these are considered a “RED” – or true emergency – on our Fast Track Triage system. We advise you to seek immediate veterinary care. Please call ahead of your arrival so the […] Read More Four Common Houseplants that are Toxic to Cats and Dogs If you witnessed or strongly suspect your pet ingested a toxic plant, this is considered an “ORANGE” – or urgent case – on our Fast Track Triage system. We recommend calling ASPCA Animal Poison Control at 888-426-4435 for help determining if your pet consumed a toxic amount and for guidance on what to do next. […] Read More Older Posts Newer Posts
Veterinary Emergency & Urgent Care
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