Willow Pet Hospital - Rochester MN

07/01/2026

We've seen too many cases of hyperthermia and heat exhaustion this week. Please be mindful it can happen really quick in this extreme weather. Putting your dog outside to potty and getting distracted can lead to tragedy. - Dr. Mike Sasse

06/30/2026

Have a safe and pet friendly 4th of July. Happy 250th! 1776 seems like just yesterday. - Dr. Mike Sasse and Staff

06/19/2026

Lost Dog. Sweet female with no microchip. We have contact information of the person that is caring for her. Like and share please, let's get her home before the weekend. - Dr. Michael Sasse PCHSRochester

05/03/2026

Great time at this years PCHSRochester Pet Walk. A little chilly but fun meeting new friends. - Dr. Mike

04/19/2026

Great work being done by Dr. George Aslandi at the Hormel Institute helping dogs with melanoma cancer. We care for Dr. Aslandi's pets in Austin and I always get excited with updates about the work his group is doing.

Facing a deadly melanoma diagnosis, 15-year-old Hugo is part of a trial of a groundbreaking new vaccine designed to train his immune system to fight the cancer's spread.

03/25/2026

Birch - blastomycosis. This is an interesting case that involved my personal dog Birch. He was a rescue Border Collie that was about 2 years old when he found us. Incidentally he had an injured eye the needed to be surgically removed (enucleated). Our daycare provider noticed at home that he was breathing "funny" one day. When we go home he was extremely tachypneic (fast, shallow, breathing) but didn't appear to have any injuries or fever. In the morning we took him to work and performed chest radiographs (see his lateral and ventrodorsal radiographs). The possible rule outs for these xrays are fungal or cancer (bad or worse). We confirmed a diagnosis of blastomycosis with a urine antigen test. We transported Birch up to BluePearl Emergency and Specialty Hospital in Eden Prairie where he was admitted for hospitalization, high flow oxygen therapy and treatment with a medication called Itraconozole. Birch did well on treatment for one week but then regressed the second week losing half his body weight and we ultimately euthanized after two weeks. He was a really special dog and we wanted to give him a chance with a really terrible disease.

Blastomycosis is a fungal disease seen in Minnesota. It is more commonly seen up north but we see several cases in southern Minnesota at our clinics every year. I have personally seen several cases that have started with a non-healing wound on a paw or leg. Survival rate with early diagnosis is 60 to 75% but falls to 30% with lung involvement. Early detection and treatment is key. Birch loved to dig and sniff. We had old decaying rotting wood mulch under our deck that he would get into. We believe this is likely how he became infected. This happens to humans too if you want to lose more sleep...

I hope this post is educational and alert pet owners to paying attention to significant changes in breathing with their dogs and non-healing wounds.

- Dr. Michael Sasse

A good resource if you have more interest:

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MNBAH/bulletins/1c631e4

03/18/2026

Behind the scenes at our new location. 507-222-9580

03/16/2026

Dice the Dalmatian came to us Friday after being seen at emergency clinic. He had a life threatening urinary obstruction in his urethra caused by uroliths or stones (see radiographs). We performed surgery to remove the stones and he was sent home later that day. Was happy to hear from the clients he was doing well back at home. He is such a sweet boy.

03/16/2026

Exciting news for SW Rochester pet parents! 🐾 Willow Pet Hospital is officially open! Taking over the former Blue Pearl space, Dr. Sasse and Dr. O’Brien are bringing top-tier care to your furry friends. From wellness exams and vaccines to daytime emergency surgeries, they do it all.

📍 Located in SW Rochester, just off 2nd Street.