In our AAHA-accredited facility at VCA Animal Wellness Center of Maple Grove, we help pets live long, healthy and happy lives. We work hard to deliver the best medical care for your pets, as well as the best experience for you, the pet owner.
Our veterinarians, technicians and other pet-friendly support staff are trained to the highest standards. Their thorough knowledge of the latest procedures and medicines ensures that all our patients receive the best in preventive and healing care.
Fear Free Certified Practice
We are proud to be one of the first hospitals in Minnesota to become a Fear Free Certified Practice. Practice Certification takes Fear Free implementation to the next level—from an individual to a joint effort that requires the entire practice team to work together to achieve certification. All staff have successfully completed Fear Free training and participate in ongoing continuing education throughout the year.
When you and your pet visit VCA Animal Wellness Center of Maple Grove, you’ll meet a knowledgeable and compassionate staff that has been providing quality veterinary services in Maple Grove, Plymouth and surrounding Minnesota communities since 1987. We are fully committed to enhancing our patient’s lives through excellence in comprehensive care, diagnostics, surgery and dentistry for dogs and cats of all ages. We focus on our patient’s emotional well-being as well as their physical well-being throughout their visit with us using fear free and low stress handling techniques. We also have a luxury resort providing boarding and day care services for dogs, cats, pocket pets, bunnies and guinea pigs, as well as full grooming services to help your pet look and feel their best.
We harness the scale and strength of our global network while acknowledging each individual's contribution. We work locally to improve the lives of all who interact with our brand.
Explore more below.
Low Stress Handling
VCA Animal Wellness Center is devoted to the physical and psychological welfare of every patient. Our goal is to recognize fear and anxiety in our patients and adjust our approach to meet them at their level of need. Ideally we are able to start a plan early on, before fear becomes an engrained emotional response. If your pet has already developed a fear of the veterinary office, we can help! Using low stress techniques, implementing a behavior modification program, using a gentle sedative or trying a combination of approaches will help to make your pet’s visit to the veterinarian less stressful.
We will handle all patients gently and in a way that reassures them we are on their side. We meet their needs for mental and physical comfort and are ready to adjust our handling and treatments to help every animal through their visits with as much comfort and ease as possible.
In addition to being Fear Free Certified, our staff is also Low Stress Certified. This program was developed by Dr. Sophia Yin. Dr. Yin was a Veterinarian, Animal Behaviorist, author and an expert on low stress handling. She has been a leader and advocate for educating the animal health community on how to handle animals with the least amount of stress possible. Her philosophy is to “lead like a leader in a dance and to be able to understand and use body language to help communicate clearly. Reward desirable behaviors and remove rewards for undesirable behaviors.” For more information on Dr. Yin, please visit her website at drsophiayin.com.
A Fear Free veterinary practice involves incorporating a philosophy of low stress handling and applying it to the veterinary visit. By constantly monitoring the pet’s level of physical and psychological stress throughout their visit we’re able to use various techniques that lessen their fear and improve their overall experience. Using low stress techniques in combination with something that the animal finds rewarding like a food treat, or possibly using a gentle anti-anxiety medication to help them feel more relaxed help us achieve this goal. Being afraid is not ok, and the use of physical force and coercion are not ok. It is a well-documented fact that calm and comfortable patients (dog, cat and human) recover more quickly and completely than their nervous counterparts.
We are proud to be a practice that holds ourselves to a higher standard and have been a leader in practicing low stress techniques for several years. We are always trying to improve techniques and approaches in order to give your best friends the best medical care possible with the least amount of stress possible.
Visit Low Stress Handling University
Focus on Felines
AWC is committed to the physical and psychological wellbeing of all cats. We understand their need for gentle handling, compassionate care and a quiet environment designed to minimize their stress.
Download the CATegorical Care: An Owner's Guide to America's #1 Companion.
We accept CareCredit, the pet, health and wellness credit card with flexible, budget-friendly financing options that allow you to pay over time for a range of treatments and services—including procedures, medication and more.*
To learn more about CareCredit, or to see if you prequalify, please visit us.
*Subject to credit approval.
Lionbridge provides over-the-phone and video interpretation services for non-English-speaking and American Sign Language (ASL) clients. In real time, veterinary providers can enlist an expert Lionbridge interpreter to facilitate a clear exchange of information between themselves and clients. Lionbridge’s on-demand, remote interpretation services enable effective and accurate communication with clients. This service empowers clients to be heard and spoken to in their own language, which in turn facilitates a deeper understanding of the care your pet needs.
Learn more about Lionbridge’s interpretation services: https://www.lionbridge.com/content-transformation-services/interpretation-services/.
Primary Care
Pet Resort
