Emergency Critical Care

Emergency Care Overview

While your general practice veterinarian can diagnose and treat many health problems and handle many routine emergencies, certain situations require the care of a doctor who has had specialized, intensive training in handling emergency for your pet. An emergency care specialist typically works in tandem with your general practice veterinarian on a referral basis, as well as with any other needed specialists, until the emergency is resolved.

What Is An Emergency Care Specialist?

A board certified specialist in emergency care is a veterinarian who has obtained intensive, additional training in treating life-threatening conditions. An emergency care specialist can help in the following kinds of cases, among others:

Traumatic injuries of all kinds:
  • Respiratory emergencies
  • Poisonings
  • Animals in need of blood transfusions
  • Animals in shock
  • Coma or severe seizures
  • Diabetic Crises
  • Acute or severe illness

How Can I Find A Specialist in Emergency for My Pet?

If your veterinarian does not handle after hours emergencies, then he or she probably already has a referral relationship in place with a local or regional emergency hospital. You can also look for emergency specialists in your area on the ACVECC website. You can be assured that a veterinarian who knows when and where to refer you and your pet for emergency care is one that is caring and committed to ensuring that your pet receives the highest standard of care for his or her problem.


When Does My Pet Need Emergency Care?

Any of the following situations can be considered an emergency:
  • 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

Will My Regular Veterinarian Still Be Involved?

Many emergency hospitals 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 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.