Critical Care - Vet in San Francisco | Animal Care & Emergency Services

Critical Care

Round-the-clock care for the most serious cases.

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Led by board-certified veterinary criticalists, the ACES critical care department is equipped to confidently treat the most challenging and complex medical cases. Similar to a human intensive care unit, our critical care department is staffed around the clock to provide constant monitoring and treatment for pets with serious and life-threatening conditions.

A veterinary criticalist is a veterinarian who has pursued additional specialized training in critical care. After completing veterinary school, a criticalist completes four additional years of training, including a one-year internship and a three-year residency in a veterinary critical care facility. During their residency, a critical care specialist works under the supervision of a board-certified criticalist to build a thorough understanding of complex disease processes and master advanced technical skills and treatments, such as mechanical ventilation and hemodialysis. After their residency, a veterinary criticalist must pass a board examination to become an esteemed Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care.

What is a veterinary criticalist?

A veterinary criticalist is a veterinarian who has pursued additional specialized training in critical care. After completing veterinary school, a criticalist completes four additional years of training, including a one-year internship and a three-year residency in a veterinary critical care facility. During their residency, a critical care specialist works under the supervision of a board-certified criticalist to build a thorough understanding of complex disease processes and master advanced technical skills and treatments, such as mechanical ventilation and hemodialysis. After their residency, a veterinary criticalist must pass a board examination to become an esteemed Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care.

Experts in Life-Threatening Emergencies

Led by board-certified veterinary criticalists, the ACES critical care department is equipped to confidently treat the most challenging and complex medical cases. Similar to a human intensive care unit, our critical care department is staffed around the clock to provide constant monitoring and treatment for pets with serious and life-threatening conditions.

What is a veterinary criticalist?

How do board-certified veterinary criticalist benefit your pet?

Although veterinary criticialists are trained to provide life-saving emergency care, they typically focus on treating pets after they have been stabilized by our emergency department. They use their experience and expertise to manage complicated medical cases, such as patients with traumatic injuries or breathing problems, or post-surgical patients who require close monitoring. With cage-side round-the-clock care, you can be assured that your pet is in the best hands possible. By constantly monitoring for any complications or change in your pet’s medical status, our team can respond immediately to ensure the best chance for a successful recovery.

While we hope your pet never needs life-saving critical care, you can relax knowing that we have experienced specialists available to handle any case, no matter how serious.