Intensive Care Unit
Veterinary Intensive Care Unit in Toronto
Intensive Care Unit/Critical Care Medicine
Dawn Crandell, DVM, DVSc, DACVECC; Judy Brown DVM, MSc, DACVECC; Francesca Di Mauro DVM, DACVECC
Critical Care Services
- Life-saving interventions, monitoring and therapy for the critically ill pet
- Diagnosis, monitoring and management of shock and hypotension
- Treatment of severe acute respiratory emergencies requiring:
- Oxygen supplementation
- High flow nasal oxygen therapy
- Mechanical ventilation
- Acute treatment of cardiac emergencies including congestive heart failure and arrhythmias
- Stabilization of pets with severe trauma
- Administration of blood products for pets with anemia or coagulopathies
- Initial treatment and control of neurologic emergencies including seizures
- Diagnosis and therapy for toxicities
- Correction of severe electrolyte disturbances
- Intensive management of acute kidney injury
- Treatment of environmental emergencies including heat stroke and hypothermia
- Use of cage-side ultrasound to ensure timely and accurate diagnosis of emergent patients
Common reasons for consultation
- Diagnosis and management of unstable or critically ill pet of any cause
- Sepsis
- Shock
- Respiratory emergencies
- Cardiac emergencies
- Life-threatening electrolyte disturbances
- Coagulopathies
- Acute anemia
- Endocrine emergencies (Addison’s disease, diabetic ketoacidosis)
- Neurological emergencies
- Environmental emergencies (Heatstroke; Hypothermia)
Strengths of the Service
- ‘The heart of the hospital’, providing essential support to patients from all services.
- Overseen by three board-certified diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care
- Individuals with these credentials are required to undertake a rigorous 3-year residency program in emergency and critical care in addition to their standard veterinary training.
- Staffed by two ICU-trained registered veterinary technicians 24 hours/day
Ability to provide mechanical ventilation and high flow nasal oxygen with state-of-the-art equipment - Portable ultrasound unit to implement ‘FAST scans’ in diagnosis and management of critically ill pet
- Close collaboration and transparent communication with our other specialty service clinicians ensures best quality patient care
- Direct support to the emergency service
- Clear and timely communication with pet owners and referring veterinarians
- All team members trained in techniques to reduce patient stress and fear, alleviate pain and provide conscientious nursing care