BluePearl Pet Hospital
Cedar Rapids, IA
Emergency Medicine

Emergency and Specialty
Emergency:
24/7
Specialty:
Mon-Thu: By appointment 9 am-5 pm

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 tech examines a dog and is delighted

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.

Brennan Goodman

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Brennan Goodman enjoys assisting clients in their time of need, helping them navigate difficult and urgent decisions in the emergency setting and ultimately finding the best steps forward for their animal companions.

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

Dr. Goodman enjoys automotive design, gardening and caring for indoor plants, playing racquetball and pickleball, architecture and interior design. He stays active with Zumba, yoga and circuit classes and considers himself an audiophile enjoying high-fidelity speakers and music.

Janelle Karau

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Janelle Karau loves emergency medicine because every day is different. She welcomes the opportunity to continuously enhance her knowledge and skills, which ultimately allows her to offer the very best medical and surgical care to her patients.

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

Dr. Karau enjoys spending family time with her husband, son, dog and three cats. Her hobbies include cooking and baking, gardening and yoga.

Amie Roberts

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Amie Roberts started her emergency medicine career as a receptionist at an e-clinic, continuing as a veterinary assistant throughout her education. She has over a decade of emergency experience.

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

Dr. Roberts and her family enjoy traveling, hiking and biking in Iowa’s famous RAGBRAI. Outside of her work at the hospital, she holds an active position in the state Veterinary Medicine Association.

Holly Salzbrenner

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Holly Salzbrenner enjoys fostering the human-animal bond by providing the best care possible to pets when they are sick. She appreciates the diversity of cases that emergency medicine offers as well as the challenges of surgery.

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

Dr. Salzbrenner enjoys spending time with her husband, their two dogs, two horses and family and friends. She likes to travel, hike, run, trail ride with her horses and spend time outdoors.

Robert Schmidt

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Robert Schmidt finds the diverse caseload of emergency medicine exciting and enjoys that you never know what each day will bring.

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia
  • Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry, Statistics, University of Missouri, Columbia
Off duty

Dr. Schmidt and his girlfriend, who is also a veterinarian, have a dog and a cat together. They enjoy biking, running and kayaking

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.