Rusty Ridge Animal Center

09/06/2025

Today Dr. Joe performed a laparoscopic gastropexy on one of our Great Dane friends!

For deep-chested breeds like Danes, Dobermans, Shepherds and more, this minimally invasive procedure can be life-saving. It helps prevent gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) — also known as “bloat” — a sudden and dangerous condition where the stomach twists.
✅ Why laparoscopic?
Smaller incisions
Less post-op discomfort
Faster recovery

We’re proud to be able to offer advanced procedures like this—services you’d typically only see at a specialty hospital—right here in our community, and at a fraction of specialty hospital pricing

Keeping pets healthy, preventing emergencies, and making advanced medicine more accessible… that’s what we’re all about!!
💙💙💙

09/03/2025

🍂🐾 September Senior Wellness Special 🐾🍂

Our golden-year companions give us so much love. They’ve walked beside us through life’s seasons, and now it’s our turn to walk gently beside them. Preventative care is one of the kindest gifts we can give - because finding concerns early means more time, more joy, and more golden years together.

This month only, our September Senior Wellness Special includes:
✔️ Comprehensive senior exam
✔️ Senior bloodwork
✔️ Chest x-rays
✔️ Abdominal ultrasound (reviewed by a boarded radiologist)

No hidden charges to explain results. Just straightforward, affordable care focused on your pet’s health and comfort.

Because here at Rusty Ridge, it’s not about shareholders or answering to corporations - it’s about neighbors, families, and the pets we love ❤️

Call today to schedule your pet’s appointment and let’s keep those golden years shining bright!

08/30/2025

We will be closed on Monday, September 1st for Labor Day

Labor Day is more than just a long weekend—it’s a day set aside to honor the hard work, dedication, and sacrifices of the American workforce. It’s a reminder that progress and community are built on the hands and hearts of everyday people who show up, give their best, and keep moving forward

From all of us here, thank you for the work you do, the support you give, and the role you play in making our community stronger 💙

08/29/2025

We hear you!

Every day, we get calls asking, “When are you opening the Morris location?” Believe us—we are just as excited as you are! But Rome wasn’t built in a day… and neither is a state-of-the-art veterinary hospital - all good things take time

What you don’t see are the piles of permits, inspections, rising costs, staffing challenges, and construction delays that come with turning an old building into something brand new. It’s tough—but we’re doing it the right way, not the fast way. Quality medicine doesn’t run on duct tape and folding chairs

We know the wait can feel long, and it’s easy to get impatient. Some corporate clinics may use that frustration to capitalize on your feelings - but we’re not here to compete with gimmicks. We’re here to remind you that when our doors open, we’ll proudly be the only locally owned and operated veterinary hospital in Morris. We live here, we share your values, and this clinic is being built with our community in mind—not corporate profits.

So thank you to everyone who has been cheering us on (and to those who are frustrated - hang in there, it really will be worth the wait). Some days it feels like the hurdles never end - rising costs, staffing challenges, permits - but we refuse to cut corners. Unless you’ve got a magic wand - or a very large bucket of cash - we’re doing this the right way, step by step, to give Morris the kind of veterinary hospital it truly deserves.

👉 So please, be kind to our staff. Great things take time… and even though we tried, no, we can’t Amazon Prime a hospital overnight!

08/28/2025

As we look ahead, our Shorewood facility rises not as a new beginning, but as the continuation of a dream. A dream built on resiliency, on the strength of small family values, and on the belief that veterinary medicine should remain in the hands of those who live it, love it, and pour their hearts and soul into it - not corporations

Family is more than a word. It’s not just where you come from - it’s who you choose to walk beside. It’s trust, kindness, and the comfort of knowing you are surrounded by people who genuinely care. In choosing us, you’ve chosen a locally owned practice that believes family always comes first, and that is a gift beyond measure

This new home will be a place where love and care are safe - where no outside voices can shake what we’ve built together. Within these walls, only compassion and commitment will guide us forward

Soon, when we open these doors, we’ll look back with grateful hearts. Not at the obstacles, but at the strength it took to rise above them. Thank you for standing with us, for believing in us, and for letting us be your family

From our family to yours - the best is yet to come ❤️❤️❤️❤️

08/26/2025

Recently, this pup was referred to see Dr. Joe for something no pet parent ever wants to hear: an a**l gland mass. Given the concern for apocrine gland a**l sac adenocarcinoma (AGASACA), a type of cancer that, while not extremely common, is notoriously aggressive and serious - surgical intervention was the best option, and our team got right to work

An a**l sacculectomy (surgical removal of the affected a**l gland) was performed. Fast forward to today… The pathology results are in, and we couldn’t be more thrilled: complete excision with no evidence of invasion and clean margins!!

In other words: this pup is officially cancer-free and now on the road to recovery! 💙
It’s stories like these that remind us why being your locally owned, family veterinary practice means so much. At Rusty Ridge, every tail wag, every cuddle, and every victory counts!

08/21/2025

Last night, we teased some exciting news about one of our very own blazing her trail into the Veterinary Technician Program. Well, since everyone’s been asking, we got the green light to publicly brag (with her blessing, of course)! 🥹

What better way to share the big reveal than with a throwback to the ‘90s? Please join us in congratulating Raine on this incredible achievement! 🎉

Raine’s journey is a true testament to hard work, heart, and the kind of dedication that makes Rusty Ridge such a special place. We couldn’t be prouder to support her as she takes this next big step in her veterinary career!!

Here’s to many more years of learning, growing, and providing top-notch care—go, Raine! 💙

08/20/2025

In vet med, the stethoscope is more than a tool - it’s a symbol. A symbol of compassion, dedication, and the deep responsibility we carry for every animal entrusted to our care. But at Rusty Ridge, it also represents something else: growth, dreams, and the journey we take together.

We don’t just hire for experience - we hire for heart. We believe in character, passion, and potential. Because when you’re part of Rusty Ridge, you’re more than a team member - you’re someone we invest in, believe in, and support every step of the way.

Today, we celebrate one of our own as she embarks on her next chapter: starting her Veterinary Technician program. We remember when she first joined us years ago, full of heart and curiosity. Now, we get to watch her chase her dreams, stethoscope in hand, ready to change lives as a Veterinary Technician!!

We don’t just build careers, we build futures - Because that’s what family truly means

08/19/2025

It’s never the outcome anyone hopes for—saying goodbye to a furry family member is one of the hardest parts of what we do

But being there to walk alongside families through the hard days, and celebrating the joyful moments, is what truly matters to us. At Rusty Ridge, you’re not just another number in the system to us, we’re your neighbors, your friends, and fellow pet lovers. We laugh with you during the silly visits, we cry with you during the hard ones, and we carry the same love in our hearts for your pets as you do

To this sweet soul’s family: thank you for letting us be a part of your journey. We’re honored to have cared for your pet and to share in the memories that will forever bring joy 💙

08/18/2025

One of our favorite Rottie wiggle butts came to see Dr. Joe recently for a torn CrCL (the doggie equivalent of an ACL)!

She underwent a T.P.L.O. surgery like a champ and is already back to walking like nothing ever happened — tail wags and all!

What made this case extra special? We were able to use stem cells that we harvested during her spay to enhance her recovery. These regenerative cells were applied during surgery and even used preventatively in her other joints to support healing and long-term joint health

We’re so proud of her progress and grateful to be part of her journey back to zoomies! 💙💙

08/14/2025

Being a small, family-owned veterinary practice means our family isn’t just the pets and clients we care for—it’s the people who walk through our doors and leave paw prints on our hearts

When one of our veterinary family members has the chance to be recognized for excelling at their craft, we rally behind them 10,000%

We’ve known Michael for the past 5–6 years, and in that time we’ve watched him grow—not just into the incredible athlete he is today, but into a truly remarkable human being. His dedication, grit, and kindness make him a local hero in our eyes.

Now, he has the chance to shine on a national stage. 🌟

Please join us in supporting Michael, boosting him to the top of the Sports Illustrated national board, and showing the world the strength of our community!!

Let’s lift him up—just like he’s lifted the spirits of so many around him 💪🏆

Michael Has Been Training In Taekwondo Since He Was 7! The Dedication He Has Put In To The Sport To Get To Where He Is Is Inspirational!

08/14/2025

Cancer isn’t just a human battle - our four-legged friends can face it too. Melanoma is incredibly common in humans, but also our pets, and when caught, it often takes a skilled surgical plan to give them the best shot possible.

This pup came to Dr. Joe with multiple masses, and our surgical team rolled up our sleeves for an extensive and intricate procedure. Using a large tissue flap, we were able to remove the tumors with wide surgical margins - the best way to reduce the chance of cancer cells sticking around.

It was a challenging surgery, but our goal is simple: kick cancer in the butt and give this pup the healthiest future possible!