Veterinarian in Mendota Heights, MN

From the puppy/kitten stage of life to the time when they are a senior pet, your animal’s health is a lifelong commitment. Our wellness checkups are the best preventative to ensure your pet lives a long and healthy life.

An annual wellness checkup allows us to assess your pet’s health on a regular basis and track how they’re doing. Your pet’s medical history could be vital in an emergency or a sudden illness. Early detection of illnesses often provides the best chance of successful outcomes through treatment.

During a wellness checkup, we do the following: Weigh your pet; evaluate their diet and nutritional needs for each stage of life; assess condition of legs, hips, joints and spine; assess their hair and coat for signs of illness or parasites; listen for heart murmurs or abnormalities; examine your pet’s eyes, ears, nose and lymph nodes for problems; check for heartworms and other parasites; and administer medications or vaccinations as needed.

Additional diagnostic tests may be ordered if the vet notices anything out of the ordinary with your pet’s health.

When they receive proper dental care, studies have shown that pets’ lives can be extended by 10 to 20 percent. We offer pet dentistry services at Mendakota Pet Hospital to help maintain your pet’s overall health. Preventive dental care keeps your pet’s teeth healthy and keeps their breath fresh. Oral infections can spread to the heart, liver and kidneys if left untreated.

Pet dentistry requires anesthesia so that your pet can remain asleep and still through any procedure or even routine teeth cleaning. You drop your pet off at our animal hospital in the morning, we perform the procedure, and then we call you to pick your dog or cat up once they’re awake again. We also provide you with any antibiotics or aftercare instructions as needed.

We also recomment at-home teeth brushing to maintain your pet’s oral health. A professional teeth cleaning is recommended at least once per year, and more frequently for some pets with a predisposition for dental disease. And we offer a discount on teeth cleanings every February and December.

Our pets can’t tell us when they’re having a dental problem. We have to watch for additional signs and help them care for their teeth for the best health possible!

Vaccinating your pet keeps him or her protected from certain contagious diseases and viruses. Getting them on a regular vaccination and booster schedule ensures that your pet is safe from these potential threats throughout their life.

During your first visit at Mendakota Pet Hospital, we’ll talk with you about a vaccination schedule for your pet. Our staff will fully explain the vaccinations necessary for this region of Minnesota and the importance of them to your pet’s health. Vaccines for pets are developed with some of the worst diseases out there in mind.

Many immunization shots are given in a series to help your pet’s system build up maximum immunity to illness. Once a series of vaccinations is complete, your pet is then fully immunized and protected from that potential threat. If you purchased your dog or cat from a breeder, be sure to bring any vaccination records with you on this first visit, so we will know where your pet is in their series of shots.

Dogs and cats that are protected from contagious illnesses will not only enjoy a better quality of life, but will also live longer and happier lives.

Our compassionate team of highly skilled veterinarians, technicians and pet healthcare workers at Mendakota Pet Hospital is dedicated to being advocates for your pet’s health. When your pet is feeling under the weather, we conduct an exhaustive series of tests to come to a definitive diagnosis, so we can begin the most effective treatment plan for them.

Our in-house clinical lab can provide test results within an hour in many cases. Urgent issues and same-day care issues can often be diagnosed quickly through lab work, which allows us to begin the treatment process. The diagnostic tools we provide for the safety and health of your pet are state-of-the-art, and through the use of these tools, beloved pets are able to live longer, healthier, happier lives.

Whenever a member of our pet hospital discovers something with your pet that requires further diagnosis, we recommend testing and lab work above that offered at a regular wellness checkup. Diagnostic testing can be conducted with flexible and rigid endoscopy, otoscopy, X-rays and ultrasound exams.

If it becomes necessary, we can make referrals for more advanced diagnostics like CT scans or MRIs if needed. We also have access to a board-certified radiologist for another professional opinion as needed.

Routine or elective surgeries, such as spaying or neutering dogs or cats, are available from us. We also offer non-elective procedures including abdominal, thoracic and some orthopedic musculoskeletal surgeries.

Even routine surgeries like spaying, neutering or lump removal require your pet to be placed under anesthesia. We understand that this is scary for many pet owners, but with the advances in anesthesia, the process is now safer than ever. We do pre-operative blood tests that can help to ensure that your pet will not experience any ill effects from the anesthesia.

In addition to pre-operative blood screening, our staff carefully monitors your pet’s blood oxygen levels, heart rate and respiratory rate through the operation. We also monitor them closely as they are waking up, to ensure that there are no complications. We want your pet going home safe and healthy when their operation is over!

When performing any surgery, we will answer all of your questions before and after the procedure. Before your pet goes home, we will give you detailed aftercare instructions. For example, many pets need to wear an Elizabethan collar (e-collar) for a few days to prevent them from biting or licking the surgical site. You’ll be given antibiotics to administer to your pet as needed, and warning signs that indicate you should call us.

Keep your pet healthy, happy and beautiful with the help of our talented staff of professional groomers!

If you want to use pet grooming to maintain your animal’s looks, we recommend a grooming schedule of every 6 to 8 weeks. Once you decide on a hair length that can be comfortably maintained, our groomers will help to keep your pet’s coat mat-free. For pets with a pattern cut, or with hair longer than 1 inch, the recommended grooming schedule is once every 4 to 6 weeks. Your pet’s well-being can directly be impacted by the condition of their coat.

Toenail trimming, ear cleaning, anal gland expression and other grooming services are available here at Mendakota Pet Hospital as needed.

We also offer pet boarding on a first-come, first-serve basis. To be boarded at our facility, dogs must be vaccinated against rabies, distemper and bordatella. Cats must be vaccinated against rabies and distemper. Pets must also be pest- and parasite-free. Pets receive exercise, a regular feeding schedule and clean facilities during their stay with us.