Emergency Care
Designing a General Health Care Program
Ideally, you should provide your pet with a wellness check at least once per year. Small puppies and senior dogs have more needs than healthy adults, and two annual exams are recommended for dogs of these ages.
Unless your pet is experiencing health issues or other concerns, annual wellness checks are often enough to help your veterinarian take excellent care of your pet. Speaking with your veterinarian can also help you determine whether your dog needs exams more frequently due to concerns about age, health, or genetic conditions.
In This Section:
Choosing an Emergency Care Center
Choosing an emergency care center for your pet is a critical component in the design of an overall health program. Hopefully, you will never have to visit but knowing what to expect and developing a level of comfort ahead of time is a key component in any wellness program.
Here is what we look for at DRBC:
- Top Specialists
- Exceptional Service and Care
- State-of-the-art Technology
- Advanced Procedures for Diagnosis and Treatment
- Comprehensive Care and Client Choice
Top Specialists
Veterinarians who are board-certified in their area of specialty are critical to the treatment of your pet. Besides earning their Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine, they have 4 additional years of education and training that included an internship, a 3-year residency in the area of their specialty, and successful completion of a rigorous state and national boards. Many regularly publish professional papers or are active in research. Areas of specialty include:
- Emergency & Critical Care
- Surgery
- Ophthalmology
- Dentistry
- Internal Medicine
- Neurology
- Orthopedics
- Radiology
- Oncology
Each year, DRBC reviews and certifies hospitals and specialists in our area. Check our recommendations in the Veterinary Partners section of this site.
Exceptional Service and Care
DRBC seeks to work with veterinary specialists who are deeply committed to attentive service for their clients and compassionate care for their patients.
Like our doctors, our team of certified veterinary technicians and assistants are skilled, experienced, and, in many cases, specialized in certain practice areas.
Most of these staffers are pet owners too. Our DRBC Support Team will have great empathy for the connection you have with your pet.
We believe a key to exceptional service is communication. DRBC looks for hospitals that commit to intensive training on how to provide world-class service. A friendly and helpful staff will make this stressful time a little easier knowing you can call and receive up to date status reports, diagnosis, and treatment.
State-of-the-Art Technology
While equipment will vary from hospital to hospital, the investment of the facility in state-of-the-art technology should not. Powerful advanced technology provides veterinary specialists with the necessary tools to offer the best possible care. Imaging departments that use advanced digital imaging and high-resolution systems allow veterinarians to detect and evaluate a wide range of conditions.
On-Site Stat Laboratories offer patients and clients an in-house commercial-quality medical lab containing high-grade equipment. The lab enables fast accurate turnaround of tests. The Critical Care and Emergency service department should also have advanced systems such as telemetry for cardiac monitoring.
Advanced Treatments & Procedures
Veterinary Specialty Hospitals certified by DRBC are committed to staying on the leading edge of innovative treatments and procedures. Their goal is to increase longevity and improve the quality of life of your pet.
Comprehensive Services
Veterinary Specialty Hospital has developed into a major veterinary center where our clients have a “one stop shop” for a broad array of specialty services, 24-hours a day 7 days a week. Specialists should operate as a team and be supported by in-house diagnostic and treatment capabilities, offering a wide range of options for care, including the most advanced.
Finally, DRBC recognizes that the best, most comprehensive care comes from a strong partnership between you, your family veterinarian, and your critical care/specialty veterinary medical team. The emergency hospital you choose should aim to provide that for every client, every time.
NOTE: The information shown is offered for educational purposes only. Consult with your veterinarian to design a wellness program for your pet.