Understanding Critical Care for Pets
Similar to humans, pets will need critical care services in the event they sustain a serious injury or trauma, or are suffering from severe infection. Kidney, heart, liver, or respiratory failure also warrant this type of care. Urinary tract obstruction, ingestion of toxins, heat stroke, or seizures are also on this list depending on the severity of the condition and symptoms.
Some veterinary hospitals offer intensive or critical care for animals, similar to the emergency wing of a hospital where ambulances take human patients.
Generally, critical care is available 24 hours a day in animal emergency hospitals. Because a pet emergency can be very distressing, owners should have a list of local hospitals to call if an emergency were to arise.
Who can offer critical care to pets?
Critical care is a specialized veterinary service that requires vets who perform it to have specific qualifications. Some veterinary hospitals have essential specialists of care trained to care for pets with severe injuries or illnesses, which need emergency care.
These critical care veterinarians have the knowledge and tools required to provide critical care for animals in need. A vet may assess your pet and, depending on your four-legged companion's condition, decide they need to stay in hospital overnight or provide detailed after-care instructions for you to follow at home.
Not every animal hospital offers emergency or critical care services, as critical animal care requires vets to specialize in this service.
Therefore, it's extremely important to know which animal hospitals offer emergency and 24-hour critical care services in your area, especially if your pet is experiencing a medical emergency. Even if you notice an emergency animal hospital offers 24-hour care, it's always best to call ahead and check that a vet will be available to care for your pet when you arrive.
What to Expect in the ICU
An animal intensive care unit (ICU) is a caring, compassionate environment for critically ill animals, where vets provide advance monitoring and treatment of illnesses and injuries.
When you first arrive, you will be greeted by the hospital's veterinary team or a specialized emergency vet, who will perform an initial assessment of your pet and examine it as soon as possible. Keep in mind that emergencies are 'triaged', meaning that the sickest patients must be seen first.
During your pet's stay in the ICU, several services are available and may be recommended depending on your pet's condition. These services include:
- CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
- Arterial blood gas test
- Continuous chest drainage
- Multimodal analgesia
- Long-term mechanical ventilation
- Parenteral nutrition
- Peritoneal dialysis
- Status epilepticus treatments
- Transfusion therapy
- Vasopressor therapy
Although this will undoubtedly be a very difficult time for you, you may find some peace of mind in knowing that your pet is being assessed and a trained veterinary team is initiating emergency stabilization procedures (involving administering oxygen and suitable pain management).
Critical care veterinarians are tasked with choosing the best treatment method based on your pet's needs and condition, then discussing the findings with you and offering options for further care as soon as possible. Any decisions about your pet's medical treatment will be made in collaboration with you and the veterinarian. Your primary vet will also be updated on your pet's care, diagnosis, and prognosis.
Note: Four Corners Veterinary Hospital is unable to provide urgent, emergency, or critical care services at this time due to a high volume of scheduled appointments. The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. Please visit your vet for an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition.