Unexpected emergencies can happen, and as a pet owner, it can be helpful to know what to expect and what steps to take in these situations. In this post, our veterinarians in Suwanee explain what's involved in animal critical care and discuss what circumstances are categorized as a pet emergency.
What is animal critical care?
Similar to humans, pets have access to emergency hospital services in the event of serious injury or trauma. At some veterinary hospitals, intensive or critical care for animals is a service similar to the emergency wing of a hospital where ambulances take patients.
Critical care is generally available 24 hours a day in animal emergency hospitals. A pet emergency can be very distressing, so owners must be aware of their options.
Who can provide companion animals with critical care?
Critical care is a specialized veterinary service that requires particular qualifications to be performed. The critical care unit at a veterinary hospital has specialists trained to care for pets with severe illnesses or injuries that need emergency care.
Our qualified team of critical care veterinarians has the knowledge and tools to provide critical care for companion animals in need. Depending on your four-legged friend's condition, your vet may assess your pet and decide to keep them overnight or provide detailed after-care instructions for you to follow at home.
It's important to remember that not every animal hospital offers emergency or critical care services, as critical animal care requires a specialization.
Therefore, knowing which animal hospitals provide emergency and 24-hour services in your area is crucial, especially if your pet has a medical emergency. Even if you see that an emergency animal hospital offers 24-hour care, it's always best to call ahead to check that a critical care veterinarian will be available to take care of your pet when you arrive.
What to Expect in the ICU
The Animal Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is a caring and compassionate environment for critically ill animals, providing advanced monitoring and treatment of injuries and ailments.
Depending on your pet's condition, several services are available during your pet's stay in the ICU. These include
- CPR
- Diagnosis, monitoring and management of shock and hypotension
- Treatment of severe acute respiratory emergencies using:
- Oxygen supplementation
- Mechanical ventilation
- Acute treatment of cardiac emergencies
- Stabilization of pets with severe trauma
- Administration of blood products
- Initial treatment and control of neurologic emergencies (seizures)
- Diagnosis and therapy for toxins or poisons
- Correction of severe electrolyte disturbances
- Use of bedside diagnostics
The critical care team at our veterinary hospital in Suwanee will take care to choose the best treatment method for your pet.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.