Pet ICU: Understanding Veterinary Critical Care

When most people consider critical care or an ICU, they likely think of life-threatening medical scenarios where a patient is given life support and monitored closely in a special unit. The same is true for our pet patients. Advances in veterinary critical care have made it possible to treat those with critical illnesses or traumas that once would have likely resulted in a very poor outcome.

Why Would a Pet Require Veterinary Critical Care?

There are a few ways a pet might be admitted to an ICU. In the case of an emergency, such as pet poisoning or being struck by a car, it’s likely the pet will be brought into an emergency veterinary clinic where triage will take place. The goal of emergency services is to first stabilize your pet, and then use an array of diagnostic tests, examination, and medical history to diagnose and create a treatment plan.

In many such cases, pets who are not well enough to be released to their owners will then be moved to an intensive care unit for ongoing observation, treatment, and around-the-clock care.

Many pets will also stay in an ICU for postoperative recovery if the surgery was complex or when treating a pet who is considered high risk for complications following a surgery (e.g., those with serious illnesses, senior pets, or very young pets).

Sometimes, a condition that is chronic or terminal yet manageable with outpatient treatment and at-home care can take a turn for the worst. Some illnesses may become more debilitating over time, such as cancer, and therefore require hospitalization.

What Kind of Care is Provided in a Veterinary ICU?

An intensive care unit is a specialized and separate unit within an animal hospital that is outfitted with life-supporting technology and equipment. Because pets in an ICU are extremely ill or recovering from trauma or surgery, it’s vital that they be kept away from other animals in a sterile, quiet, temperature-controlled environment.

These units are staffed with veterinarians, specialists, and highly skilled technicians trained in the care and treatment of critical conditions. Because many animals receiving critical care often do not have the best chances of survival, it’s imperative that treatment and oversight be conducted by those with advanced knowledge and training.

At Longfian, we’re proud to offer Oxygen Generating System For Veterinary Hospitals to give critically ill pet patients the greatest chances of recovery. At the same time, we also provide a variety of animal oxygen concentrator products with different flow rates to provide oxygen support for Animal Health and Vet Care.

Our team is dedicated to providing oxygen solutions. To learn more, please do not hesitate to contact us.