BluePearl Pet Hospital
Grand Rapids, MI
Emergency Medicine

Emergency and Specialty
Emergency:
Mon: 7 am-Midnight
Tue 7 am-Thu Midnight
Fri-Sun: 7 am-Midnight
Specialty:
Mon-Fri 8 am-6 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 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.

Elizabeth Brand

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Elizabeth Brand’s clinical interests include toxicities, trauma and working collaboratively with medical and surgery departments. She enjoys the variety of emergency medicine and exploring new areas of veterinary medicine.

Education
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing
  • Bachelor of Science, Biology, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo
Off duty

Dr. Brand enjoys mountain biking, hiking and traveling with her husband. Together they have three dogs – an Australian shepherd mix (Kirsi), a border collie mix (Russel) and a Brittany spaniel (River).

Alyson Conflitti

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Aly Conflitti has a special interest in emergency medicine, critical care, internal medicine, radiology and feline medicine. She is trained in special procedures such as endoscopy and ultrasound. She is passionate about rescue and involved in fostering.

Education
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, North Carolina State University, Raleigh
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan
  • Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant
Off duty

Dr. Conflitti and her husband have seven beloved rescue pets. The loves of her life are a blue point Siamese named Goose and a coconut retriever named Reggie. Her other passions outside of work include hiking, traveling, riding the Peloton, taking Reggie to the beach and spending time with her family.

Danielle Pettifor

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Danielle Pettifor is a well-rounded clinician with a special interest in exotic animal medicine. Her favorite cases are those involving cardiology, internal medicine and trauma.

Education
  • Clinical year, Michigan State University, East Lansing
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ross University, St. Kitts, West Indies
  • Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN
Off duty

When not in the ER, Dr. Pettifor is enjoying the great outdoors. She likes to go for hikes and go swimming with her husband, daughter and dog.

Maika Sharpe

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Maika Sharpe is especially interested in animal behavior, dermatology, and dentistry.

Education
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Norwalk, CT
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing
  • Bachelor of Science, Pre-veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing
Off duty

Dr. Sharpe and her husband, also a veterinarian, live in Grand Rapids with their three sons, two dogs, and one cat. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, running, gardening, and nature hikes.

Nicholas Sterner

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Nick Sterner’s clinical interests include internal medicine, laceration repairs, feline urethral obstructions and canine dystocias.

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

Dr. Sterner and his husband live in western Michigan with their two golden retrievers, Piper and Phoebe. He enjoys horseback riding, reading, gardening, yoga, lounging by the pool and exploring the beautiful state that he now calls home.

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.