Emergency & Critical Care Overview

We can help in the following kinds of cases, among others:

• Respiratory emergencies
• Poisonings
• Animals in need of blood transfusions
• Animals in shock
• Coma or severe seizures
• Diabetic Crises
• Acute or severe illness

When Does My Pet Need Emergency Care?

• Difficulty breathing or severe coughing
• Ingestion of a foreign object, drug, poison or unknown substance
• Bleeding or unexplained bruising
• Blood in vomit, feces or urine
• Severe vomiting, retching, or diarrhea
• Swollen, hard or painful abdomen
• Serious wound
• Suspected broken limb
• Any injury to the eye
• Loss of consciousness
• Seizures
• Inability to move or sudden weakness
• Unusual or erratic behavior
• Signs of extreme pain
• Straining to urinate (especially a male cat)
• Labor that does not progress
• Prolonged heat exposure, overheating or heat stroke
• Snake bite

What Is Critical Care?

While an emergency is unfolding, or throughout recovery from a serious illness or accident, ongoing diagnostic and therapeutic care and constant monitoring of your pet's condition are required. We have emergency facilities and offer 24-hour supervision of critically ill pets with a doctor on site 24/7. Such facilities are equipped to provide oxygen therapy, cardiac monitoring, blood transfusions, and nutritional support. Such facilities also typically have advanced diagnostic capabilities onsite, such as ultrasound and echocardiography.

Will My Regular Veterinarian Still Be Involved?

We work on a referral basis with general practitioners. In some cases, your pet will only be referred to the emergency service for after-hours care. In other cases, your pet may be in the care of the emergency and critical care specialist for the duration of the emergency and recovery, but then referred back to your general practitioner veterinarian for follow up and routine care.