We offer around-the-clock emergency care for cats and dogs experiencing health issues that require emergency attention. The Emergency Service is staffed by people who have pets themselves and understand the deep value of the human-animal bond. Our staff recognizes that having to use emergency services is stressful, and we will work to keep you informed and help you understand what is happening with your furry family member.
Our Emergency Service is staffed by highly trained and experienced doctors and technical staff. We are equipped to address a multitude of emergencies that dogs and cats may experience such as trauma, acute illness, multisystem illness, post-surgical complications/supportive care, as well as progression of chronic illness and quality of life decisions.
Our emergency veterinarians frequently collaborate with our board-certified specialists. We work closely alongside board-certified criticalists who specialize in stabilization and supportive care for the most severe emergent situations. We frequently confer with our specialists in the fields of Cardiology, Diagnostic Imaging, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Oncology, and Surgery, to provide our patients with expert-level care. Our team is here to support you and your pet when you need us most.
When faced with a veterinary emergency, bring your pet to AESC 24/7/365 for care - no appointment necessary.
Our emergency veterinarians have extensive medical and procedural knowledge and are experienced in the diagnosis, stabilization, and treatment of many conditions, including but not limited to:
Our dedicated team treats everything from minor wounds and laceration repairs to conditions requiring invasive abdominal and thoracic surgery. Our board-certified surgeons are available 24/7/365 to perform emergency surgery.
Our in-house laboratory facilities provide test results within minutes, including serum biochemistries, hematology (complete blood counts), urinalysis, blood gas analysis, and some infectious and non-infectious disease tests. We also utilize various laboratories across the nation for specialized diagnostics and consultations when indicated.
POCUS (Point of Care Ultrasound) - Our emergency veterinarians are experienced in performing POCUS. Unlike a traditional ultrasound, which provides a comprehensive study and is performed and interpreted by our board-certified veterinary radiologists, a POCUS examination is performed by our emergency and critical care specialists to facilitate rapid diagnosis of emergent conditions.
POCUS examination is performed using protocols to scan known areas of interest in the thoracic cavity, including heart and lungs, and four quadrants in the abdominal cavity. Abnormalities such as free fluid or air can be quickly identified and may help determine patient stability in the emergency setting, often in 10 minutes or less. This allows the veterinary team to determine the appropriate next steps and monitor patient progress. Questions to consider during the emergency POCUS exam may include the following:
Multiple studies have proven that early implementation of procedures like POCUS can lead to better case outcomes, quicker workups, increased client satisfaction, and the ability to diagnose early in the disease state.
Our on-site digital x-ray equipment provides high-quality radiographs with board-certified radiologist review to rule out many abnormalities as well as aid in the diagnosis of many disorders.
Advanced imaging such as ultrasound, CT, or MRI may require sedation or general anesthesia. Our anesthetists, trained by our board-certified anesthesiologist, are experienced in providing anesthesia for critical patients. We typically perform advanced imaging during weekdays under supervision of our specialty team to make the process as safe as possible. If necessary, we can provide additional imaging on an emergency basis.
