Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care
Dr. Marcus Cole · DACVECC
Veterinary emergency and critical care handles life-threatening conditions requiring immediate stabilization — from GDV and hemoabdomen to toxicosis and sepsis. Dr. Cole provides triage protocols, fluid resuscitation plans, and critical monitoring strategies.
Ask Dr. Marcus Cole →Common Conditions
Sample Questions
“Large breed dog presenting with non-productive retching, distended abdomen, and tachycardia. GDV stabilization protocol?”
“Cat with urethral obstruction — 3 days blocked, potassium 8.2, bradycardic. Emergency management priorities?”
“Post-splenectomy dog with dropping PCV and signs of DIC. Transfusion and coagulation management plan?”
Emergency & Critical Care Cases(37)
View All Cases →Leptospirosis Dog Treatment Prevention
Excellent workup and a very strong presumptive diagnosis. The signalment, history, and classic combination of acute kidney injury (AKI) with hepatic involvement make leptospirosis
Cat Pregnancy Complications Emergency
It looks like the sub-agent data was corrupted on transfer. No matter—this is a time-sensitive case, so we'll proceed based on the presentation. Dystocia is an emergency, and after
Dog Pregnancy Timeline Whelping Guide
Colleagues, I'll take the lead on the nutritional management for this Labrador. Proper nutrition is foundational for preventing dystocia and ensuring healthy puppies and a healthy
Hamster Wet Tail Treatment Protocol
Alright, this is a classic presentation and it's a true emergency. In a 30-gram patient, we have no margin for error. Think of this as septic shock secondary to infectious enteriti
Brachycephalic Dog Soft Palate Surgery Recovery
This is a classic, comprehensive BOAS case, and your surgical plan is sound. Correcting these three components—nares, palate, and saccules—at once is the right approach for a sympt
Feline Hypercalcemia Causes and Treatment
Excellent workup on this asymptomatic cat. Catching significant hypercalcemia, especially ionized, on routine screening gives us a great opportunity to intervene before clinical si
Feline Panleukopenia Kitten Treatment
This is a critical case, and your proposed plan is solid. Let's prioritize based on what's going to kill this kitten first. With a WBC of 800 and profound GI signs, we're dealing w
Please analyze this attached image based on our conversat...
Thank you for sharing the lab work. While my primary expertise is image interpretation, I can provide perspective on how these findings should direct our diagnostic imaging plan.
Dog Dental Cleaning Under Anesthesia Safety
Good question. This is fundamentally a risk management discussion, which is something we deal with constantly in the ER and ICU. Let's break it down from a safety and standard-of-c
Puppy Vaccination Schedule Complete Guide
Excellent question. While my day-to-day focus is on complex internal diseases, a robust and evidence-based vaccination strategy is the foundation that prevents many of them. Here’s
Rabbit GI Stasis Treatment Protocol
Agent not found.
Dog Anaphylaxis Vaccine Reaction Treatment
Alright, let's get this patient stabilized. This is a classic Type I hypersensitivity reaction, and time is critical. Here's our game plan, in order of priority. First, epinephrin
Cat Saddle Thrombus Emergency Treatment
Alright, this is a tough one. Aortic thromboembolism is one of the most devastating emergencies we see. Let's get this cat stabilized and have a realistic discussion. My approach i
Dog Seizure Cluster Emergency Treatment
Alright, let's get this dog stabilized. Status epilepticus is a time-critical emergency; our primary goals are to stop the seizure, protect the brain, and manage the systemic conse
Dog Hit by Car Emergency Protocol
Alright, let's get this dog stabilized. My approach is always the same: find and fix what's going to kill him in the next hour. The history and vitals (tachycardia, pale gums, weak
Dog Skin Lump Biopsy When to Worry
Excellent topic. My mantra for any new cutaneous or subcutaneous mass is simple: aspirate everything. An FNA is minimally invasive, inexpensive, and is the single most valuable ste
Puppy Parvo Treatment Protocol
Alright, let's get this puppy stabilized. Parvo is a marathon, not a sprint, and our job is to support them through the trifecta of hypovolemic shock, sepsis, and hypoglycemia. He
Perineal Urethrostomy Cat Procedure Recovery
Thanks for the consult. A well-performed perineal urethrostomy (PU) is a salvage procedure that dramatically improves quality of life, but the decision-making and technique are cri
French Bulldog BOAS Surgery and Management
Colleague, This is a classic and severe presentation of BOAS; the syncopal event makes this a high-priority surgical case. My approach is to correct all amenable components in a s
Egg Binding Bird Emergency Treatment
Agent not found.
Hepatic Lipidosis Cat Feeding Tube Nutrition
Excellent, my Critical Care Nutrition Calculator has provided a solid framework. Let's integrate this into a comprehensive clinical plan. This is a nutritional emergency. For a ca
Canine Glaucoma Emergency Treatment
Colleague, you are absolutely correct to treat this as a vision-threatening emergency. Your diagnosis and plan are sound. Let's refine the protocol for maximum effect, as every min
Canine Pancreatitis Treatment Protocol
Colleague, this is a classic presentation for the breed and you've got a solid diagnosis. My approach to these cases is aggressive and multimodal from the start to prevent systemic
Canine Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia
Colleague, this is a classic and severe presentation of IMHA. Good job confirming it with saline agglutination. Here is the multi-faceted protocol I would initiate immediately. 1.
Canine Addison Disease Crisis Treatment
Agreed, this is a textbook Addisonian crisis until proven otherwise, and the hyperkalemia is the immediate life threat. That heart rate is deeply concerning. Let's get this dog sta
Canine Gastric Foreign Body Surgery
Alright, team. This dog is sick, and the 3-day history is a major red flag. My priority is stabilizing this patient for whatever procedure is decided upon. Before we debate scope v
Feline Urethral Obstruction Treatment
Alright, colleague. This is one of our bread-and-butter emergencies, but it's a killer if you don't respect the potassium. Let's walk through it. Priority one: The heart. Forget t
Canine Pyometra Surgery Emergency
Alright, let's get this dog to the OR. You've got a classic septic pyometra, and time is tissue. My priority is stabilizing her for anesthesia, because the definitive treatment is
Lily Toxicity Cat Emergency Treatment
Alright, good catch. This is a time-critical toxicity and we need to move fast. Every minute we delay costs us nephrons. My immediate plan is aggressive decontamination and fluid
Rat Poison Anticoagulant Rodenticide Dog
Alright, colleague, this is a classic and manageable scenario if we're aggressive upfront. Brodifacoum is a long-acting anticoagulant, so our main goals are immediate decontaminati
Related Specialties
Need a Emergency & Critical Care Consult?
Dr. Marcus Cole is ready to help. Describe your case and get an instant, evidence-based specialist consultation.
Start Free Consult