Our Veterinary Blog | Animal Emergency & Referral Center of Minnesota (AERC) What is Catnip & What Does It Do to My Cat? As pet owners, we are constantly searching for new and exciting things to do with our furry companions. Most cat owners have heard of catnip and probably even tried it on their feline friend. The behavior changes in cats can be both entertaining and mysterious. I hope I am able to demystify this “magical” product […] Read More The 4 Most Common Labor Day Dangers for Pets Labor Day is a holiday that, for many, involves outdoor activities, BBQs, family fun, and being in the sun. If you’re one of these people, and you have pets, below are safety topics to help you avoid a trip to the emergency vet! 1. Heatstroke As with people, heatstroke is a life-threatening condition, but it […] Read More Tips for a Cat’s Fear-Free Vet Visit Taking your cat to the vet can be one of the most daunting tasks of cat ownership. Whether your cat hides under the middle of the bed or turns into the Tasmanian Devil, it can become a very frustrating experience for both you and the cat. Then frustration becomes frenzy as the appointment time approaches, […] Read More Why It’s Important To Vaccinate Pets Most people are aware that veterinarians recommend vaccinations for their pets. Given the debate surrounding human vaccines, some pet owners may be asking: why vaccinate? Here are five reasons that vaccines are important for your furry companion. 1. Disease prevention – Vaccines are proven to reduce the rate of infection and severity of illness for […] Read More When to Bring Your Pet to the ER Vet As an emergency critical care veterinary specialist, I see a lot of dogs and cats coming into the animal ER. Some are true emergencies, and could have died without coming in, and others are more stable but the pet owner wasn’t able to get into their veterinarian. First off, it’s important to have some things […] Read More Asphalt Safety For Dog Paws Taking your dog for a walk on a nice sunny day in mid-summer can be a lot of fun and great exercise for your pet. But a nice walk or outdoor event can lead to injury and a possible trip to the emergency room if you are unaware of the dangers lying just under your […] Read More Prevent Your Pets from Overheating Summertime is the best time of year! We tend to be more active during the summer months and try to soak in as much time outside as we can here in Minnesota. This also typically means having our pets enjoy more time outside as well. However, even in the Bold North, we can reach high […] Read More Sun Protection Do’s and Don’ts for Pets If you witnessed or strongly suspect your pet ate or was topically exposed to sunscreens or lotions with toxic ingredients like salicylates, zinc oxide, and toxic essential oils, these are considered “ORANGE” – or urgent cases – on our Fast Track Triage system. We recommend calling ASPCA Animal Poison Control at 888-426-4435 for help determining […] Read More Chemotherapy and Quality of Life in Dogs and Cats “I could never put Spike through chemotherapy.” “I don’t want Bella to suffer.” “I’m more focused on his quality of life.” We often hear statements like these from worried pet owners whose dogs or cats have recently been diagnosed with cancer. There are many different types of cancer, and treatment recommendations can include […] Read More 5 Summer Treats for Your Dog With summer and the warmer weather here, it is important that your dog does not get overheated. Brachycephalic (smooshed face) breeds and breeds with thick hair coats can be at an especially high risk of overheating in the hot months. This may make you wonder “What can I give my pup to cool down?” There […] Read More Older Posts Newer Posts
Veterinary Emergency & Urgent Care
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