Hometown Veterinary Partners - Silver Lake

10/31/2026

Happy Halloween from our pack to yours! 🎃🐾 Whether your pet is dressed as a hot dog, a witch's familiar, or a very unimpressed pumpkin — post their costume in the comments. We want to see them all.

10/30/2026

"Dr. Ortiz and Stephanie are absolutely outstanding! I've been following Dr. Ortiz for the last 10-ish years for a reason. She takes the time with you and your pet and treats you like family." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Kelsey R. via Google

10/29/2026

It's National Cat Day (Oct 29) — and Black Cat Day was Oct 27. Black cats are famously the LEAST-adopted color at shelters, for reasons rooted in nothing but old superstition. Whether yours is a tuxedo, a tabby, or a total void — drop a photo below.

Curious how microchips actually work in cats? → https://hometownvetpartners.com/how-do-microchips-work-in-cats/

10/27/2026

Max heard we're accepting new patients and walked himself in. Smart dog. 🐾 Call your neighborhood HVP location to get on the schedule.

10/26/2026

Ask the Vet: Trick-or-treaters at the door — how do I keep my pet from bolting? Set them up in a quiet back room with the TV or music on, a favorite toy, and a long-lasting chew or puzzle feeder. Double-check ID tag and microchip info NOW, just in case.

Is microchipping safe for cats? → http://ow.ly/8bTU30sXlwg

10/23/2026

"Dr. Wojack is very kind and gentle with my highly anxious girl each time we have come in. The exam rooms are also very calming — I don't even feel like I am at the vet!" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Allison D. via Google

10/22/2026

Meet Marlena Dashner, LVT! 💛

Marlena has been a licensed veterinary technician since 2019, and she’s been with HVP Champlin since the day we opened our doors in March 2024.

What most pet owners don’t realize? Marlena will do “absolutely anything” to keep your dog or cat comfortable. That might mean sitting with them in her lap, carrying them around, offering an assortment of treats, or even breaking out a silly dance if that’s what helps. 🐾

Her favorite tasks are placing IV catheters and drawing blood, and she’s happiest when she’s helping a nervous patient relax.

At home, she has a dog named Wallace.

Thank you, Marlena, for everything you do!

10/22/2026

Your pet’s vet tech might be the hardest-working person you’ve never fully noticed. 🩺

On any given day, a veterinary technician might:
🧪 Collect blood samples and run lab work
💉 Place IV catheters and give treatments
😴 Monitor your pet’s heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure under anesthesia
📸 Take X-rays, including dental X-rays
🦷 Clean teeth during dental procedures
🐾 Comfort nervous patients (and their people)
📞 Walk you through care instructions when you head home

Credentialed veterinary technicians complete an accredited degree program and pass a national exam before they ever earn their title. Our hospitals couldn’t run without them. 💛

10/21/2026

Halloween Costume Check for Pets 🎃

Before you dress them up, watch for:
✔ Freezing in place or tucked tail = "no thanks"
✔ Pinned ears, whale eye, lip licking = stress signals
✔ Small parts they could chew off and swallow
✔ Anything covering their eyes, ears, or restricting movement

A festive bandana or bowtie is always a great low-stress alternative. Comfort over cute.

10/20/2026

Meet Kelby Howell, LVT, a licensed veterinary technician at Silver Lake with 20 years in the field! 💛

“Most owners probably don’t realize how much I think about their pets,” Kelby says. Before a visit, he reads up on how past appointments have gone. During the visit, he watches each pet’s body language and adjusts his approach. Afterward, he thinks about what worked and what to try next time.

That care pays off. One of his favorite patients, Riley, used to be a ball of stress at the vet. After years of gentle, intentional handling, he’s now happy to walk through the door. 🐾

His best tip for pet owners: “Take your pet’s emotions seriously.” Keeping visits calm and positive makes a big difference, whether that means anti-anxiety medication or simply keeping your pet with you as much as possible.

His favorite task? Drawing blood while a dog happily munches on a snack. His least favorite? Microchipping wiggly young patients. (It’s a big needle!)

Thank you, Kelby, for everything you do!

09/10/2026

Meet Dr. Serena Shields.

She earned both her Animal Science degree and her DVM from the University of Minnesota, and she worked as a veterinary assistant in general practice before and throughout vet school — so she came into the exam room already knowing how a hospital runs.

Her training centered on spectrum-of-care medicine: building a plan around what your pet needs and what's realistic for you, without compromising on either.

Ask her where the most difference gets made and she'll say preventive care. Wellness exams, screening labwork, parasite prevention, dental care, good nutrition. She'll also tell you to watch for the small stuff — most pets are experts at hiding discomfort, so the earliest signs are usually behavioral. A cat who stops jumping to the counter. A dog who's slower on the stairs.

At home she's thoroughly outranked by Maple, a brown tabby she adopted from the Animal Humane Society ten years ago.

07/14/2026

Homer made an appearance at NSP History Cruzer Car Show with the Silver Lake team this weekend!
We brought along Sleepypod so folks could see pet travel safety up close — because a good car show deserves safe rides home for the four-legged passengers too.
Events like this are exactly why we love getting out into the community — nothing beats meeting our neighbors and their pets face-to-face. See you next month at the History Cruzer Car Show!

06/28/2026

We're honored to share that our St. Paul team has been voted Gold for Veterinarian in the 2026 Star Tribune MN Best awards — chosen by readers across Minnesota.
This recognition belongs to every person on our team who shows up for your pets with skill, patience, and genuine care. Thank you for trusting us, and for voting.
📍 Serving St. Paul and the surrounding community
🏅 Star Tribune MN Best 2026 — Gold, Veterinarian

St. Paul, MN: Hometown Veterinary Partners is accepting new dogs & cats for primary & urgent care services.

06/15/2026

We had such a wonderful time at History Cruzers Car Show in Downtown North Saint Paul this weekend! 🚗✨ Beautiful cars, even better people — it was so good to connect with each and every one of you.

A car show felt like the perfect place to talk about something we care a lot about: keeping your pets safe on the road. Our friends at Sleepypod make crash-tested carriers and restraints designed to protect your pets the same way a seatbelt protects you — because a loose pet in a moving car is a real safety risk, even on short trips.

We'll be back at NSP History Cruzer Car Show on July 10th — come find us, bring your questions, and say hi to the Silver Lake team. 🐾

05/06/2026

What an incredible Saturday! 🐾 This past weekend at the Walk for Animals on May 2nd was truly something special. Being surrounded by so many passionate, caring people — all coming together for the love of animals — was such a reminder of why this work matters so much. To each and every one of you who showed up, walked alongside us, and shared in this beautiful day: thank you. Meeting you all was the highlight of our weekend. We are so grateful for this community. 💛

04/24/2026

Every step makes a difference — and we'd love to take them with you!
On Saturday, May 2, our Silver Lake/St. Paul team will be at the Walk for Animals — Animal Humane Society's largest fundraising event of the year — right here at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds!
This one-mile walk is so much more than a stroll. Every dollar raised helps provide housing and medical care for animals awaiting adoption, rescues pets from cruelty and neglect, and keeps veterinary services affordable for families in our community. That's something worth walking for. 🐾
After the walk, explore 60+ pet-friendly vendors, grab a bite from a food truck, and don't miss the pet costume contest at 11:45 AM — trust us, you won't want to!
No fundraising? No problem! You're still welcome to join us and donate on the day.
📅 Saturday, May 2 | Gates open 9 AM · Walk at 10 AM · Fun until 1 PM
📍 International Bazaar, Minnesota State Fairgrounds
We hope to see you and your furry family members there! 🐶🐱

04/17/2026

We're walking for animals — come join us! 🐾
On Saturday, May 2, you'll find our Silver Lake team at the Walk for Animals, Animal Humane Society's biggest fundraising event of the year at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds!
Gates open at 9 AM at the International Bazaar — then at 10 AM we walk one mile together for the dogs, cats, and critters in our community who need second chances. Stick around for food trucks, 60+ pet vendor booths, and a pet costume contest!
All animal lovers are welcome — even if you haven't fundraised, you can still donate at the event and make a difference. We'd love to see you and your pets there! 🐶🐱
📅 Saturday, May 2 | 9 AM–1 PM
📍 International Bazaar, Minnesota State Fairgrounds

03/04/2026

Schedule today-- get 30% off wellness lab work between now and March 31. We can't wait to see you!

02/21/2026

02/17/2026

Silver Lake, we need your help! 🐾💙

We’re honored to be nominated for MN Best, and we’d love your vote! If you’ve trusted us with your pet’s care, shared a kind word, or simply cheered us on, this is your chance to show some love.

✨ Voting refreshes daily — which means you can vote once every day!
🗓 Voting closes on the 25th, so don’t wait!
🗳 Cast your vote here: https://www.votemnbest.com/

Your support means the world to our team (and to the tails that wag when they walk through our doors). Let’s show Minnesota what Silver Lake already knows — compassionate, top-notch pet care lives right here.

Go vote… we’ll be over here doing our happy dance. 🐶🎉