Business Details
30 Years
experience
Emergency
services
Your Trusted Veterinarian in Stillwater, MN
Rivertown Animal Hospital has been a trusted provider of veterinary care in Stillwater, Minnesota, for over 25 years. Our practice is built on a foundation of patient safety, pain management, and compassionate care, serving cats and dogs across the Twin Cities metro area. As a Fear Free Certified practice, we prioritize reducing stress and anxiety for pets during visits, ensuring a better experience for animals, owners, and our veterinary team. We are proud to be a Gold-Certified Cat Friendly Practice, offering specialized handling techniques and care tailored to feline needs.Our comprehensive services include dental care, diagnostics, surgery, wellness programs, and pain management, all delivered by a team of experienced veterinarians and staff committed to the highest standards of care. We actively invest in continuous training and education to stay at the forefront of veterinary advancements, ensuring our patients receive the most up-to-date treatments. Our dedication to excellence has earned us recognition as the Best Veterinary Clinic for ten consecutive years, a testament to our unwavering commitment to animal health and client satisfaction.
Services
Pet Dental Care
Animal Diagnostic Clinic
Pain Relief Management
Pet Surgery
Pet Wellness
End-of-Life Care
Cat-Friendly Services
Vaccinations
Senior Pet Care
Urgent Care
Details
- Year established: 1996
Highlights and features
- 25+ years of experience serving Stillwater and the Twin Cities metro area
- Fear Free Certified professionals reducing pet stress during visits
- Gold-Certified Cat Friendly Practice with specialized feline care
- Comprehensive services including dentistry, diagnostics, and surgery
- 24/7 emergency care options through partnered clinics
Associations and certifications
- American Association of Feline Practitioners
What people say
Exceptional staff
High-quality care
Fear Free Certified
Cat-friendly handling
Life-changing treatments
Services
Pet Dental Care
Our comprehensive dental services include cleanings, oral exams, digital x-rays, and surgical extractions performed by trained veterinarians. We use advanced techniques like cold laser therapy for post-operative healing and emphasize preventive care to maintain oral health. Each procedure includes pre-anesthetic evaluations and multimodal pain management to ensure patient safety and comfort.
Animal Diagnostic Clinic
We offer in-house lab testing, digital radiology, ultrasound, and endoscopy for accurate diagnosis of medical conditions. Our diagnostic capabilities extend to pre-anesthetic blood screening, medication monitoring, and specialized imaging for heart, abdominal, and dental issues. When advanced diagnostics are needed, we coordinate referrals to board-certified specialists for echocardiography or MRI/CT scans.
Pain Relief and Management
Our multimodal approach combines medication, cold laser therapy, and chiropractic care to address acute and chronic pain. We specialize in arthritis treatment using monoclonal antibody therapy and provide weight management programs to reduce joint stress. Each plan is tailored to the pet's condition, with home care guidance and follow-up monitoring to ensure effectiveness.
Pet Surgery
We perform spaying/neutering, dental procedures, tumor removals, and emergency surgeries with strict safety protocols. Preoperative bloodwork, IV fluids, and advanced monitoring ensure patient stability. Post-operative care includes cold laser therapy, pain medication, and detailed recovery instructions. Complex cases are referred to board-certified surgeons when specialized expertise is required.
Pet Wellness
Our wellness programs focus on early disease detection through annual exams, vaccinations tailored to risk factors, and parasite prevention. We offer senior pet care with specialized diagnostics and nutritional counseling to address age-related changes. Preventive dental care and weight management programs help maintain long-term health and quality of life.
People
Dr. Ginger Garlie
Founder
Graduated from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 1985. Established Rivertown Animal Hospital in 1996, inspired by her veterinarian father. Specializes in dentistry and pain management. Served as MVMA president and alumni committee member. Passionate about travel and outdoor activities.
Dr. Carrie Thorson
Veterinarian
University of Minnesota graduate (2000) with a focus on internal medicine. Joined Rivertown in 2006, emphasizing lifelong learning. Shares her life with a Golden Retriever and enjoys family adventures in national parks and baking.
Dr. Carrie Howe
Veterinarian
Inspired by her veterinarian grandfather, she transitioned from veterinary technician to DVM in 2017. Focuses on wellness and nutrition. Enjoys sailing, camping, and family time with her husband and children.
Dr. Lacey Rutledge
Veterinarian
Joined Rivertown in 2021 after graduating from the University of Minnesota in 2020. Interests include surgery, dentistry, and preventive care. Enjoys outdoor activities with her husband, including hiking and horseback riding.
Dr. Sharon Dekker
Veterinarian
Graduated from Macalester College and University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine (2016). Specializes in senior pet care and surgery. Combines veterinary work with family life and baking hobbies.
Questions
What services does Rivertown Animal Hospital offer?
We provide dental care, diagnostics, surgery, pain management, wellness programs, vaccinations, senior pet care, and emergency referrals for cats and dogs.
Are you open for emergency care after hours?
While we're closed nights and Sundays, we partner with Animal Emergency Clinic Oakdale, Blue Pearl, and U of M Veterinary Center for 24/7 emergency services.
Do you accept pet insurance or financing options?
We accept CareCredit financing and work with pet insurance providers for coverage verification. Payment plans may be available for approved treatments.
What makes your clinic cat-friendly?
We're Gold-Certified by the American Association of Feline Practitioners, using specialized handling techniques and creating low-stress environments for feline patients.
How do you manage pet dental care?
Our dental services include cleanings, x-rays, extractions, and cold laser therapy. We emphasize preventive care and provide home dental hygiene guidance.
What wellness programs are available?
We offer annual exams, vaccinations tailored to risk factors, parasite prevention, senior pet diagnostics, and nutritional counseling for comprehensive preventive care.
Reviews (7)
Lee Owen
Jun 21, 2022
Report
Have entrusted many pets over the years to this Hospital. They hire excellent staff, and my vet actually cares about my dogs. She has seen two of them through the passing over the decades. Get your dental work, x-rays, surgery, pharmaceuticals and advice here. The vets are honest about what they can do and will refer you if needed. Referrals not needed often.
Tom Crotty
Apr 06, 2022
Report
No waiting and very clean lobby area. The staff treated my puppy and I very well as this was the first time here for both of us. Dora is a Basenji puppy, so I waited to make sure they had experience with that breed. They took care of all my needs and questions. I highly recommend this group.
Jon
Mar 12, 2022
Report
Rivertown is simply the best group of doctors and staff for giving compassionate care along with veterinary skill and excellence. Each pet entering the clinic is greeted with the most sincere, happy welcome by staff who truly love animals -- something that you can't fake! Dr. Garlie has gone the extra mile for our dog and us. We would never consider taking our pets anywhere else and recommend Rivertown wholeheartedly!
Lucy Turner
Mar 07, 2022
Report
Rivertown was recommended by my Niece she is a vet tech in WI. I was so pleased with the clinic and how caring, gentle and professional they were. I liked the back up calls I received from river town, Wonderful staff. Thank You very much to all the staff, Doctors and Vet tech that helped Bruiser feel better.
Carly Carlson
Jan 12, 2022
Report
I can't say enough positive things about this clinic. Exceptional staff, high-quality care and attention to feline specific needs. They treat my cats like their own and my cats always have a great visit. I especially appreciate everything they have done to ensure the health and safety of their staff and clients during the pandemic. I Love Rivertown!
Kevin G.
Jan 07, 2022
Report
After getting two new puppies, I called two places and asked for pricing on initial vaccinations. One place just told me it would be between a certain value, Rivertown though, walked me through everything that they could do, what they recommended, and the individual price for each. I have been so pleased with the time and attention they have given me to make sure all of my questions have been answered.
Barbara McDonough
Nov 24, 2021
Report
I have been going to Rivertown for well over a decade. Dr. Garlie and her staff are excellent in all they do for me and my cats. I trust them completely in the medical care they provide. They have been there with me through good and bad, from pet wellness to euthanasia. I recommend them highly for the care of your beloved pets. God Bless you, Dr. Garlie and staff, for the complete and compassionate care and for always being there when I need you. Merry Christmas and a Blessed 2022! Love you all!
