BestFriends Veterinary Clinic

05/13/2024

Welcome to spring! It’s time for our annual gnat bite PSA – they’re back, and based on the number of bites we have on our own ankles and behind our own ears after a weekend spent enjoying the outdoors, it’s going to be a bad year. Gnat (black fly) bites appear as bright red lesions and the bullseye-appearing bites can look alarming, but most dogs are not bothered by them and they will resolve on their own in a few days without treatment.

04/18/2024

If your dog has allergies, it’s time to start their allergy meds! 🤧

02/21/2024

This is a great opportunity to do something super fun with your dog! It's a way for them to use their brains and their energy and to bond with you. We have a veterinarian friend who does scent games with her dogs and they have an amazing time! Kristy Francis is an excellent dog trainer who has put a lot of work into designing this great course, check it out!

Kristy Francis Dog Training’s philosophy is to provide humane training that is backed by science.

12/31/2023

Tonight we get to put 2023 in the rear view mirror. We have worked hard to provide care for as many of our beloved patients as we could despite the challenges of being short-staffed this year, and we are so grateful to our wonderful clients for their understanding and support. It has not gone unnoticed. Here's looking ahead to 2024!

11/21/2023

The clinic will be closed on Thursday 11/23 and Friday 11/24 so that our staff can enjoy a long weekend with their families. If you will need a refill on your pet's medication or food give us a call or send us a text or an email and we'll have it ready for you.

11/19/2023

Amen! Here are some insights from a board-certified veterinary behavioral specialist. We know that veterinary visits can be really scary for some pets, and it is in everyone's best interest - the pet's AND ours - to do everything we can to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in the veterinary clinic. Sometimes pet owners are surprised, embarrassed, or even angry when we recommend premedicating their dog or cat prior to vet visits. We want to provide the best medical care that we possibly can, but we are not magic and we are not bulletproof (or teeth-proof). If we recommend premedicating your pet prior to vet visits, it is because we want to make it a less scary experience for them. Let us help them.

10/16/2023

It’s National Veterinary Technician Week, and while we appreciate our 3 amazing techs every day, this week is a special time for us to celebrate them. Maria and Rose and Kallie are superheroes and they are the heartbeat of this clinic. They have a combined 31 years of veterinary technician experience between them and I have known each of them since they were in tech school. They work together seamlessly as a team, they are professional in their interactions with our clients, they provide the most compassionate care to our patients, they are supportive of each other, and Dr. Reid and I could not do what we do without their energy, their organization, and their humor. We are so grateful for them!

10/01/2023

Recently the clinic got some deep cleaning from two outstanding local businesses. Shout out to Northwest Carpet & Upholstery Cleaners for making our floors shine and to Donald's Duct Cleaning for extracting a basketball-sized collection of fur and lint out of our blocked dryer vent!

09/13/2023

This is a really good reminder! When a dog "scores" a yummy treat by counter-surfing, they just received positive reinforcement for jumping up on the counter. Hopefully it helps our clients to know that even veterinary professionals struggle with this, although Dr. Reid's butter stealer and Dr. Sell's cream cheese stealer have no idea what we are talking about and they deny everything.

We can teach your dog to have an amazing "leave-it" command.

But do you know what we think is even more important to learn? Reasonable expectations. Dogs are just like us - they're not perfect! Even the best trained dogs might still steal your donut if you leave it unattended on the coffee table long enough. Can you blame 'em?!

No one is perfect... not even your cutest, lovingest, bestest boy ever! If you really want to ensure that your donut is safe, move it out of reach. 😉 Managing behaviors and setting reasonable expectations is just part of having a dog!

07/24/2023

Fun fact: According to Guinness World Records, a guinea pig named Snowball holds the record as the oldest guinea pig. Snowball lived in England and he was 14 years and 10.5 months old when he died in 1979.

07/20/2023

CLINIC CLOSES AT NOON
THIS FRIDAY (July 21st)

On Friday July 21st the clinic will close at noon. Please call/text/email if you need medication or food for your pet and we'll get them ready for you.
We apologize for any inconvenience!

07/05/2023

It's going to be a little cooler for the next couple weeks, but as you get out to enjoy the summer weather with your dog, be sure to keep in mind the temperature on the surface where they are walking.

06/28/2023

The clinic will be closed on Monday, July 3rd and Tuesday, July 4th so that we can give our staff a much-deserved long weekend with their families. Please call/text/email if you need medication or food refills for your pet so we can get them ready for you. Hope everyone enjoys the weekend, and hugs to our four-legged friends with fireworks anxiety!

06/24/2023

SUMMER CLINIC HOURS
Due to a temporary staffing shortage, the clinic will close at 4:30 on Fridays June 30th through September 9th.
On Friday July 21st the clinic will close at noon.

We are so sorry for any inconvenience! Thank you for your understanding.

06/20/2023

It's going to be a hot week, folks! Here's some advice to keep your doggo friends safe. If you have outdoor cats, make sure they have ample access to fresh water, too.

Today kicks off a 5-day stretch of temperatures near 90. It's been a couple years since we've had a prolonged period of hot weather, so here are some safety reminders for your pup.

☑️ Never, ever leave your dog in the car.
☑️ Provide unlimited access to fresh water.
☑️ Ensure your pup has access to shade outdoors.
☑️ Take walks during cooler hours of the day.
☑️ Protect their paws from hot surfaces like asphalt.
☑️ Help them cool off when it's hot outside.
☑️ Keep them parasite-free with vet-recommended products.
☑️ Consider clipping or shaving long-coated dogs.

Remember, if it’s hot outside for you, it’s even hotter for your pet.

05/16/2023

The gnats are back! Seems like not that long ago we were complaining about snow and now here we are… Dog bellies are a prime target for these nasty little buggers because that’s the part of the dog which is closest to the grass. Gnat (black fly) bites appear as bright red lesions and the bullseye-appearing bites can look alarming, but most dogs are not bothered by them and they will resolve on their own in a few days without treatment.

04/04/2023

Did you know…online pharmacies are NOT necessarily cheaper! We get a lot of requests to fill prescriptions for Heartgard and Nexgard through online pharmacies. The manufacturer has rebates available only through vet clinics, and they come right off the invoice – no waiting to receive a rebate in the mail. We checked one online pharmacy today and their price for a year’s worth of Heartgard and Nexgard is $60 to $80 HIGHER than if it was purchased at the clinic. If you prefer to buy your preventatives 6 months at a time, that same online pharmacy’s price for a 6-month supply is $20 to $30 HIGHER than if it was purchased at the clinic. By purchasing your dog's preventatives at your vet clinic, not only will you be saving money, you will be supporting a small locally-owned business.

03/28/2023

This is a great post about a service dog who belongs to a client of ours. Congratulations on this well-deserved honor, Bronson!

Congratulations to Bronson, this year’s MVMA Hero Animal of the Year!

Bronson was paired with Cole Davies as a Seizure Assist Dog when Cole was in his late teens. Never leaving his side, Bronson is happy to take on the role of persistent supervisor. If Cole falls suddenly, Bronson rushes to a family member to alert them and then leads them to Cole. Bronson then retrieves a bag of supplies that help Cole get through his seizure safely. If Cole is lying on his back, Bronson uses his nose to nudge Cole’s shoulder off the ground and then “visits” by placing his head over Cole’s arm, keeping his one side propped slightly off the ground.

If Cole seizes while sleeping, Bronson responds to his movements by tugging open his door and rushing to alert a family member, then going downstairs to grab the bag and pull it all the way back up. In an exceptional moment of need, Cole had a seizure while walking outside by himself. No one saw or heard anything, and if it hadn’t been for Bronson staying by his side and vocalizing his distress, Cole would not have gotten the care he required. Cole sustained injuries from hitting the pavement, but Bronson is a hero by responding with his intuitive skills and simultaneously notifying neighbors. Cole credits Bronson with saving his life.

02/28/2023

Since our world resembles a glacier lately, this feels appropriate. Happy International Polar Bear Day, everyone!

On , we want to give a very big shout out to all the zoo, wildlife and other veterinary professionals out there helping to keep polar bears healthy! 👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️🐾

01/26/2023

Dr. Andy Roark is a gem in our profession. He is a practicing veterinarian, an international speaker, a columnist, and several of us have been fortunate enough to hear him speak in person at conferences. His post today made us laugh. Our break room is already home to both a Keurig and an espresso machine, but maybe we need to start brewing a little stronger!

01/04/2023

Looking for a fun way to spend time with your four-legged friend this winter doing something that will benefit both of you? We highly recommend Basic Manners classes, taught by Kristy Francis right here at BestFriends. These classes are for puppies and dogs over 4 months of age. They take things a step beyond puppy kindergarten/socialization, with training methods based in science, using positive reinforcement and motivation. What a wonderful way to start out the new year!

Registration is open for Basic Manners in Albertville at BestFriends Veterinary Clinic. Class starts Thursday, February 2 at 7:30pm.

Class sizes are small.

For more information and to register, click the link, https://www.kristyfrancisdogtraining.com/classes

11/23/2022

We highly recommend these classes for all puppies. The window of opportunity to socialize puppies is very short and it's so important to do this when they're young. Kristy teaches these classes here at BestFriends and the bonus is that puppies come to associate the clinic with being a fun place! It's a win-win. 🐾🐾

Spots are available! I know it’s a busy time of year, but the socialization period for puppies is limited. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to socialize them during this critical time period.

https://www.kristyfrancisdogtraining.com/classes

11/21/2022

The clinic will be closed on Thursday, November 24th and Friday, November 25th so that we can give our hardworking staff a long weekend to spend with their families. If you will need refills on medications or food please give us a call or send us an email or text and we'll get them ready for you!

11/09/2022

Fall is upon us, and as the weather gets colder and we start hunkering down and making soup and baking bread, here's a good reminder from our friends at Pet Poison Helpline about a common risk that could be in your own kitchen! We have seen a number of dogs over the years that have eaten raw bread dough and it is very dangerous! 🍞

Pippa, a playful pup from Knoxville, Tenn., has a history of retrieving things from her family’s counter tops and trash. Last Thanksgiving, that hunger and curiosity almost ruined the family’s celebration when the then two-year-old Golden Retriever had a severe reaction after consuming bread dou...

10/21/2022

As National Veterinary Technician Week comes to a close, we want to once again say how much we LOVE our technicians! We are so very grateful for all that they do to care for the patients, help the clients, and support the doctors at BestFriends. They are amazing professionals and we couldn't do what we do without them!

10/21/2022

VETERINARY TECHNICIAN WEEK #5 - Julie
Julie has been a Certified Veterinary Technician since 1999, she has worked with Dr. Sell since her vet tech internship, and she has been here at BestFriends since the day we opened. The things Julie loves most about being a veterinary technician are taking x-rays and educating clients.
Julie lives in the area with her husband and 2 daughters, 2 Dutch bunnies, and 2 German Shorthaired Pointers. She grew up on a farm, and she loves being able to continue working with livestock as her children show cattle and rabbits. They especially love Guernsey cows and Dutch rabbits. In her spare time, she spends a lot of time flower and vegetable gardening and her happy place is with her family at their lake shack.

10/20/2022

VETERINARY TECHNICIAN WEEK #4 - Maria
Maria has been a Certified Veterinary Technician since 2007, she has worked with Dr. Sell since she did her vet tech internship, and she has been here at BestFriends since the day we opened. Her favorite parts of her veterinary technician job are anything to do with cats, helping with anesthesia and surgery, drawing blood, and taking dental x-rays.
Maria and her husband Nate and their 7-year-old son live in the area and are owned by a very furry feline named Ivan. Outside of work she says she is pretty boring, just a working mom who is obsessed with her kid and her cat.

10/19/2022

VETERINARY TECHNICIAN WEEK #3 - Rose
Rose has been a Veterinary Technician for over 7 years, all of which have been at BestFriends, starting with her internship while she was still in vet tech school. She loves being a veterinary technician because it involves so many different jobs all combined into one. Some of her favorite parts are getting to meet clients’ new furry family members, and at the other end of the spectrum, helping families through that most difficult time of saying goodbye to a pet.
Rose and her boyfriend and their 3 sons live in Otsego with a Boxer named Nora Jean and a fluffy cat named Maui.

10/18/2022

VETERINARY TECHNICIAN WEEK #2 - Kallie
Kallie has been a Certified Veterinary Technician since 2016. As part of her vet tech schooling, she did her internship with us here at BestFriends, then moved to North Dakota, and returned to us in 2019. Her special interests in the veterinary field are behavior, non-routine surgeries, wound care, and nursing care.
Kallie has a special love for most herding breeds, especially Corgis. Outside of work, she likes to cook and learn new recipes, and spend time with her family which includes her husband, their 4-year-old daughter, and a mixed breed herding dog named Murphy.

10/17/2022

VETERINARY TECHNICIAN WEEK #1 - Karen
Karen is the most recent addition to our BestFriends family. Although she is new to our clinic, she is a veteran in the field. She has been a Certified Veterinary Technician for 36 years. Her special interests in the veterinary profession are client communication and helping owners take care of their senior pets.
Karen lives in St. Michael with her husband Eric, their youngest son Adam, a Shepherd/Husky mix named Ada, a Pitttie mix named Margo, and an orange tiger cat named Joe Meower. Outside of work, her interests are DIY home improvement projects, gardening, and spending time with family and friends and her dogs.