Holiday Wrap-Up: Supporting Our Community

It gives us great joy to support our community in many ways. Thanks to our team for coordinating the following programs, together we provided care and comfort to many. We are grateful for the opportunity to bring a little kindness at any time of year, but the holidays always make it special.
- Coat drive – We delivered a packed carload of warm coats to Central Lutheran Church who distributed them to local shelters in the metro area.
- Dog food drive – Pounds and pounds of food were delivered to The Bond Between.
- Angel fund drive – We raised $16,027.58 to assist animals in need, which included a generous match by an anonymous donor.
Brooklyn Park Urgent Care Expansion

Our urgent care services continue to grow. A veterinarian and team, dedicated to caring for urgent cases only, has been added to our schedule every day from noon to midnight to handle outpatient needs. This is in addition to our team focused on triage and care for emergency and critical patients as well as those hospitalized.
Oncology Coming Soon

We are pleased to let you know that Oncology services will be available at our Brooklyn Park hospital beginning in March. Stay tuned for details.
Surgery Department Expansion: Eden Prairie

In addition to being offered at Brooklyn Park, we also have surgical consultations and procedures available in Eden Prairie. With surgical care available from two locations, we aim to give your clients more choices and greater access to surgical expertise when needed. To schedule an appointment for a surgical consultation, please call (763) 463-9800.
5 Locations to Serve You

Our two newest locations, Rochester and Eden Prairie, are already busy and we are looking for permanent space so that we may extend hours to 24/7. For now, patients are accepted:
Monday – Friday: 6pm – 7am
Saturday: 24-hours
As always, Brooklyn Park, Minneapolis, and Eau Claire are open 24/7/365.
Veterinary Partner Discount Program

At Allied Veterinary Emergency and Referral, we deeply value the collaborative spirit of the veterinary community. To support and recognize the dedication of veterinary professionals, we are excited to offer a significant discount on our services to all veterinary workers. This program is our way of investing in our broader veterinary community, making high-quality emergency and referral care more accessible
to those who tirelessly care for animals.
Discounted Rate: ALL veterinary professionals participating in this program will receive a generous discount on emergency services and scheduled referral surgical services provided by Allied Veterinary Emergency and Referral.
Eligible Services: The discount applies to all emergency and referral services offered by our hospitals. (Select medications or send out services may not be eligible.)
For eligibility requirements and to enroll, click here.
**If you will be attending the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association Conference later this month, stop by booth #422 and enroll.**
Police Dog Training

Supporting our community includes our police K9 units who work tirelessly to keep us safe. The relationships we have with various police departments is one that we are very proud of. Dr. Becky Condon from our Rochester practice provided the First Aid and CPR training during this recent session. In addition to the training, officers were given some basic supplies which included an ET tube for emergent placement if their K9s were to need it. Additional training will be offered later this year.
DVM Q&A: What's the best way to refer a patient to Allied?

Open communication and transparency regarding our shared patients is essential. And we make it easy to obtain updates on their care through our online portal, Shareville, by Instinct.
Submit our Referral Form, found on our website under Veterinarians.
Or email one of our 5 locations and follow up with a call.
1. Location specific: Each of our practices has a portal, making it easy to refer a patient to a particular location and keep records easily accessible.
2. Prompt notification: When a patient first arrives at our hospital, our team adds the referring veterinarian information into their chart. Shareville will automatically send a notification via email any time that patient is checked in or checked out of Instinct.
3. Progress reporting: As a patient’s visit progresses and chart documents are finalized, they will become available for your practice to view. If a patient has multiple visits, all visits will be listed to allow access of past medical records on demand. Individual documents, specific visit information, or all visit information for a patient can be downloaded through the portal.
4. Accessing your patient’s information: It’s easy to log in. If it’s your practice’s first time accessing Shareville, follow these simple steps.
Tech Tips: A Weighty Topic

Nine Tips to Talk with Owners About Their Pet’s Weight
When discussing a pet’s weight with their owner, approach the conversation with positive, supportive language, focusing on the benefits of maintaining a healthy weight, using visual aids like body condition score charts, and offering concrete steps to manage their pet’s diet and exercise routine, while avoiding judgmental or accusatory tones.
1. Be gentle and empathetic: Acknowledge that discussing weight can be sensitive, and express concern for the pet’s well-being.
2. Use professional language: Refer to the pet as “overweight” or “carrying extra weight” instead of using terms like “fat.”
3. Explain the health risks: Clearly communicate the potential health issues associated with obesity, such as joint pain, diabetes, respiratory problems, and reduced lifespan.
4. Use visual aids: Utilize a body condition score chart to visually demonstrate where their pet falls on the healthy weight scale.
Focus on Solutions
5. Ask questions: Engage the owner by asking about their pet’s current diet, exercise routine, and any concerns they may have.
6. Provide concrete steps: Offer specific suggestions for dietary changes (portion control, high-quality food), exercise activities, and potential weight-loss programs.
7. Set realistic goals: Work with the owner to establish achievable targets for weight loss.
Offer Support and Encouragement
8. Positive reinforcement: Praise their efforts and commitment to their pet’s health.
9. Follow-up appointments: Schedule regular check-ups to monitor progress and address any concerns.
Example conversation:
“Hi [Owner’s name], based on our examination today, it looks like [Pet’s name] is carrying a bit of extra weight. As you may know, maintaining a healthy weight is important for their overall health and can help prevent potential issues like joint pain and diabetes. Would you be interested in looking at this body condition score chart to see where [Pet’s name] falls? We can discuss some simple changes to their diet and exercise routine that could make a big difference in their well- being.”