Critical Care

Critical Care/ICU at 1st Pet Vet

An emergency and critical care specialist is a specially trained veterinarian dedicated to treating life-threatening conditions. At least 4 years of intensive training in emergency and critical care medicine (including instruction in surgery, internal medicine, anesthesia, pain relief, neurology, cardiology, radiology, mechanical ventilation, dialysis, and emergency procedures) must be completed. After training, a rigorous test must be passed in order to achieve certification as a Diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (ACVECC). Dr Reniker achieved her ACVECC certification in 2003.

Critical illness of a pet can be an emotionally devastating experience. 1st Pet Veterinary Centers offers phone consultations and accepts referrals for case management of seriously ill or injured pets. The Critical Care Service is here to provide either primary case management or supervision and guidance in the evaluation, specialized monitoring, and intensive care of critically ill pets. Dr. Reniker acts as the patient’s advocate in identifying all reasonable diagnostic and treatment options, gaining an accurate prognosis, and in some cases, administering advanced life support. She will facilitate the decision-making process through coordination of the primary care veterinarian, emergency doctor, and other specialty doctor consultations.

Here at 1st Pet, we use cutting-edge techniques for the diagnosis and treatment of life-threatening illnesses. We offer the following services:

• Advanced intravenous crystalloid, colloid, and electrolyte treatments
• Direct and indirect blood pressure monitoring
• Management of hypotension with vasopressor and inotropic drugs
• Multimodal analgesia (continuous rate infusions, epidural, and local/regional analgesia)
• An in-house blood bank for dogs and cats. Blood typing, cross-matching, and transfusion medicine
• Advanced monitoring techniques: telemetric ECG, pulse oximetry, capnography, blood pressure, central venous pressure assessment
• Therapeutic endoscopy (foreign body removal)
• Total and partial parenteral (intravenous) nutrition
• Feeding tube placement and creation of enteral nutritional plans
• ECG analysis and treatment of arrhythmias
• Emergency ultrasound
• Oxygen administration & respiratory therapy
• Mechanical ventilation
• In-house assessment of CBC, serum chemistries, electrolytes, lactate, blood gas analysis, urinalysis, preliminary urine cultures, coagulation panels
• Contrast enhanced digital radiography
• Neurologica CereTom 8 slice, high resolution digital CT (‘cat-scan’) machine available for advanced imaging. All CT scans are read by board certified veterinary radiology specialists.
• Diagnostic and therapeutic centesis, including pericardiocentesis
• CPR, defibrillation, and advanced post-resuscitation life support