Dr. Shaffer has extensive experience and expertise in emergency and critical care medicine. The hospital is prepared to take care of your pet in times where there is significant illness and intensive care and monitoring is needed. If the need arises we can provide 24-hour (around-the-clock) critical care and monitoring.
While most general practice veterinarians can diagnose and treat many health problems and handle many routine emergencies, certain situations require the care of a doctor who has had specialized, intensive training in handling emergency and critical care for your pet. Shaffer Veterinary Services works in tandem with any other needed specialists, until the emergency is resolved.
What Is An Emergency and Critical Care Specialist?
A board certified specialist in emergency and critical care is a veterinarian who has obtained intensive, additional training in treating life-threatening conditions.
An emergency and critical care specialist can help in the following kinds of cases, among others:
- Traumatic injuries of all kinds
- Respiratory emergencies
- Poisonings
- Animals in need of blood transfusions
- Animals in shock
- Coma or severe seizures
- Diabetic Crises
- Acute or severe illness
When Does My Pet Need Emergency Care?
Any of the following situations can be considered an emergency:
- Difficulty breathing or severe coughing
- Ingestion of a foreign object, drug, poison or unknown substance
- Bleeding or unexplained bruising
- Blood in vomit, feces or urine
- Severe vomiting, retching, or diarrhea
- Swollen, hard or painful abdomen
- Serious wound
- Suspected broken limb / broken bone
- Any injury to the eye
- Loss of consciousness
- Seizures
- Inability to move or sudden weakness
- Unusual or erratic behavior
- Signs of extreme pain
- Straining to urinate (especially a male cat)
- Labor that does not progress
- Prolonged heat exposure, overheating or heat stroke
- Snake bite
If you are concerned about your pet at any time, please contact us. We are happy to counsel you on the best course of action.
What Is Critical Care?
While an emergency is unfolding, or throughout recovery from a serious illness or accident, ongoing diagnostic and therapeutic care and constant monitoring of your pet's condition are required. Many emergency and critical care facilities offer 24-hour supervision of critically ill pets and, just as in human hospitals, may have dedicated Intensive Care and Critical Care Units (ICU/CCU).
Such facilities are equipped to provide oxygen therapy, cardiac monitoring, blood transfusions, and nutritional support. Such facilities also typically have advanced diagnostic capabilities onsite, such as ultrasound and echocardiography. At Shaffer Veterinary Services in Crowley, Texas, Dr. Shaffer will ensure that your pet receives the top level care the he needs right away.