Advanced and Intensive Care

Any pet that is seriously ill might benefit from the expertise of a board-certified specialist in critical care. The following is a sampling of the type of patients that routinely benefit from care by an American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (ACVECC) Diplomate like Dr. Byers:

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

How do I know if my pet needs a specialist in critical care?

First, contact your family veterinarian. We work with your veterinarian to care for any patient that presents with a condition warranting intensive care. For more information on an ACVECC Diplomate, please visit www.acvecc.org.