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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.
- Founded in April of 1983 as Animal Emergency Center (AEC).
- Initially open nights & weekends to provide emergency coverage for
local veterinary clinics
- In June of 1994, AEC expanded to 24 hour care 7 days a week
- 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.
- 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.
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Incubators & Fluid pumps |
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Meet the AECCC staff Doctors & Technicians
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At the AECCC, we are fortunate to have an
outstanding staff of highly trained & dedicated veterinarians and
veterinary technicians. Our staff works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
including all major holidays in order to provide constant and consistent
care for our patients.
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A few notes about
the our staff: |
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- Our Interim Chief of Staff , Dr. Patricia Walters, is board certified
in emergency & critical care medicine as well as Internal medicine- a
rare accomplishment!
- Dr. Val Johnson is also board certified for Veterinary Emergency &
Critical Care Medicine.
- Dr. Nicole Beckel is board eligible for the same degree.
- Many of our technicians have earned Certified Veterinary Technician
degrees (CVT).
- 2 of our Certified Technicians have also earned Veterinary
Technician Specialist degrees for Emergency and Critical Care medicine- VTS (ECC).
- Three of our technicians operate the blood bank for the entire
hospital. They are overseen by one of the doctors.
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Doctors & techs perform CPR
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If your pet has been injured or
is sick in the hospital, you are not alone...
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
- Asthma
- Allergic reaction- swollen face
- Congestive hear failure
- Diabetes / DKA
- Hemolytic anemia (IMHA/ITP)
- HGE- bloody vomit & diarrhea
- Leptospirosis
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- Pancreatitis
- Parvoviral enteritis
- Pneumonia
- Renal failure acute & chronic
- Seizures / status epilepticus
- Saddle thrombus
- Toxin ingestions
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Most Common Life Threatening Surgical Emergencies |
- Bloat / GDV
- Body wall / diaphragmatic hernias
- C-Sections
- Cystotomy (bladder stones)
- Fractures
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- Gastrointestinal Foreign Bodies
- Hemoabdomen / Splenectomy
- Neoplasia
- Pyometra
- Urinary BlockageWire jaw fractures
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Less critical but very common surgeries-
Lacerations, Bite wounds, & Abscesses. |
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| Most Common Toxins |
- Rodenticides (rat poison)
- Ethylene glycol (antifreeze)
- Pyrethrin on cats (topical flea treatment intended for dogs but
inadvertently applied to cats)
- Human medications (anti-depressants, muscle relaxants, inhalers,
Tylenol / Advil, recreational drugs etc)
- Chocolate!
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Most Common Trauma by far is animals struck by motor vehicles..
Injuries include; |
- Head trauma- skull/sinus fracture, eye trauma, fractured jaw,
bruising/bleeding in the brain
- Chest trauma- lung contusions (bleeding/bruising of lungs),
pneumothorax (punctured lungs), fractured ribs
- Abdominal trauma- internal bleeding (hemoabdomen), ruptured
urinary bladder, body wall hernia (tear in body wall)
- Limb trauma- Limb fractures, open shearing wounds (skin/soft
tissue abraded away), skin lacerations, nerve damage
- Fractured pelvis, spine, or neck
- 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 |
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