Services - Medical & Dental

Critical Care

Critical care medicine encompasses many aspects of patient care. Veterinary critical care is a new and expanding field. Many disciplines are necessary in the treatment of these seriously ill patients. Patients that require critical care are those that need extensive nursing care, or continuous monitoring and stabilization prior to or after surgery. Critical care of these patients may involve supplementary nutrition, serial diagnostic tests, blood transfusions and management of metabolic disturbances.

Critical illness is different from any illness that your pet has likely encountered before. It is often unexpected and rapid in onset and can strike the previously fit as well as more debilitated patients. It is often life threatening and there may be complex levels of treatment required especially in the early stages. You will have to cope with an unfamiliar environment as well as your worries about the illness of your pet.

Pets with critical illness basically suffer from failure of one or more body systems such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver or even the brain. All of these organs work closely together in the healthy body so it is not surprising that when one fails, others can follow.

This type of illness rarely gets better rapidly or smoothly. More commonly the initial acute period is followed by a longer period of recovery during which the body remains at risk from infections.
We will be looking at the overall trend in their status and not just how they are on occasion. It is rarely possible to state that a patient is definitely “out of the woods” as condition may change rapidly with little warning. Positive news comes as your beloved pet gets better, but we cannot predict every hurdle along the way to recovery.

We will do our best to support you during this time, making sure you are aware of what happens next in terms of making arrangements and answering your questions. If you are confused by something you have been told or you are getting conflicting information, please tell one of the staff and we will try to clear up any confusion. Our relationship of trust with you is extremely important and should not be allowed to deteriorate.

Unfortunately, despite all the advances in veterinary medicine, not all patients survive critical illness. The loss of a beloved pet is a traumatic event, and we are here to help you through that difficult stage.