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About Us
At Iowa Veterinary Specialties, we have one mission: to exceed the expectations of our clients, their families, and the referral community. We are here to provide the highest quality veterinary care for your pet. We have a highly qualified team of veterinarians and multiple veterinary technicians present at all times and at all hours. We are here for your pet when you need us most. We have been serving central Iowa for over thirty-five years, opening in April of 1980.
Iowa Veterinary Specialties is honored and privileged to be able to help your pet. Our veterinarians work with your pet's primary, referring veterinarian to ensure optimal communication and the best care possible. Our emergency facility is fully staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide high quality care to your pet in a time of need.
Days, nights, weekends, and holidays; Iowa Veteirnary Specialties is waiting to exceed all of your expectations.
Our History
Iowa Veterinary Specialties first opened its doors (as The Animal Emergency Clinic) April 16, 1980, when eighteen local veterinarians envisioned a facility that would provide after- hour emergency care for Central Iowa's beloved pets. In just ten years time, the clinic had outgrown itself for its first time and relocated just down the street from our first home on Second Avenue. In November of 2001 the clinic again outgrew itself and IVS moved to our current home on Creston Avenue.
Thirty-five years later, with over 7,000 square feet of hospital space, Iowa Veterinary Specialties has become Iowa's premier emergency and specialty care hospital treating patients throughout the state. Our hospital now includes a staff of over fifty employees including skilled veterinarians, highly trained veterinary technicians, and caring customer service representatives.
On February 1, 2011, the owners of Iowa Veterinary Specialties transferred ownership to Iowa State University Veterinary Services Corporation, for the purposes of providing seamless comprehensive care and improvement of the profession in collaboration with the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center at Iowa State University.
Our hospital has invested in state of the art diagnostic equipment including digital x-ray and Computed Tomography (CT), ultrasound and endoscopy services along with a full- service in-house laboratory. Advanced treatments such as electrochemotherapy complement alternative medicine treatments like acupuncture. Our hospital is here for your pet twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, nights, weekends, and holidays.
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December 21, 2024 8:04 am local time
- 6110 Creston Ave Des Moines, IA 50321, USA, 41.55962, -93.70187
- 515-280-3051
Our Veterinarians
Karl Bosler, Emergency Veterinarian
Dr. Bolser Graduated from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1990, and has been working at Iowa Veterinary Specialties ever since. Dr. Bolser started teaching freshman veterinary students at Iowa State University in 2000, and is currently the instructor in charge of Clinical Foundations and Case Studies 1. He also teaches both anatomy classes for ISU Veterinary Students.
Angie Gearhart, Emergency Veterinarian
Dr. Gearhart is a 1999 graduate of Louisiana State University. She practiced for eight years in Arkansas before moving to Iowa in 2007. She works part-time for IVS and periodically fills in at other clinics in the area. She is a member of IVMA, American Heartworm Association and the Arkansas Veterinary Medical Association.
Kevin Pottorff, Emergency Veterinarian
Dr. Pottorff graduated from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1982. He joined Iowa Veterinary Specialties as a staff veterinarian in April 2011. He practiced in Oelwein, Iowa, for four years before moving to Corning, Iowa, where he was a founding partner of Southern Hills Veterinary Services. Dr. Pottorff is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association.
Shawna Greene, DVM, DACVIM
Shawna Greene, DVM, DACVIM received her DVM from Iowa State University in 2003. After an internship in Northern Colorado, Dr. Greene then completed her residency and received her master’s degree from Purdue University. Board certified since 2008, Dr. Greene diagnoses, stages, and treats all cancer types using the latest equipment and state-of-the-art techniques. Beginning October 5, 2015, Dr. Greene will head Iowa Veterinary Specialties' Oncology Department. Dr. Greene will be seeing patients by appointment Monday-Thursday exclusively at Iowa Veterinary Specialties.
Leah Braas, DVM, CVA
Emergency Veterinarian, Hospice and Palliative Care. Dr. Braas graduated from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2002. Dr. Braas enjoys emergency medicine because the atmosphere is constantly changing presenting new challenges. Recently, Dr. Braas has become a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist and heads Iowa Veterinary Specialties' Hospice and Palliative Care Department.
Shelby Mangus, Emergency Veterinarian
Dr. Mangus graduated from Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2016. After working in general practice, Dr. Mangus discovered a strong passion for emergency medicine. She has a special interest in internal medicine, feline medicine, and soft tissue surgery. During her free time she enjoys gardening, canoeing, and spending time with her husband, Devin, as well as their two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Ava and Meadow, and two cats Pharaoh and Iris. Dr. Mangus is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Iowa Veterinary Medical Association, and the American Association of Feline Practitioners.
Stephanie Larson, DVM Emergency Veterinarian
Dr. Larson graduated from Iowa State University in 1990 with BS in Cellular and Molecular Biology. She then graduated from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1995, followed by 2 years of research in the molecular biology field. Dr. Larson practiced for 20 years in the Chicago area in Emergency and preventative medicine with special interests in dentistry, reproduction and surgery. She shares her home with 2 Dobermans, Cricket and Ariel. Other interests include horseback riding, training and showing dogs, reading and gardening. She is so glad to be back at home in central Iowa with wonderful people, great restaurants and the Iowa State Fair! Go Cyclones!
Eric Zellner, DVM, DACVS-SA
Dr. Zellner obtained his DVM from Michigan State University. He then completed his internship and surgical residency at Iowa State University. He is currently an assistant professor at Iowa State University and enjoys soccer and taking care of his animals (dogs, cats, snake, chickens and ducks) in his spare time. His surgical interests include soft tissue surgery and fracture repair.
Our Staff
Stephanie Jensen, BS, LVT, RVT
Emergency Technician
Amanda Kamm, RVT
Emergency Technician
Jaecy Garrison
Emergency Technician
Megan Wright Walker, MA, RVT
Emergency Technician
Dana Graeve, LVT
Emergency Technician
Kristy Sorg (LVT) & Amanda Morrow (RVT)
Head Trainers
Mission & Values
Our Mission
At Iowa Veterinary Specialties, our mission is to exceed the expectations of our clients and our community. We strive to provide the highest quality of veterinary care for our patients. Our veterinarians and staff are committed to providing the finest and most progressive veterinary care and customer service possible.
Our work is our passion and we work to improve the health of our patients with individualized attention and quality care. Promoting the well being of pets and their families is forefront in our hearts and minds. We prioritize continuing education for our doctors and staff and through our staff to our patrons. Our mission is to be compassionate and understanding, showing a demeanor that always reflects our deepest respect for each pet and their family.
Our Philosophy
At Iowa Veterinary Specialties our goal is to guide our clients through the medical management and care of their pets. We will use our skills and knowledge to improve the health of your pet and relieve suffering whenever possible. In our state of the art facility we will be professional in our appearance to exceed our clients' expectations.
Our Vision
To be the premiere multi-specialty and emergency veterinary group in Iowa, offering a diversity of services including emergency, surgery, internal medicine, dermatology, opthalmalogy, and oncology.
Our Creed
The veterinarians and staff of Iowa Veterinary Specialties are committed to improving the health of our patients through compassionate care and dedication to our patients and our profession. We believe in this mission and the values that are critical to veterinary medicine. Our people, education, quality, service, and integrity form the cornerstones of our practice. It is our pledge and honor to uphold the duties of our profession as we dedicate ourselves to healing those we serve.
Services
Hospice & Palliative Care
Iowa Veterinary Specialties is proud to offer end-of-life care and pain management through our Hospice & Palliative Care department. The department will now allow Iowa Veterinary Specialties the opportunity to provide more comprehensive and compassionate care to pets suffering from life-limiting illnesses. The Hospice & Palliative Care department will be utilizing the latest in integrative medicine (a combination of alternative and Western medicines) in order to better serve your pets during this difficult transition.
Cardiology
Like humans, dogs and cats can suffer from a variety of problems related to their heart and lungs. At Iowa Veterinary Specialties, we offer a range of veterinary cardiology diagnostic tools to clients whose animals are suspected of having heart disease. Here at IVS , we have an Internal Medicine Specialist to perform cardiac workups and ultrasounds. If your pet has complicated heart disease, we will be able to refer you to a board certified veterinary cardiologist.
Dentistry
Talk to your pet's primary veterinarian if dental prophylaxis, or a dental cleaning, is needed for your pet. Having a professional dental cleaning is the safest way to remove calculus from your pet's teeth. Your veterinarian may also take dental x-rays of your pet's mouth to make sure there are no hidden infections, masses, or other irregularities. The American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC) recommends pets to be sedated during dental cleanings. Anesthesia-free dental cleanings can be very harmful for your pets. For more information about Anesthesia free dental cleanings, visit this website the AVDC has created to inform yourself on the risks involved with these types of cleanings.
