We all want to be the best caretakers to our pets, but sometimes we need a little help. The resources below cover behavior questions, training, household changes, holiday safety, end-of-life care, and more — for dogs, cats, and small critters.
Urgent Care
Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661 ($85/incident)
U of M Veterinary Medical Center 24/7 ER (MN): 612-626-8387
AERC — Animal Emergency & Referral Center of MN, 24/7 ER: Oakdale 651-501-3766 · St. Paul 651-293-1800
Allied Veterinary Emergency & Referral, 24/7 ER (MN): Eden Prairie 952-452-0025 · Brooklyn Park 763-463-9800 · Minneapolis 952-521-3030
BluePearl Pet Hospital, ER (MN): Golden Valley 24/7 952-942-8272 · Blaine after-hours 763-754-9434
VEG — Veterinary Emergency Group, 24/7 ER (MN): Maple Grove 763-575-7171 · Woodbury 651-780-7595 · Eden Prairie 952-444-1034
Southview Animal Hospital, urgent care (West St. Paul, MN): 651-455-2258 — 24-hour hospitalization with on-call vet
Prior Lake Pet Hospital, after-hours urgent care (Prior Lake, MN): 952-447-2855
All City Pet Care Veterinary Emergency Hospital (Sioux Falls, SD) 24/7 ER: 605-335-4004
For after-hours or non-poison emergencies, call your nearest clinic first to confirm hours and let them know you're coming.
Pet behavior, household changes, holiday safety, end-of-life care — resources that apply across species.
Bringing Home a New Pet
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Twin Cities, MNBest practices for adding another cat to a multi-cat home.
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Twin Cities, MNStep-by-step guide for introducing a new dog or cat to your household.
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Twin Cities, MNHow to introduce a dog and a cat for the first time.
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OnlineWhat to expect, how to build routine, and ways to set your new dog up for success.
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OnlineReading body language and introducing a new dog to your resident dog.
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OnlineA step-by-step process for safely introducing a new cat and dog to each other.
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OnlineHow long adjustment takes, plus practical introduction tips for dogs and cats.
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OnlineFree self-paced courses, including "Bringing a New Dog Home" with body-language and basic-training videos.
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OnlineRole of pets in childhood development, responsible pet ownership.
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Twin Cities, MNAnimal Humane Society guide for new parents and their pets.
Holiday & Seasonal Safety
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NationalBuild a pet emergency kit and evacuation plan.
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NationalCostumes, candy, doorbell anxiety — what to watch for.
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NationalHoliday plants, foods, and decorations to keep pets safe.
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NationalDisaster preparedness specifically for pets.
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NationalFireworks, heat, water — summer pet safety guide.
Special Needs & End-of-Life Care
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Twin Cities, MNGrief resources after losing a pet.
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MNEco-conscious aquamation as an alternative to flame cremation.
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NationalDecision-making, pain management, hospice care.
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NationalCaring for blind, deaf, mobility-impaired, or chronically-ill pets.
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Twin Cities, MNQuality-of-life assessment for end-of-life decisions.
In-Home Euthanasia Providers
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MN & WIIn-home euthanasia with pricing on website.
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Twin CitiesMobile veterinary care, including euthanasia.
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St. Cloud + surroundingIn-home euthanasia and cremation services.
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Twin Cities + DuluthIn-home euthanasia and aftercare.
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Twin Cities + St. CloudMobile vet euthanasia, 1.5-hr radius around Minneapolis.
From puppy training to senior dog comfort — guides and trusted local trainers.
General Care & Behavior
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Twin Cities, MNFree behavior and pet care helpline.
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NationalWhat to know before taking your dog to a park.
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NationalComprehensive dog health and care articles.
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NationalReduce boredom and redirect energy with mental enrichment.
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NationalBathing, brushing, nail trims — at-home grooming basics.
Behavior Issues
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NationalUnderstanding and managing canine aggression.
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NationalWhy dogs chew/dig and what to do about it.
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NationalGuides on resource guarding, marking, counter surfing, fear, touch sensitivity, and more.
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NationalWhy dogs bark and how to address it.
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NationalManaging dogs that pull, lunge, or bark on leash.
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NationalHelping dogs cope with being alone.
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NationalCauses, signs, and step-by-step strategies for mild to moderate cases.
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NationalHelping dogs scared of loud noises.
Resource Guarding
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NationalWhy dogs guard food bowls and a step-by-step plan to help them feel safe at mealtimes.
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NationalBehavior library covering guarding of food, toys, spaces, and stolen items.
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NationalRecognizing guarding body language and reward-based ways to build trust around valued items.
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NationalWhen guarding crosses into aggression — and when to bring in a professional.
Puppy Behavior & Development
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NationalWhy puppies nip, teaching bite inhibition, and redirecting those needle-sharp teeth.
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NationalThe teething timeline (3–7 months) and how to ease sore gums with safe chews.
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NationalNormal vs. problem chewing, puppy-proofing, and teaching what's okay to chew.
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NationalPractical, kid-friendly techniques for managing normal puppy mouthing and play biting.
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NationalThe critical socialization window and how to introduce your puppy to new people, places, and sounds.
Training Resources
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NationalComprehensive training resource library.
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NationalStep-by-step crate training guide.
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NationalHouse training, chewing, counter surfing, car anxiety, and public-outing tips.
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NationalHow to choose a humane, qualified trainer and what questions to ask.
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NationalPotty training for puppies and adult dogs.
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NationalStop the pulling — teach a relaxed walk.
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NationalCritical socialization for puppies and adults.
Local Trainers & Behaviorists
We keep our list of trainers and behavior consultants on the Dog Trainers page, where you can filter by area — Twin Cities, Greater Minnesota, and South Dakota — and see who handles fear, reactivity, and aggression.
Veterinary Resources
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NationalTrusted veterinary information for owners.
Feline behavior, kitten care, multi-cat homes, and special-needs cats.
General Care & Behavior
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OnlineIndoor enrichment, puzzles, and play ideas.
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Twin Cities, MNFree cat behavior and care helpline.
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NationalComprehensive cat care articles and guides.
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OnlineFrom the cat behaviorist behind "My Cat From Hell."
Behavior Issues
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NationalPetting-induced and play aggression.
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NationalBehavioral and medical causes, plus how to solve litter box avoidance.
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NationalWhy your cat meows so much — and what to do.
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NationalBox size, litter depth, placement, and number of boxes to get it right.
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NationalSolving inappropriate elimination.
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NationalManaging cats that keep you up at night.
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NationalProactive steps that stop litter box, scratching, and aggression issues before they start.
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NationalRedirect scratching to appropriate surfaces.
Kittens & Special Care
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PDFFeeding amounts and schedules by age/weight.
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NationalEverything to buy and set up before bringing a new cat home, plus a "safe room" guide.
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NationalBottle-feeding, weaning, kitten-proofing, litter training, and health monitoring.
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PDFStep-by-step care for orphaned/bottle-fed kittens.
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NationalPatient methods for under-socialized cats.
Multi-Cat Homes
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NationalBest practices for cat-to-cat introductions.
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NationalPreparation and intro process.
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NationalMulti-species household introductions.
Veterinary Resources
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NationalTrusted veterinary information.
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NationalWhy declawing is harmful and the alternatives.
Rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, and rats — small pets with specialized care needs.
Considering a Small Pet?
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NationalHow to pick the right small pet for your lifestyle.
Rabbits
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NationalKeep your home and rabbit safe.
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NationalYes, rabbits can be litter-box trained.
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MinnesotaComplete rabbit care guide from a MN-based group.
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NationalUnderstanding bunny behavior and signals.
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NationalWhat to feed your rabbit.
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MinnesotaVets who treat rabbits — not all do.
Guinea Pigs
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NationalDiet basics for guinea pigs.
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NationalCage size and setup requirements.
Ferrets
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NationalSetup, diet, and handling.
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NationalFerret ownership overview.
Rats
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NationalHabitat, diet, and enrichment.
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MinnesotaWhy rats make great pets.
Critter Veterinary Resources
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MinnesotaVets who treat exotic and small pets.
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MinnesotaWhere to get nails trimmed for small pets.