Emergency & Critical Care
Read the 2016 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
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
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
Anais Gautier, DVM
Dr. Gautier received her DVM from Oniris University in France in 2014. After graduating, she completed an emergency and critical care externship at Veterinary Specialty Hospital of San Diego, California and a rotating internship and masters in small animal medicine at the University of Liege in Belgium.
Email: azg0075@auburn.edu
Laura Lowe, DVM
Dr. Lowe received her DVM from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2016. After graduating, she completed a small animal rotating internship at Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts.
Email: wasyllc@auburn.edu
Jiwoong Her, DVM
Dr. Her received DVM from Chungnam National University, College of Veterinary Medicine, South Korea in 2012. After graduating, he completed a clinical year at Louisiana State University, School of Veterinary Medicine in 2016. After then, he completed an emergency and critical care internship at PET+ER, Baltimore, Maryland in 2017.
Email: jzh0143@auburn.edu
Maria D. Vegas Comitre, DVM
Maria D. Vegas Comitre received her DVM in Alfonso X, El Sabio University in Madrid in 2011. After working for 5 years in private practice mostly as an Emergency veterinarian in Spain and United Kingdom, she completed her rotating internship and Post Graduate Diploma in Veterinary Clinical Practice in the Royal Veterinary College of London in 2017. Her interest is to specialize in Emergency and Critical Care and she is currently coursing the specialty internship in this field in our hospital at AUVTH.
Email: mdv0007@auburn.edu
