The Animal Emergency & Critical
Care Center
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| History & Facts
about AECCC |
| The Animal Emergency & Critical
Care Center is a fully staffed 24 hour Veterinary care facility
that provides emergency coverage and critical care for referred
patients from over 50 local practices in South Eastern Massachusetts
and Northern Rhode Island. |
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Founded in April of 1983 as Animal Emergency Center (AEC). |
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Initially open nights & weekends to provide
emergency coverage for local veterinary clinics |
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In June of 1994, AEC expanded to 24 hour care
7 days a week |
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Our staff has expanded from less than 10 people
when AEC first opened to more than 50 full and part time members
now including Veterinarians, Technicians, and Kennel attendants. |
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In June of 2000, we officially started our internship
program & changed our name to the Animal Emergency & Critical
Care Center (AECCC) to better reflect our focus & general
caseload. |
| Meet the AECCC
staff Doctors & Technicians |
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At the Animal Emergency and Critical
Care Center we are proud of our outstanding staff of highly trained
and dedicated veterinarians and technicians. Our staff is on
duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays to provide
around the clock emergency and critical care for ill or injured
pets. |
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A few notes about the our
staff: |
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Our Chief of Staff, Dr. Patricia
Walters, is board certified in both emergency and critical care
medicine as well as internal medicine - a rare accomplishment
to be double boarded! |
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Dr. Nicole Beckel is board certified
in emergency and critical care medicine. |
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All of our staff veterinarians have
trained extensively in emergency and critical care medicine. |
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Our veterinary and technician staffs
meet twice a day in “rounds” to discuss each hospitalized
patient so that every pet gets the benefit of multiple opinions. |
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Many of our technicians have earned
Certified Veterinary Technician degrees (CVT) and one of our
head technicians has earned the Veterinary Technician Specialist
degree for Emergency and Critical Care medicine – VTS(ECC).
Our technician staff is one of the best trained in New England. |
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All AECCC veterinarians and technicians
participate in regular continuing education programs to keep
skills sharp and acquire the latest knowledge that will help
our patients. |
| If your pet has been injured or is
sick in the hospital, you are not alone... |
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FYI: Read along to find out the MOST
COMMON EMERGENCIES SEEN AT AECCC |
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Most Common Serious Medical Emergencies |
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Addisonian Crisis |
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Pancreatitis |
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Asthma |
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Parvoviral enteritis |
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Allergic reaction- swollen face |
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Pneumonia |
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Congestive hear failure |
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Renal failure acute & chronic |
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Diabetes / DKA |
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Seizures / status epilepticus |
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Hemolytic anemia (IMHA/ITP) |
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Saddle thrombus |
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HGE- bloody vomit & diarrhea |
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Toxin ingestions |
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Leptospirosis |
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| Most Common Life Threatening Surgical
Emergencies |
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Bloat / GDV |
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Gastrointestinal Foreign Bodies |
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Body wall / diaphragmatic hernias |
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Hemoabdomen / Splenectomy |
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C-Sections |
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Neoplasia |
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Cystotomy (bladder stones) |
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Pyometra |
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Fractures |
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Urinary BlockageWire jaw fractures |
Less critical but very common surgeries - Lacerations,
Bite wounds, & Abscesses. |
| Most Common Toxins |
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Rodenticides (rat poison) |
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Ethylene glycol (antifreeze) |
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Pyrethrin on cats (topical flea treatment intended for
dogs but inadvertently applied to cats) |
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Human medications (anti-depressants, muscle relaxants,
inhalers, Tylenol / Advil, recreational drugs etc) |
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Chocolate! |
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| Most Common Trauma by far is animals
struck by motor vehicles.. Injuries include; |
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Head trauma- skull/sinus fracture, eye trauma,
fractured jaw, bruising/bleeding in the brain |
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Chest trauma- lung contusions (bleeding/bruising of lungs),
pneumothorax (punctured lungs), fractured ribs |
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Abdominal trauma- internal bleeding (hemoabdomen), ruptured
urinary bladder, body wall hernia (tear in body wall) |
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Limb trauma- Limb fractures, open shearing wounds (skin/soft
tissue abraded away), skin lacerations, nerve damage |
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Fractured pelvis, spine, or neck |
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Diaphragmatic hernia (tear in the diaphragm- barrier
b/n chest & abdomen and responsible for breathing) |
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| The long list of possible injuries
is why we always recommend for all pets hit by cars
to be examined and observed overnight in the hospital- many
of these injuries are not apparent right away when the animals
are in shock |
