A new animal hospital on Metairie Road says it is now treating pets around the clock, combining emergency medicine with cardiology and surgery under one roof in Old Metairie. Blue Dog Veterinary Specialists says it is serving pets and families at 2328 Metairie Road, offering emergency service that runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week alongside specialty care in cardiology, critical care, and surgery.
According to the hospital's announcement distributed through EIN Presswire, the location is meant to serve families in Metairie, New Orleans, Kenner, Jefferson Parish, and surrounding communities. The hospital describes itself as locally owned and family-operated, with its emergency team evaluating and treating sudden illness, injuries, and symptoms that require immediate medical attention at any hour, including overnight, weekends, and holidays.
From Office Building to Old Metairie Commons
The site itself has a short but notable paper trail. Blue Dog Veterinary Specialists acquired the property at 2328 Metairie Road, known as Old Metairie Commons, in a transaction announced in December 2025, per the hospital's own account. A report from New Orleans CityBusiness at the time described the transaction as closed that month, with the hospital expected to operate around the clock once it opened, and described the acquired building as a modernized, Class A office property of about 16,700 square feet.
Getting from office building to veterinary hospital required a rezoning process that allowed the site to accommodate the new use, according to the hospital's announcement. Records reviewed from the Jefferson Parish Council's November 5, 2025 meeting show two ordinances tied to the property were listed for final adoption that day: Ordinance 27092, which would change the site's zoning classification from GO-2 to C-1, and Ordinance 27093, which would approve a special permitted use for an emergency veterinary hospital along with variances to C-1 requirements. The parish record establishes only that these measures were on the agenda for a final vote, not their ultimate outcome.
A Surgeon, a Cardiologist and an Owner Who Calls It Home
The hospital's roster includes Dr. Alan Ralph, DVM, DACVECC, described as a board-certified specialist in veterinary emergency and critical care and one of the hospital's owners. Dr. Aliya “Yani” Magee, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology), is listed as a board-certified veterinary cardiologist. Rounding out the specialty lineup is Dr. Krysta Janas, DVM, DACVS-SA, described as a board-certified small animal surgeon who is scheduled to join the team on November 16, 2026.
Dr. Ralph said he and his wife have worked in the area for 12 years and that Old Metairie is home for his family, adding that opening the hospital there means local pets can receive emergency and specialty care without leaving the community. He also said the team is available around the clock and works hand in hand with local veterinarians so families understand their pet's care. The hospital says it builds treatment plans around each patient's condition and coordinates with referring veterinarians so owners can make informed decisions, and it is accepting referrals for critical care, cardiology, and surgery from Metairie and greater New Orleans.
How It Compares to Other Emergency Options Nearby
Blue Dog's 24/7 claim puts it in a small club locally. MedVet New Orleans, located at 2315 N. Causeway Blvd., says its team is available for pet emergencies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and that emergency patients can come directly to the hospital without an appointment, according to MedVet. That hospital also says it is the only emergency animal hospital in New Orleans to offer internal medicine.
Other nearby providers keep different hours. Metairie Small Animal Hospital lists emergency veterinary care from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., with emergency cases seen without an appointment during those hours. That hospital also says it communicates with a pet's regular veterinarian when appropriate to support continuity of care, a philosophy similar to the coordination Blue Dog describes with referring vets.
The hospital allows pets with complex medical conditions, serious illnesses, and injuries to receive specialized evaluation under one roof rather than being shuttled between separate practices for emergency, cardiology, and surgical needs, according to the EIN Presswire announcement. Blue Dog Veterinary Specialists can be reached at (504) 520-4050.
