And in the end
The love you take
Is equal to the love you make
– Sir Paul McCartney
The love you share with your dog is special. It is pure and simple, yet totally non-transactional. Although your dog cannot comprehend all the good you do for them, they still love you like they do.
The love you share with your cat is equally special. They do have high expectations of you, of course, but that’s perfectly reasonable for an animal who believes they are royalty.
Caring for your cherished pet goes far beyond giving them treats and toys. It includes doing everything you’re able to keep them healthy – right up to bringing them back from the brink of death. If you live in Eden Prairie, you can uphold this pact by bringing your dog, cat or pocket pet to Flying Cloud Animal Hospital.
“I grew up on a ranch in central South Dakota,” said Dr. Jeffrey Krull, co-owner and managing veterinarian of Flying Cloud Animal Hospital. “I started caring for the animals there before I can remember, but my awakening didn’t come until I was 5 years old. That’s when our horses got into the cattle feed, which is poisonous to them. Polly, my dad’s favorite Quarter Horse, got the worst of it. The vet told him nothing could be done. It was one of the very few times I believe my father cried.
“From that moment on, I wanted to be a vet; not just for the animals themselves, but for the people who love them.
“I was blessed to spend a large part of my childhood caring for farm animals. Vaccinating them. Treating them for cuts from barbed wire. Helping them have their babies. Whenever the livestock were content with themselves, I’d find ways to make life better for the barn cats and cattle dogs. I even took the local wildlife under my wing … except for the skunks. I’m sure they could have used my help, too, but I didn’t want my mom to make me sleep outside.”
Dr. Krull would go on to study veterinary medicine at Iowa State, during which time he also worked at Flying Cloud Animal Hospital. “I had the good fortune of working under Dr. Steve Harris: former owner of Flying Cloud Animal Hospital, and the greatest vet I will ever know,” said Dr. Krull. “As luck would have it, he and I crossed paths again a few years later during a conference in Las Vegas. I was raising a family there at the time and was eager for a change of scenery, so I gladly accepted Dr. Harris’ invitation to join him in Eden Prairie. Talk about night and day!”
Dr. Harris’ retirement in 2009 put Dr. Krull at the helm of Flying Cloud Animal Hospital. It might have been a daunting transition if not for the team at his side.
“Drs. Zach Beach, Mike Grace, Jessica Koupal and Carrie Rodman will all forgive me for saying Dr. Harris was the best,” said Dr. Krull. “They and the rest of our staff are all outstandingly dedicated and talented, and the reason why we consistently live up to our clinic’s mission: to provide thoughtful, informed veterinary care. That includes routine preventative care, dental services, disease screenings, and anything else household pets need to enjoy longer, happier and healthier lives.”
Many good boys and girls owe many good years on earth to the Flying Cloud Animal Hospital team. There is Tucker, a 4-year-old rescue shih tzu whose eye ulcers nearly blinded him; brought back to the light after Dr. Beach spent four weeks treating him at his own home. There is Annabelle, a senior mixed breed with a heart condition that requires regular abdominal draining; currently in her fifth month of treatment, but no less full of life. There is Rocco, who needed intestinal surgery after eating rocks; and again, for the same reason. Even Dr. Krull’s own dog, Lobo, has been saved by Flying Cloud Animal Hospital’s exhaustive approach to veterinary care.
“Lobo had a large swelling on the left side of his jaw,” said Dr. Krull. “Initial X-rays suggested it could have been malignant and untreatable cancer. Wanting to leave nothing to chance, we performed a bone biopsy, which revealed that the source of the swelling was actually an aggressive bacterial infection. That little extra effort to reach the correct diagnosis saved Lobo’s life. He is now 13 years old and happy as ever.
“Dr. Rodman and I recently treated Josie, an older cat who had been losing weight and not eating well. Her blood work showed probable signs of terminal cancer, but there was also a slight chance it could have been autoimmune hemolytic anemia. We explained treatment options to her family, who welcomed any opportunity to save their beloved cat. One week later, her condition worsened. Even so, we continued administering medication. Two weeks later, a little better – just enough to give us hope. Flash forward to today, and Josie’s blood values are showing 90 percent improvement. We’re not out of the woods just yet, but she is now gaining weight and back to doting on her family just like she used to.
“While these were all enormous successes for our team, every day gives us something to take pride in, however small it might be. Providing extraordinary veterinary care demands an extraordinary amount of work, but at the end of the day, it’s all in service of one thing: preserving love. If that’s not something worth devoting yourself to, what is?”
Flying Cloud Animal Hospital is located at 12365 Singletree Lane in Eden Prairie. Call (952) 941-8676 to schedule an appointment or request emergency care, or learn more at flyingcloudanimalhospital.com.
- Dentistry
- Diet & Nutrition
- Microchipping
- Parasite Control
- Vaccinations
- Wellness & Preventive Care
- Allergies
- Diagnostic Ultrasounds
- Laboratory Services
- Radiography
- Boarding
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Soft Tissue Surgery
- Spay & Neuter
- Domestic Health Certificates
- International Health Certificates
- End of Life Care