Carolina Veterinary Critical Care

07/29/2025

🎉 🙌🏻 Scream it from the top of your lungs, one of our own graduated from Chemotherapy today, getting his LAST ROUND!!! We are now in remission! Congratulations Padfoot (and Megan)!! We love you! And a HUGE shout out to Dr. Daters and his team at Coastal Veterinary Oncology for taking amazing care of our boy 💚

07/23/2025

‼️🌡️☀️With daily Heat Advisorys in effect we’ve been seeing more and more heat strokes. Heat stroke in dogs is a life-threatening emergency caused by an inability to regulate body temperature, often after exposure to high heat or strenuous exercise in warm conditions.

☑️ Early Warning Signs
• Excessive panting (heavy, rapid breathing)
• Excessive drooling (thick, sticky saliva)
• Restlessness or agitation
• Red or dark-colored gums and tongue
• Increased heart rate
• Weakness or unsteadiness
• Seeking shade or lying down suddenly

☑️ Progressive / Severe Signs
• Vomiting or diarrhea (sometimes with blood)
• Collapse or inability to stand
• Seizures or tremors
• Confusion, disorientation, or staring
• Very high body temperature (>104°F / 40°C)
• Unresponsiveness or coma

☑️ What Can Happen if Untreated
• Organ failure (kidneys, liver)
• Shock
• Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) – a life-threatening clotting disorder
• Brain swelling leading to seizures or coma
• Death (can occur within minutes to hours)

✅ Immediate action:
• Move the dog to a cool, shaded area.
• Begin cooling with lukewarm (not ice-cold) water, wet towels, or a fan. DO NOT cover with damp towels as this traps heat and DO NOT hose off or give bath. Dropping the body temperature too quickly can lead to shock and organ damage.
• Offer cool water to drink (do not force).
• Seek veterinary care immediately — even if the dog improves, internal damage can continue.

🐶🐾🐱 If you believe your pet has suffered or is suffering from heat exhaustion or a heat stroke, it is imperative to seek medical attention immediately. Save our number in your phone for fast easy access to emergency vet care: 843-706-9200

07/04/2025

🇺🇸🗽Happy Independance Day Lowcountry! We are open and staffed!

We all know fireworks can lead to lost pets, but here are some other pet related safety tips to keep in mind as you celebrate with friends and family this weekend.

Be safe! Have fun! And keep your pets safe and secure.

07/03/2025

🇺🇸🗽HAPPY (early) FOURTH! We will be open and staffed tomorrow morning from 8am until Saturday morning at 8am, then reopening at noon for any pet related emergencies.

Note: we cannot fill anxiety medications without a physical exam. Today is the day to call your local vet for medication for fireworks.

05/25/2025

PSA: It is a holiday weekend and wait times are high. Know we are doing our very best to get all the patients in and seen by the doctor. Be kind to the staff and remember we are here as a service.

05/08/2025

These two adorable pups came to visit us recently, and one had a little too much curiosity for their own good. After accidentally ingesting ma*****na, this sweet baby was showing signs of ma*****na toxicity. Thankfully, they got the care they needed and are doing just fine now.

We’re sharing this not to judge, but to help. Ma*****na toxicity in pets is more common than most people realize, and it’s one of those things we can usually spot right away. The best thing you can do if this happens is be honest with your vet. We’re not here to lecture. We’re here to help. Knowing what they got into helps us treat them faster and more effectively.

Signs of ma*****na toxicity in pets can include
• Wobbliness or unsteady walking
• Disorientation or acting out of it
• Dribbling urine
• Dilated pupils
• Lethargy or being overly vocal

🐾🐱🐶 If you ever have questions, concerns, or just need some peace of mind, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re always here for you with compassion and support. Open nights, weekends, and holidays when your regular vet is closed. 843-706-9200

05/04/2025

🐍 Buster wanted us to tell you the “nope ropes” are out in full force! Both him and his housemate fell victim to playing with a copperhead. They were 4th and 5th snake bite of the day! After both receiving an Antivenom transfusion, their muzzles went back to normal size and their pain from the venom was neutralized. (Don’t tell Buster about his double chin…it’s only temporary!)

Stay alert! Watch out for walking dogs near bushes where leaves or pine straw may be.

🐍 If your dog gets bit by a snake that falls under the pit viper category (rattlesnake, copperhead, water moccasin or cotton mouth) bring them to the vet immediately. Snake venom can hinder the ability to clot, which can lead to internal bleeding and other complications. Some venom types also cause tissue damage and organ problems by interfering with blood flow and oxygen delivery. It’s important to have your dog (or cat!) evaluated asap so your vet (or in this case, us) can assess your pets labwork and establish a treatment plan according to their symptoms.

🐱🐶 Save our number, you know, just in case! 843-706-9200

04/20/2025

🐰💐Happy Easter Lowcountry! We are opened and staffed today in case of any vet emergencies that should impede on your family plans. Give us a call at 843-706-9200 If you need us!

➡️ Remember to avoid having your pets around chocolate.
➡️ Watch those Easter baskets with the “grass” as they can easily become an obstruction if your feline family member gets a hold of it.
➡️ Stay away from feeding any high fat foods including pork, ham or bacon to your canines.
➡️ Check Ingredients for certain candies for xylitol and caffeine.
➡️ Company bring you a lilly? Place It outside and away from where your cats can reach It.

04/17/2025

Easter Lillies! Not only do we worry about chocolate ingestion and xylitol toxicity around Easter but one of the most dangerous and critical situations you and your cat could be in is Lily ingestion.

According to PetPoison and all toxicologists, Lilies are beautiful flowers and smell wonderful but are highly toxic to cats. Ingestion of even miniscule amounts of “true” lilies (Lilium or Hemerocallis species) may cause drooling, vomiting, anorexia, lethargy, and potentially fatal kidney failure in cats.

But what if my cat only chewed on the trimmings before the flowers were put in the vase? Or the pollen got on the cats fur and then they groomed themsleves? ALL PARTS of the plant are considered toxic; the stem, leaves, flowers, pollen, and even the water if they are in a vase.

Just remember… “No Lillies For Kitties”

For more information on “true” Lillies and flower alternatives, visit https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/uncategorized/no-lilies-for-kitties/

🐾 🐶🐱Save our number in your phone for easy access to 24 hour emergency vet care 843-706-9200

04/15/2025

🐰🍫With Easter preparations happening for the next few days, it is important to remember, YES chocolate ingestion is a serious thing and does need medical intervention. And YES the type of chocolate really does matter. And YES, our staff would enjoy any untouched chocolate to lift their spirits!

🤔Why so serious? The long and short of it is, chocolate contains an ingredient known as theobromine which has the potential to cause hyperactivity or agitation, an increase in heart rate, muscle tremors and seizures. Additionally, some sugar free/low sugar candies do contain xylitol which can become a critical situation for your pet very quickly as it causes a rapid release of insulin which then leads to low blood sugar. If an animals blood sugar is too low to be regulated, it can cause extreme lethargy and seizures as well as acute liver failure.

If you suspect or saw your pet get into the Easter candy, it is important to note the type of candy and give us a call and head our way. By calling ASPCA and our clinic, our veterinarians will team up with board certified toxicologists to determine the best method of treatment for your dog or cat.

🐾🐱🐶Save our number in your phone for easy access to 24 hour emergency vet care 843-706-9200

January 10 if National Bittersweet Chocolate Day and we’re taking it as an open invitation to eat some delicious chocolates! Unfortunately, our furry friends cannot take part in the fun, and if they do, it can be life-threatening. Here’s what to do if your pet gets into chocolate.

04/12/2025

Spring has sprung and with that comes a warning about Leptospirosis, a disease caused by infection with Leptospira bacteria.

All dogs are at risk of leptospirosis, regardless of age, breed, lifestyle, geographic location, time of year, and other factors. The following situations can increase that risk:

➡Exposure to or drinking from slow-moving or stagnant water sources, like ponds, rivers, lakes, or streams
➡ Roaming on rural properties (because of exposure to potentially infected wildlife or farm animals or urine-contaminated water sources)
➡ Exposure to wild animals (especially rodents) or farm animals, even if in the backyard
➡ Contact with other dogs (such as in urban areas, dog parks, or boarding or training facilities)

For more information on the signs of leptospirosis, how to prevent it, and more visit: https://bit.ly/4l4VuOn

04/11/2025

Caught in the act!! Lots of kisses, all around for this cutie during her ER visit. We are all in this field because of our love of animals and hope that photos like these help ease owners minds that their babies are in good hands with us! Our technicians are knowledgeable, skilled and full of love for their patients.