Emergency & Critical Care
Read the Emergency and Critical Care brochure.
About the Service
The Emergency and Critical Care, or ECC, Service provides immediate evaluation, stabilization and treatment of pets with emergent or serious conditions, as well as ongoing care for critically ill or injured pets 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As a same-day referral center, we also work closely with veterinarians in the Southeast to ensure pets receive the most advanced care available. If possible, pet owners are encouraged to call ahead at 334-844-4690, but an appointment is not required. Walk-ins are always welcome.
The ECC service is a Level I-rated hospital by the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society, 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, and one of only three in the Southeast and 18 nationwide.
The ECC service is also a designated Veterinary Trauma Center by the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, making it the only recognized 24/7 veterinary trauma center in the Southeast. 
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 will play a significant role in the development of trauma 
systems nationally. These hospitals will work collaboratively to define high standards of care and disseminate information that improves trauma patient management efficiencies and outcomes.
What We Do
In addition to the urgent care provided at arrival, a team approach is used to provide comprehensive expert care through collaboration with other specialty services within the hospital including cardiology, neurology, internal medicine, ophthalmology, oncology, and surgery.
The Emergency and Critical Care Service is composed of two faculty members who are board certified by the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. Additionally, the service has four residents, a director of critical care nursing, two technician supervisors and 21 veterinary 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, many of which are specialty trained and certified in emergency and critical care. Emergency and Critical Care faculty and residents are available 24/7 to direct patient care and consult as required.
Service Highlights
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- Mechanical ventilation (respiratory life support)
- Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT): a form of dialysis for supporting kidney function; treating certain toxicities, fluid overload and some immune mediated diseases
- Nutritional support
- Oxygen supplementation
- Blood and plasma transfusion
- Bedside ultrasonography
- Non-invasive monitoring and invasive hemodynamic monitoring
- Advanced pain management
Alexandria Arnold, DVM Dr. Arnold received her veterinary degree from Auburn University in 2017. After graduation, she completed a rotating small animal internship at the Animal Emergency and Referral Center of Minnesota in 2018.
Email: aea0020@auburn.edu |
Stephanie Harris, DVM Dr. Harris is originally from Chattanooga, Tennessee. In 2018 she received her veterinary degree from Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona. After graduation, she completed a rotating small animal internship at VCA Animal Referral and Emergency Center of Arizona. She then started a specialty internship at Auburn in July 2019 and began her residency in emergency and critical care in January 2020.
Email: sah0106@auburn.edu |
Andrea Henriksson, DVM Dr. Henriksson received her DVM from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark in 2016. After graduating, she completed a small animal rotating internship at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, Canada. She thereafter stayed at the veterinary college in Saskatoon and worked as an Emergency and Urgent care Veterinarian for one year before starting her Emergency and Critical Care residency at Auburn University.
Email: eeh0035@tigermail.auburn.edu |
Wan-Chu Hung, DVM, MS Dr. Hung is originally from Taiwan and completed her veterinary degree at National Taiwan University, where she also did her rotating internship. Dr. Hung then came to the United States and finished her master’s at Purdue University. Following this she completed a small animal Emergency and Critical Care Specialty Internship at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Canada. She joined the Auburn University Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care team for her residency this fall.
Email: wzh0049@auburn.edu |
David Sender, DVM Dr. Sender is a native of Chicago, Illinois, completed his veterinary training at the University of Illinois. He then went on to do a small animal rotating internship at Colorado State University. Prior to beginning his residency at Auburn University, Dr. Sender was an Clinical Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine.
Email: dzs0103@auburn.edu |
Tomoe Kadowaki, DVM Dr. Kadowaki is originally from Japan and completed her veterinary degree at Azabu University in Kanagawa, Japan. After graduation, she worked as a small animal veterinarian at Matsubara Small Animal Hospital in Osaka, Japan. She then completed a four month externship in emergency and critical care at Massey University in New Zealand before joining Auburn University as a Specialty Intern in Emergency and Critical Care in 2020.
Email: tzk0049@auburn.edu |
