Animal Emergency Center of the Quad Cities

06/15/2026

Eye problems are never fun! Alphie the cat here knows this first paw- he had been squinting his eye and having more than normal discharge from his eyes. There is a simple diagnostic test we do with almost every eye concern called a fluorescein stain test where the cornea is stained (don't worry, we numb the eyes first which offers the pet comfort from any pain) and then the stain is washed away. If any of the stain remains on the surface of the eye this indicates a corneal ulcer. Ulcers are one reason a cat or dog might squint their eyes but thankfully Alphie's stain did not take and he was treated for a case of conjunctivitis. This can happen for a number of reasons and should be monitored for recurrence. Here you can see Alphie ready to go home with his e-collar to help to prevent self-trauma to the eye - one really good way to get an ulcer 😜

06/12/2026

Happy birthday to our incredible receptionist Brianna! Thank you for showing up every shift and making work fun- you are humorous when the staff needs to most and we love having you in our team! We hope your birthday is a great one!💕

06/11/2026

Corn on the cob 🌽🌽🌽 Starting around this time every year we start getting the "My dog ate a corn cob" call, wondering what to do. We see dogs vomit them back up, p**p them out, and sometimes we need to surgically removethem. If your dog ingests a corn cob you should call your vet as they may recommend different things depending on the following...
Did your dog chew the corn cob?
How long ago was the ingestion?
What type of dog do you have?
Today is National Corn on the cob day to celebrate the beginning of a good grilling season - watch out as you celebrate that the pups don't indulge too!

06/10/2026

The heat is here and here to stay for a while! Please be aware of the REAL dangers of heatstroke. If you love a short faced dog such as a French Bulldog, English Bulldog, or Shih Tzu, or if your dog has an extra thick coat like a Pomeranian might have then your pet is at a higher risk. Very old and very young dogs also pose a higher risk than others. Here are the signs to watch for and some tips to keep your dog cool below 👇👇👇
🌳 Provide a shaded area for your pet to rest on hot days - even a small amount of shade will make a difference for a pet that spends a lot of time outside
💦 Ensure there is always fresh water available
🚶 Limit walking to the early morning or later evening hours to avoid the heat of the day
🚗 Never leave a pet in a car, not even for just a few minutes
Dogs at higher risk for heatstroke should have limited outside time - just enough time to eliminate and then back to the AC ❄ Dogs that spend more time outside should be monitored and checked on frequently. If you suspect your pet is experiencing heatstroke waste NO TIME! Seek veterinary care as soon as possible to start cooling.

06/08/2026

Meet Franklin 😻- Franklin is this handsome kitty who was experiencing some rear end issues... When his mom noticed that he was not quite himself and seemed to be overgrooming his bum she decided to take a look and what she found was surprising! Cats are great at hiding their medical problems so by the time his a**l glands had filled up enough to rupture it was too late. He presented to us with a ruptured a**l gland and another one ready to rupture anytime. Dr. Wilwerding and our assistant Rachel sedated him to clean this dirty wound and gave him some pain medications and antibiotics to continue at home. Franklin was the sweetest and most handsome Norwegian Forrest Cat we saw that day!!

05/25/2026

We are here all day for your animal emergency needs! We are wishing a happy and safe Memorial Day for you and your loved ones 💙❤️ We will be closing at 8am tomorrow morning, please expect a wait as we will be the only animal hospital in the Quad Cities open today.

05/20/2026

We are Hiring! We currently have the following positions: Part Time Veterinary Assistant sand Part Time Veterinary Technicians. Second shifts during the week and weekend are available. If you enjoy working with animals and are looking for both a fulfilling and rewarding opportunity to provide emergency services to your community, then give us a try. Please send resumes to [email protected].

05/03/2026

Thank you Hyvee! We always love having community support!

🎉 In celebration of our Springtime Party and 95 Years of Business, we are “Wowing” members of the community with treats. Yesterday we thanked Animal Emergency Center of the Quad Cities with some sweet treats! 🐶

02/14/2026

Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love of all kinds- our favorite being the unconditional love between you and your pet. Here’s a gentle reminder to check your flower gifts for Lilies. While Lilies add a stunning look to any bouquet they are highly toxic to your feline lover.

All parts of the Lily are toxic. It is best practice to remove Lilies and anything they may have come into contact with from the environment. If you know or suspect that your cat has tampered with flowers like this please call your vet and do not delay- early treatment is key to prevent irreversible and sometimes fatal kidney injury.

We hope you have a safe and happy Valentines Day!💘

02/06/2026

National Pet Dental Health Month is here and we wanted to share these important things to know to make sure your pet has the healthiest mouth they can!

🦷Bad breath
🦷Decreased appetite
🦷Difficulty chewing & eating
🦷Excessive drooling
🦷Facial swelling, often under one or both eyes
These can all be signs of oral pain or other oral issues. Sometimes you can visually see fractured teeth - these should always be looked at by your vet.

Even small fractures and/or infections can be painful and can lead to other health issues if not taken care of.

Preventative care is great for preventing painful infection in the mouth. What can you do as a furry friend haver?
🦷Brushing teeth! Teeth brushing is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to help take care of your pets teeth. This should be started at a young age if possible and remember that any amount of brushing is better than no brushing. Make it fun for you and your pet and be sure to use a pet safe toothpaste approved by your vet.
🦷Dental chews and dental diets. These are a great option for in-between brushing and for pets that do not allow brushing at all. Ask your vet if there are any that they recommend.
🦷Prevent trauma to teeth. When choosing treats and toys for your companions check that they are not hard enough to damage teeth. Once a tooth is fractured it may be vulnerable to bacteria and pain.

At the AEC we do not do dental care. We can do a limited oral exam and offer comfort for pets that may have oral pain. In the event that extractions would be necessary we do not have the tools available here to assist with this. Please call ahead if you think your pet is suffering from dental disease!