Coastal Care Veterinary Emergency & Referral Hospital

11/11/2025

Today, we pause to remember and honor the courage, sacrifice, and compassion of all who have served, both people and animals.

Their bravery reminds us of the bond we share and the comfort we can bring to others. 🌺🐾

▪Our hospital remains open today ▪

11/10/2025

✨Patient Spotlight: Sprout✨

Sprout thought you might like to see what it looks like behind the scenes when our team needs to take your fur babies to the back for their treatments.

Behind every treatment is a team dedicated to comfort, care, compassion and plenty of love mixed in 🥰🐾

11/07/2025

Shared by our friends at the

Jessica is our talented Neurology RVT. She’s pictured here closing the dermal layer at the end of a spinal surgery!

Jessica is passionate about learning and mastering as many advanced skills as she can, a true example of dedication and excellence in patient care.

11/03/2025

SUPPORT STAFF CE OPPORTUNITY!

Coastal Care is inviting support staff from the community to join us for an informative CE event hosted by, Christina Miller, AHT, RVT, BSc (Ag. Env. Sci.), VTS (CP- Exotics). She is excited to lecture on 'Reptile and Amphibian ER assessment for technicians'.

JOIN US on Friday, November 21st at 6pm, 168 Hobsons Lake Dr. Suite 101.

To RSVP for this event, please email [email protected] today!

10/31/2025

10/29/2025

As veterinary technician appreciation month comes to a close, we are thrilled to highlight the newest members of our team to earn this designation.

Jessica and Chasity joined Coastal after completion of their Veterinary Technician program at Dalhousie University. They worked alongside our experienced ICU and ER technicians to gain both knowledge and skill as part of our extensive training program. Over the past several weeks they have both written and passed the National Veterinary Technician Exam, certifying them as official Registered Veterinary Technicians! Congratulations to both of you for achieving the next step in your career.

We are proud to have both Jessica and Chasity as true rockstars in our ER. They have worked to gain valuable experience that they will carry with them through their career and we are lucky to have them as part of our team!

✔️

10/28/2025

🐾 Patient Spotlight: Parker 🐾

Parker was admitted to Coastal Care after experiencing uncontrolled seizures. He was admitted into hospital for close monitoring, supportive medications, and bloodwork to help identify the cause.

Seizures in pets can arise from a variety of causes. They may originate within the brain (intracranial disease), including conditions like epilepsy, inflammation of the brain or its surrounding tissues (meningitis) caused by infection, immune system disorders, strokes, or tumors.

Seizures can also result from conditions outside the brain (extracranial disease), including:
▪Low blood sugar
▪Severe liver or kidney disease
▪Exposure to toxins

Signs can include:
▪Shaking or stiff legs
▪Foaming at the mouth
▪Staring or twitching
▪Sudden behavior changes

💙Sweet Parker didn’t experience any seizures while in the hospital, and his owners are working with his team on the best next steps. 💙

10/27/2025

🐾 Special delivery alert 🐾

Our team got spoiled with some super yummy treats from Bear and his awesome humans! ❤❤

Nothing like a little snack love to fuel an emergency vet day.

10/24/2025

Our staff have been busy! Since the delivery of our brand-new MRI machine from just over a month ago, our teams have been working hard to complete our newest imaging suite.

From installation, final construction touches, on-boarding with Siemens, protocol development with our radiologists and neurologist, anesthesiology's custom set-up, and volunteer patient training scans to optimize image quality; this has been a truly collaborative process across various departments and specialties.
The final result? Nova Scotia’s first veterinary MRI machine is now online and ready for patient use! 🎉

Having MRI capability within our hospital enables access to rapid diagnosis, decisions, and treatment options for patients. Our particular Siemens machine is actually the first of its kind in Canada; with new technology allowing shorter scan times, image software made with veterinary patients in mind, and a minimal helium reservoir that never needs to be refilled (great for the environment!). We are so excited to be able to offer this diagnostic imaging option, right here at home.

Pictured is our Neurology RVT’s own dog Odin, who has had chronic, progressive hind-limb weakness and spinal pain for quite some time now. Using the MRI in combination with thorough neurologic assessment and oversight from Dr. Natalie Villani, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology); we were able to diagnose his condition and then begin the appropriate treatment. Feel better soon buddy!

Did You Know: The entire nervous system (brain, spine, nerves) is best assessed using MR imaging, so our Neurology department are frequent flyers to the suite!

10/21/2025

Last call for spaces to our Exotics free CE event happening this Thursday, October 24th at 6pm. Join Dr. Noëlle Webb for in-depth sessions on;

- INTRODUCTION TO LIZARD MEDICINE: ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY, AND HUSBANDRY HIGHLIGHTS

- SIGNS AND MANAGEMENT OF COMMON DISEASE IN PET LIZARDS

As always, refreshments will be available during the lectures.
RSVP today with [email protected] to ensure you save your space!

10/20/2025

🐾 Patient Spotlight: Xannie 🐾

Xannie was transferred to Coastal Care Veterinary Emergency and Referral Hospital for emergency evaluation and support of hepatopathy and icterus. She was diagnosed with cholangiohepatitis, an inflammation of the bile ducts, gallbladder, and surrounding liver tissue.

Xannie was admitted for several days of intensive care, which included:

▪IV fluids to support hydration and balance electrolytes, monitored and adjusted as needed.
▪Antibiotics to fight infection.
▪Pain management and liver-protective medications to support healing.
▪A nasogastric tube (extending from the nose to the stomach) for initial nutritional support while her liver recovered.

Thanks to this comprehensive care, Xannie made remarkable progress in a short time.

Note from Xannie's owners:

"Xannie was in such bad shape two weeks ago, and thanks to the Coastal Care team, she is well on her way to a full recovery! We honestly didn’t think there was any hope. Being so young, it was hard to accept her prognosis, but your team was caring, understanding, and gave us a reason to believe when we had no strength left. From death’s door two weeks ago, to being strong enough to be freshly groomed yesterday, it looks like she’s going to live a long, healthy life. Thank you for your kindness and commitment to seeing her through her darkest hours!"

We’re thrilled to see Xannie thriving and grateful for the trust her family placed in us. 💛