Business Details
34 Years
experience
Emergency
services
Your Trusted Veterinarian in Johnston, IA
At Rush Animal Care, our mission is to provide compassionate and expert veterinary care for every pet in Johnston, IA. Founded in 1992 by Dr. Barb Rush, we prioritize personalized service in a welcoming, low-stress environment. Our experienced team offers preventive care, diagnostics, surgery, and emergency services, using advanced tools for accurate treatment. We emphasize open communication, explaining care plans to empower informed decisions during routine and urgent visits. Our commitment to Fear Free practices ensures pets receive gentle handling, while our emergency services provide critical support outside regular hours. Located at 5330 NW Beaver Dr, we serve Johnston and surrounding communities including Des Moines, West Des Moines, and Ankeny.With over 30 years of experience, we combine medical expertise and community trust to treat pets like family members. Our services span vaccinations, dental care, laser therapy, pet boarding, and chronic illness management, tailored to each life stage. By integrating preventive care with advanced diagnostics, we detect early health issues and offer customized treatment plans. Our team maintains continuous education to stay current with veterinary medicine advancements, ensuring reliable, ethical care backed by clear communication and respect for every pet's unique needs.
Services
Pet Vaccinations
Dental Care
Pet Surgery
Pet Boarding
Laser Therapy
Flea Prevention
Wellness Exams
Senior Pet Care
Emergency Services
Microchipping
Details
- Year established: 1992
Highlights and features
- We offer 24/7 emergency veterinary services with rapid response capabilities.
- Our team includes Fear Free Certified professionals for low-stress pet care.
- We provide laser therapy with anti-inflammatory benefits for pain management.
- We maintain advanced diagnostic tools for immediate blood work and imaging.
- We offer personalized wellness plans tailored to each pet's life stage.
Associations and certifications
- Fear Free Certified
What people say
Compassionate care
Professional staff
Excellent emergency services
Gentle with pets
Knowledgeable veterinarians
Services
Pet Vaccinations
Pet vaccinations protect against communicable diseases by boosting immune systems. Our clinic administers core vaccinations for dogs and cats, including rabies, distemper, and feline leukemia. Vaccination schedules begin in early life stages with annual boosters required for continued protection. Our experienced veterinarians explain each vaccine's purpose and monitor for potential side effects.
Dental Care
Dental care prevents periodontal disease through annual exams, scaling, and polishing. We use anesthesia for thorough cleanings while monitoring pets' vital signs. Treatments address plaque buildup, gum disease, and tooth extractions when necessary. Our team educates owners about home dental care routines to maintain oral health between professional cleanings.
Pet Surgery
Pet surgery addresses medical conditions through spay/neuter procedures, mass removals, and emergency interventions. Our sterile operating suite uses advanced monitoring technology for patient safety. Veterinarians thoroughly explain surgical risks, recovery timelines, and post-operative care requirements to ensure successful outcomes through proper home management.
Pet Boarding
Pet boarding provides safe, comfortable accommodations for cats and dogs. Our state-of-the-art facilities feature separate spaces for different animal types with regular monitoring by veterinary staff. Boarding includes medication administration, dietary management, and personalized attention to maintain pets' well-being during owners' absences.
Laser Therapy
Laser therapy offers non-invasive pain relief and accelerated healing for musculoskeletal conditions. This 3-8 minute treatment reduces inflammation and swelling while improving joint comfort. It benefits pets with arthritis, post-surgical recovery needs, and soft tissue injuries, administered without causing pain or requiring sedation.
People
Dr. Barb Rush
Founder
Dr. Barb Rush, a 1980 Iowa State University graduate, founded Rush Animal Care in 1992. An Elite Fear Free Certified veterinarian, she balances clinical practice with piano performance at local churches and animal rescue work.
Dr. Pat Huston
Veterinarian
Dr. Pat Huston, Level 3 Fear Free Certified, brings extensive experience from 35 years in mixed-animal practice. He collaborates with Dr. Rush while supporting Iowa sports teams and spending time with his grandchildren.
Alicia Pichler
Office Manager
Alicia Pichler, Level 3 Fear Free Certified, serves as office manager since 2009. She manages clinic operations remotely from North Dakota while raising her children and supporting her husband's endeavors.
Emily King
Office Coordinator
Emily King, Level 1 Fear Free Certified, returned after three years at a spay/neuter clinic. She balances family life with coordinating clinic operations, maintaining expertise in animal health and client services.
Alyssa
Veterinary Technician
Licensed Veterinary Technician Alyssa graduated DMACC's 2024 program. She brings diverse experience from military relocations while pursuing her dream of establishing a small animal farm with chickens and goats.
Questions
What veterinary services do you offer?
We provide vaccinations, dental care, surgery, laser therapy, pet boarding, wellness exams, emergency services, and chronic illness management for cats and dogs.
Do you offer emergency pet care?
Yes, our clinic provides emergency veterinary services for injured or suddenly ill pets during regular business hours with rapid stabilization protocols.
How can I schedule an appointment?
Call (515) 270-2240 during operating hours or request appointments through our website's online form for scheduling convenience.
What areas do you serve?
We serve Johnston, IA and surrounding communities including Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, Clive, and Grimes.
What is your laser therapy service?
Laser therapy reduces pain and inflammation for conditions like arthritis and post-surgical recovery, administered in 3-8 minute sessions without requiring sedation.
