Animal ER of the Western Slope

04/26/2025

World Veterinary Day, annually observed on the last Saturday of April, aims to celebrate the contributions of veterinarians to the health of animals, people, and the environment.

Here at Animal ER of the Western Slope we are incredibly blessed with Dr. Molinaro, Dr. McQuade & Dr. Hoang, along with multiple relief veterinarians who give up their nights, weekends & holidays to provide critical care & life saving procedures to the pets of the Grand Valley & surrounding areas.

Cheers to these amazing humans, their skills & their unending dedication to animal health & wellbeing!

04/25/2025

Rounding out our Veterinary Reception Week is Ris! Ris is the newest member of our CSR team, but she has jumped in with both feet first & quickly become invaluable to us! She has such a can do, get it done efficiently attitude & we are so thankful she joined the Animal ER !! Happy Veterinary Reception Week Ris!!

04/24/2025

Next up we have Adisyn! With her sugar sweet voice & genuine smile, she quickly puts both clients & pets at ease. You’ll generally catch her running from the front to the back, always trying to be in 5 places at once! Happy Veterinary Reception Week Adisyn!! We are so thankful for you!!

04/23/2025

Next up for Veterinary Reception Week is Amanda! Amanda’s facial expressions & quick wit always keep our staff laughing & keeps our spirits up on rough shifts. She has a no nonsense, get it done attitude that we are grateful for! Happy Veterinary Reception Week Amanda!

04/22/2025

First up on this Veterinary Reception Week is our main man behind the madness…Jeff!! As the leader of our CSR team, Jeff keeps us organized, always on time & keeps clients calm during emergencies. We could not do everything we do for pets without this guy manning the front reception desk! Happy Veterinary Reception Week Jeff!!!

04/21/2025

Veterinary Reception Week is celebrated the 3rd week of April & is a time for us to recognize those who are the faces of our hospital. They are the caring voices on the phone, the ones to first greet you during an emergency & the ones who calmly stay beside you when your pet is rushed to the back. We couldn’t do this job without them!

04/20/2025

Happy Easter from all of us at Animal ER of the Western Slope . Here are some tips to help keep your 4-legged friends safe this holiday!

1: SAY NO TO EASTER GRASS

Easter grass can make a basket really pretty but it’s irresistible for dogs and cats. They love to chew on it and if ingested it can be dangerous. Use tissue paper instead or if you do use Easter grass, keep those baskets out of reach of your pets.

2: KEEP CHOCOLATE AWAY FROM PETS

Chocolate contains theobromine and can cause hyperactivity, seizures, and an elevated heart rate in dogs. Keep the Easter stash hidden and away from your dog.

3: SUGAR SUBSTITUTE XYLITOL IS TOXIC TO PETS

Candy that has the sugar substitute xylitol, a sweetener, is toxic to dogs and cats. It’s often found in candy, gum, and some baked goods. If your pet ingests it, a drop in blood sugar can occur and cause problems such as seizures and liver failure. You may have to put your dog in another room while the kids celebrate Easter and dive into that basket of candy and chocolate.

4: EASTER LILIES ARE TOXIC TO CATS

Easter lilies are very pretty but cats have a tendency to chew on them. These flowers are toxic to cats and can cause vomiting and lethargy. Hopefully your cat doesn’t jump on every surface in the house and you’ll be able to find a nice spot for the flowers. But if not, it may be best to avoid having Easter lilies in the house to keep your cat safe.

5: TABLE SCRAPS CAN BE HARMFUL TO PETS

Table scraps from dinner can be bad for your pet. The ingredients, spices, and fat content can make your pet ill, upset their stomach, or cause other problems such as obesity and behavior problems. Remind your family and guests to not give any food to the dog. If your dog does beg, you may need to crate your dog during dinner or have him hang out in another room with a toy or Kong with some treats to distract him.

Raisins
Both raisins and grapes can cause kidney failure in pets. Offer your dog a baby carrot as a treat instead.

6: DON’T LOSE TRACK OF WHERE YOU HIDE EASTER EGGS

Real or fake eggs might be mistaken as a treat or toy by your dog. If your dog eats or chews on a fake plastic egg, it can cause intestinal problems. Real eggs that have been forgotten during an Easter egg hunt can spoil and if your dog finds them a few days later and eats them, expect an upset stomach. Keep track of the number of eggs you hide in your yard and where they are to gather up any undiscovered ones after the hunt is over.

As always, if you need us, we are here 24/7 through the holiday weekend.

03/28/2025

FYI Sky Canyon clients

ATTENTION! OUR POWER IS OUT! IF YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY PLEASE TEXT US AT 970-985-4911 OR CONTACT US ON FACEBOOK OR MESSENGER.

03/21/2025

Continuing education is important in our profession. Earlier this month, we sent 4 veterinary technicians to the Western Veterinary Conference to gain new knowledge & technician skills. They attended classes full of information that they brought back to our hospital & they spent 4 days enjoying some team bonding.

03/21/2025

Colorado has detected Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI H5N1) in 11 domestic cats, including both indoor-only and indoor-outdoor cats, with only one of these cats surviving the infection.

Cats appear to be highly susceptible to avian influenza and infections often result in death. Cases in Colorado cats have been linked to both raw pet food and raw poultry consumption.

To mitigate HPAI exposure to your companion animals, CDA and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment recommend against feeding raw poultry products to domestic cats. Additionally, we recommend extra precautions when handling raw pet food or raw poultry, such as thoroughly washing hands and disinfecting surfaces.

For more information about , go to ag.colorado.gov/hpai or learn more about the FDA recalls at https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/savage-pet-recalls-savage-cat-food-chicken-large-and-small-boxes-because-possible-bird-flu-health

02/25/2025

Bear seeing dad this morning for the first time since his surgery 💜 We love a good success story!

02/25/2025

Bear played too hard Friday night & ended up in the ER with a broken jaw. After spending the weekend in intensive care, he got his surgery yesterday with Dr. Ringen of Western Slope Veterinary Dentistry & Oral Surgery! He will wear a “splint” in his mouth for the next 8 weeks, but everyone is optimistic for a full recovery!! We are so lucky to have Dr. Ringen & his services here on the Western Slope!!

02/23/2025

Congratulations Tennille Weber & Patti Heinz for winning our “National Love Your Pet Day” baskets! You can pick them up anytime during our business hours. Thank you to everyone who shared pictures of the pets you love so much! We love your pets too 💜

02/20/2025

It’s National Love Your Pet Day! Let’s see photos of those pets you love to love💜 Photos will be entered into a drawing for a basket full of goodies for your 4-legged friends from all of us at Animal ER !

02/14/2025

If your pet indulges in any of these holiday treats, give us a call & we will help make them feel better! Open 24 hours a day from tonight at 6pm until Tuesday at 8am. Happy Valentine’s Day from the staff at Animal ER of the Western Slope !

02/06/2025

Huge shout out to SWEET COLORADOUGH for spoiling our staff with yummy donuts at our monthly staff meeting!! We appreciate you!!

01/21/2025

This sweet girl had some trouble having her babies. After 12 hours of midwifery from our skilled tech Addie, Oreo finally delivered 6 beautiful puppies! We love happy endings like this!

01/09/2025

We were fortunate to get to spend the last few days with a 3rd year vet student in an internship. Jess was AMAZING to work with, teach & she just jumped right in like she’d been a part of this team forever! We enjoyed our time with her & wish her the best of luck as she finishes vet school. Whatever hospital ends up with her as a doctor will be so incredibly blessed!