Emergency Veterinary Medicine by BluePearl Duluth MN

BluePearl Pet Hospital
Duluth, MN
Emergency Medicine

After-Hours Emergency
Emergency:
Tue: 4 pm-8 am
Wed 4 pm-Tue 8 am
*Please call before arriving*

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.

Marissa Blomstrand

DVM

Emergency Medicine
Servicing locations

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Starkville
  • Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
Off duty

Dr. Blomstrand enjoys weightlifting, kayaking, fishing, reading and participating in canine rally.

Amanda Doran

DVM

Emergency Medicine
Servicing locations

On the job

Dr. Amanda Doran finds infectious disease, toxin exposure, acute trauma and wound management cases the most rewarding to treat. She particularly enjoys working with neonatal and geriatric patients and has a soft spot for the porcupine quill (PPQ) repeat offenders. Dr. Doran is passionate about veterinary medicine – learning from colleagues, educating clients, mentoring students and aiming to keep patients as comfortable as possible during their time at the hospital.

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
  • Bachelor of Science, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Minnesota, Duluth
Off duty

Dr. Doran loves being in the woods and by the water with her husband and their dogs, Lark and Hibou. She enjoys hiking, road cycling, canoeing, fishing, hunting and foraging. She is a Minnesota Master Naturalist and Master Gardener in training, growing a food forest and pollinator paradise in her backyard every summer.

Jonathan Hart

DVM

Emergency Medicine
Servicing locations

On the job

Dr. Jonathan Hart finds trauma cases, endocrine emergencies and toxicity cases particularly rewarding.

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
  • Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca NY
Off duty

Dr. Hart loves all things outdoor: back country hiking, winter camping in the Minnesota Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, paddling and four-wheeling with his family.

Laura Kiehnbaum

DVM, MS

Emergency Medicine
Servicing locations

On the job

Dr. Laura Kiehnbaum has worked in both mixed and small animal practices and as a shelter veterinarian.

Education
  • Master of Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
Off duty

Dr. Kiehnbaum volunteers her veterinary services with Leech Lake Legacy, a nonprofit organization that provides veterinary care to pets on an Indian reservation.

Lisa Nordquist

DVM

Emergency Medicine
Servicing locations

On the job

Dr. Lisa Nordquist’s clinical interests include:

  • Abdominal surgeries (such as GI foreign bodies and pyometra)
  • Laceration repairs
  • Treating blocked cats
  • Toxicity cases
Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison
  • Bachelor of Science, Biology and Chemistry, Silver Lake College, Manitowoc, WI
Off duty

In her free time, Dr. Nordquist enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking and snowshoeing with her husband and two gregarious shelter dogs. She also enjoys kayaking, gardening, traveling, reading and knitting.

Katherine Peterson

DVM, DACVECC
Board Certified in Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care

Emergency Medicine
Servicing locations

On the job

Dr. Katherine Peterson is particularly interested in toxicology, emergency stabilization and post-operative care.

Education
  • Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care
  • Residency, Small Animal Emergency & Critical Care, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
  • Internship, Small Animal Emergency & Critical Care, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
  • Internship, Small Animal Emergency & Critical Care, Animal Emergency Center, Glendale, WI
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
  • Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
Off duty

Dr. Peterson enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, along with their many pets, including a dog, cats and chickens.

Kristin Snyder

DVM, PhD

Emergency Medicine
Servicing locations

On the job

Dr. Kristin Snyder enjoys the fast-paced environment of emergency medicine. She has a special interest in feline medicine, oncologic emergencies and immune-mediated disease. She is dedicated to providing compassionate care and guiding families through a peaceful and supportive end-of-life transition during their pets’ final stages of life.

Education
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Pet Hospital, Golden Valley, MN
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Comparative and Molecular Biosciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
  • Bachelor of Science, Biology, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA
Off duty

Outside of the hospital, Dr. Snyder enjoys cooking, baking and spending time outdoors. She also loves spending time with her partner and their Siberian huskies, Josephine and Parker, and their tabby cats Dragon, Peanut, Squish and Sebastian.

Publications and articles

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.