Emergency / Critical Care
The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to care for critically ill patients. The ICU is equipped to manage all types of critical cases, providing specialized intensive care including blood transfusions, telemetry monitoring, ventilator therapy, chest tube management, and peritoneal dialysis.
About our department:
The ICU is run by two board certified criticalists assisted by experienced emergency and critical care doctors and licensed veterinary technicians (LVT). If your pet comes to Summit for treatment with any of our specialists and also requires intensive care (for example after an extensive surgery), the critical care team works together with The Summit’s other specialists to attend to your pet’s medical needs.
You may be referred to the ICU by your family veterinarian if your pet requires urgent specialty or 24 hour care. We have immediate access to many diagnostic tools and multiple specialties to serve your pet’s needs.
Summit veterinarians are all pet owners and we understand how terrifying it can be to have a critically ill pet. We work very hard to keep our patients’ families supported, informed and comfortable with their pet’s care.
Emergency services:
Emergency services are available at any hour for your pet’s unanticipated medical needs. Our Emergency department is staffed by experienced emergency doctors and technicians, overseen by two boarded emergency and critical care doctors.
We have access to immediate diagnostics, when needed, using tools such as a full in house lab, digital radiology suite and ultrasound. Our doctors can provide emergency treatment from minor procedures such as lacerations to emergency surgeries, that are facilitated by a board certified surgeon. As part of Summit Veterinary Referral Center we have rapid access to input from other specialists, including internal medicine, surgery, neurology, oncology and radiology. Our specialists work as a team with our emergency doctors to provide the best possible care for your pet.
What to expect:
Whenever possible, please call before coming in. The global pandemic has created a situation where our hospital is often at capacity. One of our Client Services team members will be able to inform you if we are able to see your pet and provide an approximate wait time.
When you arrive, your pet will be assessed (triaged) by a licensed veterinary technician and any unstable pets will be immediately brought to the emergency doctor for treatment. As soon as assessment and stabilization has begun, the emergency doctor will call you to discuss options for treatment, diagnosis and monitoring. We will work hard to offer as many options as possible and find the best method of treatment for your pet and your family.
We realize that no one plans or wants to come to an emergency hospital, whether for themselves or their pets, so we strive to make the experience as easy as possible. Your pet’s health and your peace of mind are our top priorities.
