Business Details
14 Years
experience
Emergency
services
Your Trusted Partner for Comprehensive Pet Care
At BestFriends Veterinary Clinic, we are dedicated to fostering strong relationships with our clients while delivering high-quality veterinary medicine and comprehensive client education. Established in 2012 by Dr. Lisa Sell, our clinic has built a reputation for personalized care, emphasizing preventive health strategies tailored to each pet's unique needs. Our experienced team, including certified veterinary technicians with over 25 combined years of expertise, prioritizes compassionate treatment and client empowerment through clear communication. We maintain state-of-the-art facilities equipped with digital radiography, in-house diagnostic capabilities, and specialized surgical services supported by board-certified specialists.Our commitment extends beyond clinical excellence to creating a welcoming environment for both pets and their families, featuring child-friendly amenities and a focus on long-term pet wellness. With extended appointment times and thorough follow-up protocols, we ensure clients receive the information needed to make informed decisions about their pets' care. Our practice philosophy centers on recognizing each client-pet relationship's uniqueness while maintaining the highest standards of veterinary medical ethics and professionalism.
Services
Wellness Exams
Dental Care
Surgical Services
Diagnostic Testing
Puppy Training
Details
- Year established: 2012
Highlights and features
- We offer 20+ years of veterinary experience with personalized care approaches
- Our team includes certified technicians with specialized surgical monitoring expertise
- We maintain state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment and digital radiography systems
- Our practice emphasizes thorough client education and decision-making support
- We provide child-friendly facilities with extended appointment times for better communication
What people say
Truly care about pets
Remember medical history
Best in business
Comforting environment
Thorough appointments
Services
Wellness Care
Our wellness exams focus on early disease detection and prevention through annual checkups, tailored vaccination schedules, and parasite prevention programs. We recommend year-round heartworm and flea control while implementing age-appropriate diagnostic testing to maintain optimal pet health. Our approach emphasizes client education to help owners recognize early signs of potential health issues.
Dentistry
Comprehensive dental services include professional teeth cleaning, oral examinations, and full-mouth x-rays to address periodontal disease affecting 85% of pets over four years old. Our preventive dental care helps maintain fresh breath, healthy gums, and overall systemic health by preventing bacteria from entering the bloodstream through diseased gums.
Surgical Services
We perform routine and complex soft tissue surgeries with continuous patient monitoring using blood pressure, EKG, and oxygen level tracking. Our surgical capabilities include spays/neuters, mass removals, and specialized procedures performed by board-certified surgeons visiting our clinic for orthopedic cases requiring advanced expertise and equipment.
Diagnostic Testing
Our in-house laboratory provides rapid blood chemistry, hematology, and urinalysis results while partnering with reference labs for specialized testing. Digital radiography with board-certified radiologist interpretation ensures accurate diagnosis of internal conditions, supporting timely treatment decisions for both routine and emergency cases.
Puppy Training Classes
Certified trainer Kristy Francis offers puppy socialization and obedience classes focusing on early behavioral development. Our puppy kindergarten (8-18 weeks) emphasizes positive reinforcement while basic manners classes (5-18 months) teach essential commands and leash skills in structured 6-week sessions with experienced professional guidance.
People
Dr. Lisa Sell
Veterinarian
Graduated from University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 1991. Specializes in preventive care, internal medicine, and geriatric care. Practicing in St. Michael-Albertville area since 1991. Owns large-animal practice with husband. Farm resident with extensive client relationship experience.
Maria
Certified Veterinary Technician
Certified since 2007 with feline care specialization. Graduated from dairy farm background with 4-H experience. Organized clinic operations expert. Lives in St. Michael with family and cat. Passionate about veterinary team collaboration.
Rose
Veterinary Technician
2014 graduate from Minnesota School of Business. Completed externship at BestFriends before joining permanently in 2015. Otsego resident with family and boxer dog. Enjoys outdoor activities and values client-patient relationships in veterinary care.
Kallie
Certified Veterinary Technician
Certified in 2016 with animal behavior interest. Completed externship at BestFriends before working with diverse species in North Dakota. Returned in 2019 with family. Owns herding dogs and enjoys cooking and family time outside work.
Kristy Francis
Certified Dog Trainer
Offers positive-reinforcement training programs at the clinic. Maintains separate website for training services. Specializes in puppy socialization and obedience training. Provides 6-week structured training sessions with focus on early behavioral development and owner education.
Questions
What veterinary services do you offer?
We provide wellness exams, dental care, surgical services, diagnostic testing, and puppy training. Our comprehensive care includes preventive medicine, internal medicine, and specialized procedures performed by visiting specialists.
What payment methods are accepted?
We accept credit cards (with 3% surcharge), debit cards, cash, and personal checks from established clients. No financing options currently available.
Do you handle pet emergencies?
While we recommend calling ahead, our partnered emergency clinics provide 24/7 care at multiple locations including Maple Grove, Brooklyn Park, and Eden Prairie facilities.
Are puppy training classes available?
Certified trainer Kristy Francis offers puppy socialization (8-18 weeks) and basic obedience classes (5-18 months) in structured 6-week sessions with positive reinforcement techniques.
What are your clinic hours?
Monday-Thursday 8am-5pm, Friday 8am-4:30pm. Closed Saturdays and Sundays to support staff work-life balance while maintaining extended weekday appointment availability.
What makes your clinic unique?
Our team's 20+ years of combined experience, child-friendly amenities, thorough client education approach, and personalized care that remembers each pet's medical history create a distinctive veterinary experience.
