Departments

Critical Care

“for the sickest of patients, when you need a specialist NOW!”

What is Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care?

Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care is a veterinary specialty that could save your pet's life! If your pet should become injured, or suddenly develop an acute, life threatening disease, he or she will need prompt emergency care. In addition to needing initial emergency treatment, many days may be needed for the disease process to run its course before recovery occurs. During this time, close monitoring and life support measures in the intensive care unit (ICU) may be needed. A vigilant team lead by a veterinarian who is specialty trained in emergency and critical care will improve the quality of care your pet receives during this crucial time, likely resulting in a greater likelihood that he or she will survive.

What is a specialist in veterinary emergency and critical care? Does this involve additional training beyond their veterinary training?

A specialist in emergency and critical care is a specially trained veterinarian who is dedicated to treating life-threatening conditions. Yes, they do have additional training! They must first be a graduate of a recognized veterinary school, then receive a minimum (or equivalent) of 3 additional years of intense training in emergency medicine, surgery and critical care through completion of an American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (ACVECC)-approved training program. This intense program is referred to a "residency" in emergency and critical care and focuses on the most up-to-date techniques for diagnosis and treatment of life threatening disease processes in an emergency, and for the critical time while the animal is recovering. The emergency and critical care residency is supervised by mentors who have been through similar training and are themselves board certified Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care.

Once the veterinarian has completed these years of specialty residency training, the individual must then pass a tough board certification examination given by the ACVECC. Upon successful completion of the training and passing the examination, the veterinarian is a Diplomate of the ACVECC, is termed a "specialist", and is board certified in veterinary emergency and critical care.

How do I know if my pet needs a specialist veterinarian in Emergency and Critical Care?

First, ask your veterinarian. Any pet that is seriously ill might benefit from this type of care. Animals that have sustained trauma or bite wounds are an obvious example, but a number of other problems are commonly treated. The following is a sampling of the type of patients that routinely benefit from care by an ACVECC Diplomate:

• Trauma patients, including those hit by cars, bite, bullet, knife or burn injuries
• Any animal that is having trouble breathing
• Animals that need a blood transfusion
• Any patient that is in shock (signs of shock can include weakness, pale mucous membranes in their mouth, cold extremities, and an abnormal heart rate)
• Animals that are having trouble urinating, or are not producing urine
• Dogs and cats that need specialized nutritional support because they are unwilling or unable to eat on their own
• Animals in which an abnormal heart rhythm is causing problems
• Animals with life-threatening neurologic disease such as coma or severe seizures that are not responding to medications
• Patients that have had surgery and are not recovering well from anesthesia or are having trouble in the first few post-operative days