At Katonah Bedford Veterinary Center, we're available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with a full staff of top veterinarians, technicians and client care specialists to handle any situation requiring immediate medical attention. Whether your regular veterinarian's office is closed or you have been referred by your family veterinarian, we are prepared to care for your pet and handle all emergencies -- from the minor to most complex.

Our highly trained emergency and critical care teams have direct access to the center's full complement of state-of-the-art equipment. In addition, they are aided by the support of the center's entire interdisciplinary team of specialists, as well as the referring veterinarian - all working in concert to deliver the best, most expeditious treatment possible. Pet medical emergencies can be stressful and traumatic for owners as well as their pets. We provide prompt, attentive, personal service starting the very first moment a patient arrives, with a quick, clear line of communication to the primary care veterinarian and pet owner.

Katonah Bedford Veterinary Center's Emergency and Critical Care Specialists can help in the event of a medical crisis. When every second counts, we're here and ready to assist you and your pet. For immediate medical assistance or for information, please call our center at 914-241-7700.

Our Emergency and Critical Care units can assist in all of the following situations that can be considered an emergency:

• Traumatic injuries - fractures, bites, burns, lacerations
• Automobile accidents
• Wounds, bleeding
• Known or suspected ingestion of a foreign object or unknown substance
• Respiratory emergencies, choking, difficulty breathing
• Vomiting, diarrhea
• Difficulty urinating or defecating
• Shock, loss of consciousness
• Dizziness, staggering, tremors, inability to move, sudden weakness, unusual or erratic behavior
• Signs of extreme pain, such as whining or shaking indicating a problem
• Seizures
• Paralysis
• Toxin reactions, poison ingestion
• Labor that does not progress and delivery problems
• Blood in urine or feces or vomiting blood
• Swollen, hard, painful abdomen
• Any injury to the eye
• Heatstroke

High Tech Help - our ICU's Specialized Services and Equipment

Much of the same high tech medical equipment that human doctors use to help critically ill humans is also available to help save injured or seriously ill pets. At Katonah Bedford Veterinary Center, our Emergency and Critical Care team has access to all of the following cutting edge equipment or capabilities to help your pet recover:

• 24-hour care and monitoring by veterinarians and veterinary nurses
• Blood transfusions
• Complete diagnostic lab for immediate test results
• Blood gas analyzer and monitoring
• Emergency surgery
• Advanced imaging techniques including digital radiography, ultrasonography and CT scan
• Supplemental oxygen therapy
• Pulse oximetry, end-tidal CO2 (carbon dioxide) measurement, blood pressure and continuous EKG monitoring
• Continuous rate infusion for IV fluids and meds
• Advanced pain management
• Video-endoscopy
• Nutritional support

What Is an Emergency and Critical Care veterinarian?

A veterinarian whose sole focus is on emergency and critical care of pets has a background and experience in treating life-threatening conditions. While your general practitioner veterinarian can diagnose and treat many health problems and handle many routine emergencies, certain situations may require the care of a doctor who has had intensive training and experience in handling emergency and critical care of pets. An emergency and critical care veterinarian typically works in tandem with your general practitioner veterinarian on a referral basis, as well as with any other needed specialists, until the emergency is resolved.

What Is Critical Care?

While an emergency is unfolding, or throughout recovery from a serious illness or accident, ongoing diagnostic and therapeutic care and constant monitoring of your pet's condition may be required. Many emergency and critical care facilities offer 24-hour supervision of critically ill pets and, just as in human hospitals, may have dedicated Intensive Care and Critical Care Units (ICU/CCU). Such facilities are equipped to provide oxygen therapy, cardiac monitoring, blood transfusions, and nutritional support. Such facilities also typically have advanced diagnostic capabilities onsite, such as ultrasound and echocardiography.

At Katonah Bedford Veterinary Center, we have a team of emergency and critical care doctors and technicians treating and monitoring critically ill pets around the clock, 365 days a year. In addition, our Intensive Care Unit is equipped with a full complement of advanced, state-of-the-art emergency and critical care medical equipment. In the event of an emergency, our emergency and critical care team is ready at all times to help your pet.