February is Responsible Pet Owners Month! As pet owners, we all want the best for our animals, whether they have fur, scales, feathers, or fins. There is a lot of varying advice and information out there and it can be difficult to determine which recommendations to follow. This is why it’s important for all pet owners to do research on their pet’s needs and to select a family veterinarian
read moreIt’s that time of year for us humans: cold and flu season, where you hear sneezing and sniffling throughout your workplace and home. But what does it mean if your dog or cat starts to sneeze or has a runny nose? What’s considered normal and what’s not? Here’s what pet owners need to know: What’s Normal: • An occasional sneeze from your dog or cat is a normal bodily
read moreHappy Valentine’s Day! Will you be enjoying an elaborate day of festivities with your sweetie? Or will you be spending quality time with your family and friends? Or is it more of a treat yourself (self-care is important!) kind of day? No matter what your plans are for Valentine’s Day, remember to include your pets! Here are fourteen gifts for a paw-some February 14th with your furry Valentine: 1.
read moreDental x-rays are an essential diagnostic tool in assessing your pet’s overall oral health. Approximately two-thirds of the tooth resides under the gumline which makes it impossible to accurately assess the health of the tooth by visual examination alone. What is a Dental X-Ray? A dental x-ray is a black and white two-dimensional image that is taken while your pet is under anesthesia by positioning a sensor inside of
read moreInflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term used to describe several types of chronic diseases of the intestine. Typically, IBD is characterized by recurrent GI signs such as vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, anorexia, and/or reflux. The hallmark of inflammatory bowel disease is inflammation in the GI tract, diagnosed via biopsy, cytology, or by the presence of certain markers in the blood. All of these tests may be recommended by
read moreFrozen lakes, ponds, and other bodies of water pose many dangerous hazards for you and your dog. Falling through ice can cause hypothermia, organ damage, or drowning. Additionally, ice can cut skin, cause ice burn or frostbite, and cause serious injuries due to slipping and falling. The best way to avoid these frosty hazards is to keep your dog off the ice. However, if you choose to partake in
read moreBrrrr! Minnesota can get very cold. The record for the coldest temperature in the state is sixty degrees below zero. While most pet owners are aware of how to protect their pets from warm weather dangers like hot cars and heatstroke, cold weather pet dangers aren’t as well known. Here are a few questions pet owners should ask themselves as the temperature drops and winter marches on. 1. Do
read moreWhy did I become an ER vet? To put it simply, I can’t imagine doing anything else. Since I graduated from veterinary school, emergency and critical care work is all I’ve done. It’s an extremely fulfilling line of work. Obviously, I love animals or else I wouldn’t have pursued a career in veterinary medicine. Aside from working with animals, I prefer a profession with overnight shifts that keeps me
read moreThat’s a wrap on 2019! For many, the end of the year is a time to reflect. So we decided to look back on Animal Emergency & Referral Center of Minnesota’s blog from the past year and compile a list of our top ten blog articles of 2019. Without further ado, here’s our list: 10. Asthma in Pets Written by Beth Bruns, DVM Dr. Bruns, one of our emergency
read moreBy now, many of you have likely heard about the risk of heart disease in dogs eating “BEG” diets – boutique diets from small companies, diets with exotic ingredients, and/or grain-free diets. In July 2018, the FDA announced that they were launching an investigation into the link between these nontraditional canine diets and dilated cardiomyopathy. They published an update on Thursday, June 27, 2019, which can be found here:
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