In the past decade new and exciting advances have been made in both human and veterinary medicine, allowing both people and pets to live longer and better lives. These developments have created a growing need for advanced veterinary training programs in specialized areas.
Each member of our team of specialists has completed rigorous academic and clinical training extending years beyond the standard four-year veterinary curriculum. As a result, our team of specialists is truly “world class.” Working closely with your family veterinarian, we can offer your pet the best chance of improvement or recovery.
Your family veterinarian may refer you to our hospital if your pet would benefit from:
A procedure such as advanced surgery, ultrasound, endoscopy, laparoscopy, or cancer therapy
A consultation with one of our specialists
24-hour critical care
Advanced testing or therapy, including transfusion therapy
Surgery
Our referral surgical service provides advanced surgical services performed by board-certified surgical specialists and a team of highly-skilled nurses using state-of-the-art equipment.
Dr. Cheri Nielsen and Dr. Sharon Gottfried have advanced surgical training in many areas. This includes orthopedic surgery (bone and joint procedures), soft tissue surgery (abdomen, chest, head/neck, and skin procedures), and neurosurgery (spinal procedures).
Our highly skilled surgical nurses have advanced training and expertise in surgical assistance, pain management, patient supervision during surgical recovery, and anesthetic monitoring.
What sets our surgical referral service apart?
Surgery is always performed by a board-certified surgical specialist. Board certification is only awarded to veterinary surgeons that have completed an advanced residency training program, published results of an original research project, AND successfully completed a multiple-day series of examinations.
We strive to provide you and your pet with the most current options for surgical care using the latest techniques.
We make patient comfort a top priority. Every patient receives an individualized pain-management plan.
We offer minimally invasive surgery. As in the human field, use of new techniques and equipment allow faster recoveries with less discomfort.
We take anesthetic safety very seriously. Our typical surgical patient is monitored by both a veterinary specialist and a highly experienced veterinary nurse using pulse oximetry, ECG, end-tidal carbon dioxide monitoring, body temperature monitoring, and blood pressure monitoring. Most patients are also maintained on a mechanical ventilator throughout their surgical procedure, to optimize respiratory function.
We provide round-the-clock care for post-operative patients. All hospitalized patients are supervised by a doctor overnight. This allows for close attention to their pain-management needs, and for additional monitoring and care as needed based on their condition.
Our surgery service is available to you six days a week, Monday through Saturday.
Our internal medicine referral service provides management of patients with complex medical problems (such as diabetes, anemia, hormonal disease, immune disease, etc.) or requiring advanced diagnostic testing such as ultrasound or endoscopy (use of flexible video scopes to examine internal structures).
Dr. Marcella Harb-Hauser holds a B.S. in Animal Physiology and in 1988 and received her veterinary degree from U.C. Davis. Her goal as an internist is to provide the best possible care for each pet while at the same time recognizing the unique needs of each of her clients.
Dr. Jennifer Kaae completed her veterinary degree at the University of Pennsylvania in 2004. She then pursued a one year small animal medicine and surgery internship at Cornell University and a three year residency in small animal internal medicine at the University of Wisconsin.
Our highly skilled and compassionate internal medicine nursing team, led by Registered Veterinary Technician Kathleen Bennett, will ensure that your pet receives the best possible care and comfort.
Our hospital has invested in the advanced equipment necessary for treating patients with complex medical problems. We are equipped with Doppler color flow ultrasound, video endoscopy, digital radiography, invasive and non-invasive blood pressure monitors, ventilators, advanced anesthetic monitoring equipment, and a comprehensive in-house laboratory.
Pets requiring specialty care (as identified by the family veterinarian) are accepted on a referral basis only. Please note that we do not provide routine veterinary medical services such as vaccines, routine preventative testing, etc. If you are referred to our hospital to see a specialist, please call to schedule an appointment and bring copies of your pet’s medical information (records, lab results, x-rays). Our specialist will discuss his or her findings with both you and your family veterinarian.
As our daytime specialty services work hand-in-hand with our 24-hour emergency service, patients admitted on emergency may occasionally “transfer” for advanced care by one of specialists. Before such a transfer of supervision is made, our emergency doctor will contact you to discuss the care of your pet and the plan desired by your regular family veterinarian. Our mutual goal is to help your pet make a speedy recovery!
