If you're a pet owner, you might wonder what critical veterinary care is and when an injury is qualified as an emergency for your companion. In this post, our Babcock Ranch veterinarians discuss what animal critical care is and what classifies a pet emergency.
What is animal critical care?
Just like humans, pets have emergency hospital services available to them in case of trauma or severe injury. Animal critical care is a service at some veterinary clinics, similar to the emergency wing at a hospital where ambulances take patients.
Critical care is typically offered 24 hours a day in emergency animal hospitals. Having an emergency for your pet can be very scary, so owners should know their options in these situations.
Who can offer specialized services for pets who need critical care?
Critical veterinary care is a specialized service that requires a particular qualification. Veterinary essential specialists of care at some hospitals can care for seriously ill or injured pets in an emergency.
Because critical animal care requires a specialization, not every animal hospital offers emergency services. This is why, if your pet has a medical emergency, it is important to know what emergency and 24-hour animal hospitals are near you. Even if you know of a 24-hour emergency animal hospital, always call ahead to ensure that the veterinarian is available to take your pet when you arrive.
What to Expect in Pet ICU
The animal intensive care unit (ICU) is a caring and compassionate environment for critically ill animals, providing advanced monitoring and treatment of injury and ailment.
While in critical care, there are a number of services that can be offered to your pet, depending on their condition. Some of these services include:
- CPR
- Arterial Blood Gas Test
- Multimodal Analgesia
- Continuous Chest Drainage
- Long-term Mechanical Ventilation
- Status Epilepticus Treatments
- Transfusion Therapy
- Vasopressor Therapy
- Parenteral Nutrition
- Peritoneal Dialysis
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.