BluePearl Pet Hospital
Arden Hills, MN
Emergency Medicine

Emergency and Referral
Emergency:
24/7
Please Call Before Arriving
Referral:
Mon-Fri: 9 am-3 pm
By appointment

Pet emergency medicine by BluePearl.

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.

A vet specialist holds a small grey puppy wearing a cone on an exam table.

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.

Tara Kasmarik

DVM, DABVP (Canine & Feline Practice)
Board Certified Veterinary Practitioner (Canine & Feline Practice)

Emergency Medicine
Education
  • Diplomate, American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Canine & Feline Practice)
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
  • Bachelor of Science, Biology, Northern State University, Aberdeen, SD
Off duty

Dr. Kasmarik enjoys playing soccer, running with her Labrador retriever, Millie, reading a vast variety of mystery novels and painting.

Shiloh Landskov

DVM
Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
  • Bachelor of Science, Biological Sciences, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN

Rachel McClellan

DVM
On the job

Dr. Rachel McClellan enjoys treating conditions such as urethral obstructions, chocolate toxicity, and rodenticide toxicity because they can have fast and rewarding recoveries. She also finds it rewarding to treat pyometras, perform complicated wound repairs, and remove foreign bodies.

Education
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, Affiliated Animal Care, Virginia Beach VA
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater
  • Bachelor of Science, Biology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth
Off duty

Dr. McClellan enjoys snowboarding, running, cooking and going on adventures with her dog, Pistol Pete, a beagle/shorthair pointer cross.

Kate Michaelis

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Kate Michaelis is part of our emergency medicine training program for clinicians. Her particular clinical interests include trauma, wound management and soft tissue surgery.

Education
  • Clinical Rotation, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ross University, St. Kitts & Nevis, West Indies
  • Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing
Off duty

Dr. Michaelis enjoys hiking, live music and spending time with her husband and two dogs, husky Alyeska, and Labrador Bear.

Gretja Otten

DVM

Emergency Medicine
Education
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital, CO
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison
  • Bachelor of Science, Biology, Mercer University, Macon, GA
Off duty

Dr. Otten is an avid runner and has completed many full and half marathons. She also enjoys backpacking, downhill skiing, beach volleyball, water sports, and traveling the world.

Lesley Szenay

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Lesley Szenay enjoys the human side of veterinary medicine, especially interacting with clients. She is particularly interested in working with challenging pediatric patients.

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
  • Bachelor of Science, Chemical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
Off duty

In her free time, Dr. Szenay enjoys training and breeding German shepherd working dogs, riding horses and fishing and camping. She has five German shepherds and three horses at home.

Samantha Wilson

MPH, DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Samantha Wilson’s special interests include critical care, internal medicine and cardiology. She is passionate about helping clients and their pets in their time of need. Dr. Wilson is Fear Free and RECOVER certified.

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames
  • Master of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City
  • Bachelor of Science, Pre-Veterinary Medicine, University of Delaware, Newark

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.