Emergency Veterinary Medicine by BluePearl Des Moines IA

BluePearl Pet Hospital
Des Moines, IA
Emergency Medicine

24/7 Emergency and Specialty

Pet emergency medicine by BluePearl.

A BluePearl urgent care vet hugs a grey and white dog on an exam table.

Conditions treated

Learn which conditions our emergency team can help diagnose and treat, so your pet gets the right care for their needs.

A BluePearl emergency vet tech holds a grey cat in her arms while looking at a monitor.

Success stories

Discover how other pets have overcome their diagnoses with specialized care, giving you hope for your pet’s recovery.

A BluePearl client smiles while holding her dog at the front desk of the animal hospital.

Call the hospital

Take the next step toward answers and getting the care your pet needs by connecting with our hospital team.

Pet emergencies can be scary – we’re here to help you handle them.

We understand that seeing your pet sick, hurt or in distress can be stressful – especially if you don’t know what’s wrong. Fortunately, our experienced ER clinicians are prepared to take action and help.

Common pet emergencies.

A BluePearl anesthesiology and pain management vet prepares to fix an anesthetic facemask on a yellow lab while a vet tech helps hold the dog on the exam table.

Acting quickly in an emergency may save your pet’s life.

If your pet is experiencing an emergency, you’ll have an entire veterinary team helping them so you can get back to what matters most – spending precious moments together.

  • Accidents, injuries and trauma (hit-by-car, animal attacks, etc.)
  • Bleeding 
  • Bloat (gastric dilatation volvulus, or GDV)
  • Collapse or unresponsiveness
  • Complications from chronic diseases 
  • Difficulty breathing 
  • Straining to urinate
  • Ingestion of medications, poisons or objects 
  • Seizures
  • Vomiting and diarrhea

Our emergency team.

Experience makes all the difference. 

Our emergency team is made up of veterinarians, vet technicians and assistants, and support staff with rigorous training and experience in specialty medicine. The team works hand in hand to provide the comprehensive, compassionate care your pet needs and deserves. Because we’re a multidisciplinary hospital, the team can consult the expertise of other specialty departments, too.

Alexandria Baltes

DVM
Emergency Service Head

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Alexandria Baltes, our hospital’s Emergency Service Head, enjoys all aspects of emergency medicine, especially the variety of cases she sees. She is committed to providing excellent care, and her favorite part of the job is getting patients well and back home to their families.

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames
  • Bachelor of Science, Biology, Iowa State University, Ames
Off duty

Married with two cats and an assortment of reptiles, Dr. Baltes enjoys weight lifting, cooking, and attending Minnesota Vikings games.

Publications & Articles

Rachel Brungardt

MS, DVM

Emergency Medicine
Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames
  • Master of Science, Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames
  • Bachelor of Science, Biology, Iowa State University, Ames

Angelia Conmy

DVM

Emergency Medicine
Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames
  • Bachelor of Science, Animal Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames

Emily Davis

DVM

Emergency Medicine
Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames
  • Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, University of Maryland, College Park

Grant Hoeger

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Grant Hoeger’s clinical interests include:

  • Caring for critically ill and intensive care patients
  • Supporting clients while their pet is in our care
  • Managing toxin ingestions
  • Treating metabolic and endocrine diseases such as diabetic ketoacidosis and Addison’s disease
  • Addressing acute surgical emergencies like GDV, obstruction and dystocia
  • Treating lacerations and blunt force trauma
Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames
Off duty

A native Iowan, Dr. Hoeger grew up on a farm and married his high school sweetheart, a nurse. In his free time, he enjoys outdoor activities such as skiing, hiking and fishing.

Roxanne Jacobson

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Roxanne Jacobson particularly enjoys being presented a difficult case, running a diagnostic workup and coming up with a solution to the problem.

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames
  • Bachelor of Arts, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud MN
Off duty

Dr. Jacobson loves being a wife and mother to three sons. She volunteers her veterinary skills at the Blank Park Zoo and Animal Rescue League of Iowa. Some of her favorite pastimes include stained glass, crotchet, wood working, quilting, painting and ceramics. The family has a black Labrador named Amos and several fish in an outdoor pond.

Cory Janssen

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Cory Janssen worked in general practice for two years before joining our team as an emergency clinician where he enjoys all aspects of emergency medicine.

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames
  • Bachelor of Science, Biology, Iowa State University, Ames
Off duty

Some of Dr. Janssen’s favorite pastimes include city league kickball, biking and attending Iowa State sporting events. His furry sidekick is lab mix Zeke.

Macenzie Johnson

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Macenzie Johnson particularly likes treating trauma and toxicity cases, but seeing her patients go home to their families is the most rewarding. Prior to joining BluePearl, Dr. Johnson led courses for pre-veterinary students through a non-profit rainforest conservancy in Costa Rica.

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames
  • Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames
Off duty

Dr. Johnson enjoys traveling, hosting game nights, listening to music, exploring the city and spending time with friends and family.

Jordan Marotz

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Jordan Marotz is particularly interested in treating cardiac emergencies, trauma and toxicities.

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames
  • Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, South Dakota State University, Brookings
Off duty

Dr. Marotz lives with her husband, two dogs (a chihuahua/dachshund mix and an Aussie mix) and one cat. She enjoys anything outdoors, including hiking, camping, horseback riding, traveling, kayaking and gardening.

Savannah Pruitt

DVM

Emergency Medicine
Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames

Miriam E. Reed

MS, DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Miriam Reed enjoys all aspects of emergency medicine. Some of her favorite conditions to treat are trauma, emergent skin-related conditions and immune-mediated disease. The most rewarding part of her job is caring for critically ill patients, watching them improve and returning them to their families.

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames
  • Master of Science, Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames
  • Bachelor of Science, Biology, Illinois College, Jacksonville
Off duty

Dr. Reed and her spouse have a corgi named Franny. She enjoys traveling with her spouse and exploring new cities, weightlifting, cooking new recipes and various outdoor activities.

Publications and articles

Samantha Schipull

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Samantha Schipull loves the challenge and diversity of cases she sees in emergency medicine. She particularly likes treating trauma and toxicity cases and immune-mediated disorders.

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette IN
  • Bachelor of Science, Genetics, Iowa State University, Ames
Off duty

Dr. Schipull enjoys watching Iowa State football and basketball teams, and she likes doing hot yoga. She is married with two boys and two family pets: black lab Bear and cat Oscar.

Emily Slight

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Emily Slight finds it gratifying to stabilize critical cases, whether from severe illness or injury, and reuniting those patients with their families. Other clinical interests include management of hypotension and sepsis patients.

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames
  • Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls
Off duty

Married with two children, Dr. Slight enjoys crochet, reading, baking and biking with her family.

Publications & Articles

Carolyn Stafford

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Carolyn Stafford particularly enjoys treating trauma cases and managing critical patients.

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames
  • Bachelor of Science, Biology, Iowa State University, Ames
Off duty

Dr. Stafford is married and has two daughters. Her favorite pastimes include cooking, reading, running, and singing and volunteering at her church.

What to expect.

We know an unexpected trip to the emergency pet hospital can be stressful, and we want you to be prepared so you have one less thing to worry about. Our entire BluePearl team will be with you every step of the way.

Before your visit

  • If possible, call us before arriving so we can discuss your pet’s condition, help you with directions and prepare our team.
  • Collect your pet’s medical records, current medication or any historical information.
  • If your pet has eaten something potentially toxic, bring the substance with you if it’s safe to do so.

During your visit

  • When you arrive, let us know if you need help bringing your pet in from the car, and we’ll be ready to assist you.
  • Our team will perform an initial triage exam on your pet to assess their condition.
  • To stabilize your pet, we may need to administer IV fluids, pain medications, oxygen therapy and sometimes blood or plasma transfusions.
  • Before you leave, you’ll receive discharge instructions and a list of any recommended medications.

After your visit

  • We’ll let your family veterinarian know about your pet’s condition and the treatment they receive at BluePearl. This communication is key in the ongoing management of your pet’s care.
  • You know your pet better than anyone, and you play a crucial role in any follow-up treatment necessary. If you have any concerns about providing care at home (such as giving medication or monitoring your pet’s symptoms), let us know – we’re here for you.

Success stories.

"Thanks to the quick thinking of his veterinary team, the support of a generous donor dog, and the innovative use of autotransfusion, Harley pulled through surgery. Just two weeks later, Harley returned to BluePearl for his post-operative recheck. Tail wagging and spirits high, he was doing great."
Read Harley's story.
“The hard work and dedication of both teams was inspiring,” said Sierra, reflecting on Everest’s care at both hospitals. “No one gave up on him and because of that he thrived and was able to come to his forever home.”
Read Everest's story.
“Everyone at BluePearl was amazing. They were super kind and sweet, and now Suni is right back to his normal self.”
Read Suni's story.
"Over the next few days, it seemed that everything I have known and told people over my 30 years as a vet tech went out the window. Broski was nauseous and not eating and we were all worried there was something very wrong with him. Even after hours, the surgeon responded to my concerns and eased my worries. Our dog is now fully recovered and back to normal. Thank you to Dr. Heintz, Dr. Ferrell and everyone else who assisted!"
Read Broski's story.