Critical Care Service

About the Service

The Critical Care Service provides immediate evaluation, stabilization, and treatment of pets with emergent or serious conditions transferred from our other specialty services or referral clinics, as well as ongoing care for critically ill or injured pets 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We also work closely with veterinarians in the Southeast to ensure pets receive the most advanced care available.

The Emergency and Critical Care services became a Level I-rated hospital by the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society in 2015, the highest rating that can be awarded to a veterinary emergency and critical care facility. We are the only emergency and critical care service to earn this ranking in Alabama.

The Emergency and Critical Care services were also designated a Veterinary Trauma Center by the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care in 2016 becoming the first in the Southeast United States. The veterinary trauma center designation is part of an effort by the ACVECC Veterinary Committee on Trauma to create a network of lead hospitals that play a significant role in the development of trauma systems nationally.

These hospitals work collaboratively to define high standards of care and disseminate information that improves trauma patient management efficiencies and outcomes.

What We Do

A team approach is used to provide comprehensive expert care through collaboration with other specialty services within the hospital including dermatology, theriogenology, neurology, internal medicine, cardiology, ophthalmology, oncology, and surgery.

Veterinarian examining dog inside a kennel.

The Critical Care Service is composed of four faculty members who are board certified by the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. Additionally, the service has five residents, a specialty intern, a director of critical care nursing, and the inpatient team of 19 technicians and assistants.

We strive to provide the highest level of patient care. A state-of-the-art Intensive Care Unit operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for patients requiring careful monitoring and extensive care. Individualized care is provided by our highly skilled nursing team, including those who are specialty trained and certified in emergency and critical care. Emergency and Critical Care faculty and residents are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to direct patient care and consult as required.

Service Highlights

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Mechanical ventilation (respiratory life support)
Oxygen supplementation, including High Flow Nasal Oxygen
Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT): a form of dialysis for supporting kidney function; treating certain toxicities, fluid overload and some immune mediated diseases
Therapeutic Plasmaphoresis
Nutritional support
Blood and plasma transfusion
Bedside ultrasonography
Non-invasive monitoring and invasive hemodynamic monitoring
Advanced pain management