Our Veterinary Blog | Animal Emergency & Referral Center of Minnesota (AERC) Indoor Cats vs. Outdoor Cats Many cat owners allow their cats to roam free outdoors. However, allowing your cat to be an outdoor cat may actually be decreasing your cat’s life expectancy. The average life span for an outdoor cat is only two to five years of age while an indoor cat’s life span can reach seventeen years of age […] Read More Tips for Taking Your Cat to the Vet We understand that the vet clinic can be a scary experience for cats. That’s why we put together a list of tips to help make your cat’s visit less stressful. At Home: Pet your cat from head to tail (like your veterinarian does) so your cat will get used to being held and touched. This includes […] Read More How to Have a Happy, Healthy Cat September is Happy, Healthy Cat Month! Cats come in all different colors, sizes, and attitudes. From playful cats who think they are dogs to grumpy cats: no two cats are alike. But most cats can agree on what makes them happy and healthy, which is all that really matters! So, how can you help your […] Read More Unusual GI Foreign Bodies (Or Things That Pets Eat That Amaze Me) If you know or strongly suspect your pet ingested a foreign body that is causing illness, this is considered an “ORANGE” – or urgent case – on our Fast Track Triage system. We recommend having your pet see your family veterinarian or local animal emergency hospital within the next 12 hours. Please call ahead of […] Read More Heat Kills: Keep Your Pets Safe This Summer If your pet is experiencing severe heat stress or a heat stroke (symptoms include lethargy, vomiting, difficulty breathing, collapse, or a high rectal temperature) – these are considered “RED” – or true emergencies – on our Fast Track Triage system. We advise you to seek immediate veterinary care. Please call ahead of your arrival so […] Read More Five Tips to Keep Your Pets Safe on Fourth of July With each passing day becoming longer, lighter, and warmer, it’s only natural for us Midwesterners to start firing up our grills and inviting friends and family over to enjoy the summer. One of my favorite celebrations of the summer is Independence Day, filled with barbecues and fireworks. As pet owners, however, it is important to […] Read More Ways to Memorialize Your Pet It’s never easy to lose a loved one, including a pet. If you are looking for a way to honor the memory of your pet, here are a few ideas: Hold a memorial service at a pet cemetery, in your backyard, or a special place that your pet loved. Give your pet a gravestone. Create a […] Read More When Is It the Right Time to Euthanize? Euthanasia is one of the more difficult things veterinary staff have to do, and it’s not any less difficult when it’s our own pet. I got my cat Simon when he was about four years old. He had been relinquished to the care of the animal emergency clinic at which I worked—his owners unable to pursue treatment […] Read More What is a Veterinary Referral Center? Have you ever wondered, what is a veterinary referral center? At Animal Emergency & Referral Center of Minnesota, we often get asked this question. Let’s put it like this. You have a doctor who is responsible for helping you stay healthy in a lot of ways. But, if you were to acquire a heart condition, your […] Read More Sharing Your Pet with an Ex: Questions to Discuss Before a Pet Emergency Too many times in the emergency department of AERC, we see pets brought in by a divorced pet owner whose ex-partner shares custody of the pet but doesn’t agree with the treatment plan selected and either refuses to provide authorization for care or to share the cost of treatment. Either situation can be scary and […] Read More Older Posts Newer Posts
Veterinary Emergency & Urgent Care
I Have An Emergency
