BluePearl Pet Hospital
Golden Valley, MN
Emergency Medicine

Emergency and Referral

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.

Kevin Bitu

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Kevin Bitu enjoys all aspects of emergency medicine.

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
  • Bachelor of Arts, Biology, St. Mary’s College, Winona, MN
Off duty

Dr. Bitu has a Manx cat named Linus.

Kimberly Gale

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Kimberly Gale truly loves emergency medicine because of the variety of cases she sees.

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

Dr. Gale’s favorite pastimes include hiking, traveling, gardening, reading, horseback riding, skiing and cooking. Noodle is her border collie mix, and Fishstick is her terrier mix.

Jennifer Heesen-Wilkison

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Jennifer Heesen-Wilkison enjoys the fast-paced environment of the ER department and finds fulfillment in helping clients during their greatest time of need.

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul
  • Bachelor of Science, Biomedical Science, Saint Cloud State University, MN
Off duty

Dr. Heesen-Wilkison and her husband enjoy camping and canoeing the Boundary Waters, rock climbing in Blue Mound and snow shoeing north of Duluth. They also love to travel out of state to enjoy outdoor activities in places such as Oregon, Alaska, Wyoming and South Dakota.

Jessica Horton

DVM

Emergency Medicine
Education
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, University of Florida, Gainesville
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis

Elizabeth Lunde

DVM

Emergency Medicine
Education
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Iowa State University, Ames
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
  • Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis

Colette Manley

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Colette Manley is part of our emergency medicine training program for clinicians. She is particularly interested in treating respiratory and cardiovascular emergencies.

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

Dr. Manley lives with her husband and their cat. She enjoys reading and puzzles.

Grace Meyer

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Grace Meyer’s particular clinical interests include cardiovascular disorders, metabolic/endocrine emergencies and trauma.

Education
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, VCA Alameda East Veterinary Hospital, Denver, CO
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
  • Bachelor of Arts, University of Minnesota, Morris
Off duty

Dr. Meyer enjoys running, riding/showing American saddlebred horses and cross-country skiing. Her family includes her husband, son, golden retriever Aspen, ragdoll cats Beaker and Bunsen, American saddlebred horse Buzz, and two guinea pigs.

Kayla Moore

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Kayla Moore’s clinical interests include ophthalmology and neurology cases, and complicated medicine cases like immune-mediated hemolytic anemia or diabetic ketoacidosis.

Education
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, VCA Aurora Specialty Hospital, IL
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames
Off duty

Dr. Moore has two cats, Hermione and Ginny.

Daniel Wingert

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Daniel Wingert enjoys all aspects of emergency medicine.

Rick Yantes

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Experienced in all aspects of emergency medicine, Dr. Rick Yantes particularly enjoys endoscopic procedures.

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
  • Bachelor of Science, Biomedical Science, St. Cloud State University, MN
Off duty

Dr. Yantes enjoys paddle boarding. He has two turtles and two cats.

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.