Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some questions/answers that we are frequently asked. If you have additional questions that aren't covered here, please feel free to give us a call at (763) 710-7400.

What are the Hospital hours?
Our hospital is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. The clinic is closed on Saturday and Sunday.

Do I need to have an appointment?
Yes, patients are seen by appointment. We may have times during the week where we accept walk-in appointments.

What forms of payment do you accept?
Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, CareCredit, Apple Pay, cash, Tap-to-Pay

Can I make payments?
Payment is required at the time of service.  Please ask a staff member about CareCredit if you need to pay over time.

At what age can I have my pet spayed or neutered?
Recommendations will be tailored for your pet based on breed, sex and lifestyle. Your pet is given an exam prior to surgery to help determine whether your pet is healthy enough to undergo the surgical procedure. Current vaccinations are required at the time of surgery. A pre-anesthetic blood screen is recommended prior to undergoing anesthesia and surgery.

What is the pre-anesthetic blood screening?
This is a blood test that is run here in the clinic prior to surgery, or sent to the lab ahead of time. It tests the organ values and blood cell counts.  The pre-anesthetic blood screening is done to assess for any hidden abnormalities.  A heartworm or tick screen may also be required prior to surgery (depending on your pet's age and timing of the last test).

Why does my pet image not load into the River Rapids Pet Portal? 

Make sure the image is in one of the accepted file formats (gif, jpg, jpeg, png). Also make sure the file/image size is under 1 MB.   

How long do the sutures stay in after my pet's surgery?
Procedures where non-dissolving sutures are used should be removed by the veterinary staff in 10-14 days.  Sutures under the skin dissolve on their own.

Is it a good idea to let my pet have at least one litter?
No, there is no advantage to letting your pet have one litter. However, there are plenty of advantages to having your pet spayed or neutered. These advantages include decreasing the chances of breast tumors later in life, decreasing the chance of uterine infections (pyometra), decreasing the desire to roam the neighborhood and helping prevent spraying and marking. Newer research suggests that some breeds should not be spayed or neutered (or it should be delayed). We will discuss the latest recommendations with you at your appointment.