Ocean State Veterinary Specialists

05/01/2025

Did you know that we offer a Pet Loss Support Group? 💔

The dates for our May Pet Loss Support Group are Tuesday, May 13th, and Tuesday, May 27th, from 4:30 - 5:45 PM. The group is held virtually on Zoom.

Our Pet Loss Support Group provides:

• A safe, compassionate space to talk about and feel your grief among others who understand
• Information about the grief process, coping skills, and self-care
• Discussion of memorial and ritual ideas to honor your pet’s life
• Finding an enduring connection with your pet while moving forward

Testimony from our Pet Loss Support Group:

"I cannot say enough good things about this Pet Loss Support Group. Dr. Hamin is incredibly patient and understanding, and provides great resources to help you cope with your loss. The group is filled with others suffering the same loss as you. You never feel alone, and it’s helpful to hear how others think and feel. I recommend this group to anyone who is struggling with the loss of their beloved pet. My cat, Colby, was with me for 20 years and was extremely affectionate; although the pain and heartache will never completely go away, I have found peace within this group."
— Melissa D., Colby's owner

04/30/2025

Scruffy Paws Animal Rescue thank you so much for sharing Clarice’s incredible story and for your kind words about the lifesaving treatment she received while in our care. 💛 It means the world to our team to know that our efforts made a difference in such a critical moment. Clarice is truly a fighter, and we were honored to be there for her and her babies when they needed us most.

It’s cases like these that remind us why we do what we do, working together to provide compassionate, lifesaving care for pets in our community. We're grateful to the good samaritan who acted so quickly and to everyone who continues to advocate for animals in need.

We’re wishing Clarice and her kittens a healthy, happy future!

Everyone, meet Clarice. 🥰

Clarice was found, outdoors, literally in the process of giving birth. A good samaritan found her and immediately rushed her to our friends over at Ocean State Veterinary Specialists along with her 4 brand new, wet babies. If that wasn't eventful enough, the finder noticed what they thought was kitten #5 literally hanging from mom. Stuck! 🙀

Once the entire family reached Ocean State, the veterinarians and staff on at the time, immediately assessed the situation and determined that mom did not have a kitten hanging from her but instead her uterus had pr*****ed. 😞 Ladies, her uterus was outside of her body. Try breastfeeding 4 babies with your uterus dangling. Mom required immediate medical attention.‼️🏥

I want to shout from the rooftops, thank you SO much 👏👏👏👏👏 for the wonderful veterinarians and staff members over at Ocean State for coming together to literally save these lives. Many of them pitched in and provided services and supplies to save this family. Mom even required a blood transfusion and they made that happen for her.

Clarice and her 4 babies are doing well and moving to foster VERY soon! Mom is such a sweetheart. ❤️

04/28/2025

Last week, we were proud to host a full house for our latest Continuing Education talk! Justin Lawrence, CVT, delivered an engaging and informative presentation: “Intro to Exotics: Small Mammals”, tailored for veterinary technicians.

Technicians from both OSVS and the surrounding veterinary community joined us to expand their knowledge on exotic pet care. Justin covered everything from history and husbandry to common emergencies and safe handling techniques, empowering local techs to better support small mammal patients.

A seasoned exotic veterinary technician, Justin has been with OSVS since 2007 and works closely with our exotic and avian specialist, Dr. Lucy Spelman, DVM, DACZM.

Big thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the night a success!

04/25/2025

Say hello to Clifford!

This sweet guy was born with a congenital abnormality of his nose, but that doesn’t slow him down one bit! Clifford recently visited our Urgent Care team because his left eye was red, swollen, and watery, and he was blinking a lot.

After a thorough exam, Dr. Danielle Johnson, DVM, stained his eye to check for any corneal scratches or ulcers—thankfully, there were none! Clifford was diagnosed with conjunctivitis, which is inflammation of the tissues around the eye. It’s likely caused by a herpes virus outbreak or another type of infectious conjunctivitis.

With some medicated eye drops and a little rest, Clifford should be feeling much better soon. 💙

Does your pet need a same-day Urgent Care appointment like Clifford?

Check out our Urgent Care page to find out more information about booking a same-day Urgent Care appointment at OSVS: www.osvs.net/urgent-care/

04/22/2025

Happy Administrative Professionals' Week!

Let's take a moment to express our heartfelt appreciation for the amazing individuals who keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes.

To our customer service representatives, administrative professionals, IT, and facilities—thank you. Your hard work, dedication, and attention to detail make a huge difference every single day. From greeting clients with compassion to managing critical systems and tackling projects big and small, we see you, and we are so grateful for all you do!

You are the backbone of our hospital, and we couldn’t do it without you. 💙

04/22/2025

Little Pea is looking for a forever home. Check out this sweet pea! She was seen by one of our Internal Medicine specialists, Dr. Wilkes, DVM 🩺

04/21/2025

A Moment of Beauty

Last week, one of our team members captured this stunning rainbow arching over the hospital. Amid the craziness and difficult moments, we hope this little reminder of beauty brings a bit of peace and reflection.

Sometimes, all it takes is looking up. 🌈

04/20/2025

Happy Easter from all of us at Ocean State Veterinary Specialists! 🐰

We’re wishing you and your loved ones a joyful and peaceful holiday.

If your pet experiences an emergency, we’re here for you—open today and every holiday to provide the care they need.

📞 Contact us anytime at (401) 886-6787
🐾 Your pet’s health is our priority.

04/18/2025

After going missing for three days, Fievel was found with a lump on his chest. Our team quickly jumped into action—he was sedated for a wound evaluation and abscess lancing. The next night, Fievel returned to our emergency room after becoming extremely wobbly and ataxic. Thankfully, his physical exam and sedated radiographs didn’t reveal any new concerns. A few days later, Fievel came back so we could reassess and continue treating his wounds. This time, he underwent a debridement of superficial tissue and capsule, and we placed a drain to help him heal.

Despite his spicy personality, Fievel handled it all like a champ—and we’re happy to share that he’s now recovered from his wild adventure!

Fievel's owner was so grateful for the care he received during his multiple trips to our emergency room that they created these beautiful and cozy beds for our patients, specifically for euthanasia, so they can have a cozy place to rest. 💕

04/17/2025

Charlie recently came to us as a referral from Veterinary Emergency Group after showing signs of vomiting and lethargy—symptoms that raised red flags for a possible foreign body. This wasn’t her first encounter with the sock monster… just six months ago, our surgery team had to remove a sock from her stomach! This time, radiographs and ultrasound confirmed that the sock had made its way into her colon. Thankfully, this meant Charlie could avoid surgery and was discharged to hopefully pass the sock naturally at home.

But not all pets are as lucky.

Foreign body ingestion in dogs and cats is common and can be life-threatening. Treatment often involves:

🔹 Endoscopic retrieval for objects still in the esophagus or stomach
🔹 Gastrotomy (surgically opening the stomach)
🔹 Enterotomy (opening the intestine)
🔹 Resection and anastomosis, a more involved surgery to remove and reconnect damaged bowel in severe cases

Foreign body surgeries are delicate and time-sensitive. If your pet shows signs of vomiting, decreased appetite, abdominal pain, or straining to defecate, seek veterinary care immediately.

Charlie’s story had a happy ending, and we hope it reminds pet parents to keep those socks and small objects safely out of paw’s reach! 🐾

04/16/2025

We know the emergency room can feel like a tough place—especially when the waiting room looks empty, your wait feels long, and you're wondering why your pet hasn’t been seen by a doctor yet.

The truth is, behind those closed doors, our ICU and ER are often full of critically ill patients who require continuous, around-the-clock care. Each case is unique, and many require immediate and intensive attention from our highly trained doctors, nurses, and specialists.

Just like a human emergency room, we triage each case—meaning the most urgent, life-threatening conditions are prioritized first. We understand that waiting is hard, especially when you’re worried about your pet. Please know that even if you can't see the action, our team is working tirelessly to provide the highest level of care to every single patient.

When your pet needs us most, we want you to feel confident that they’re in the best possible hands. We care deeply, we work collaboratively, and we never stop fighting for the health and comfort of the animals we treat.

Thank you for your patience, your trust and for allowing us to do what we do best. 💙

04/14/2025

Bo came to us through our Urgent Care after developing sudden bloody diarrhea and multiple episodes of vomiting. Just two days prior, Bo had torn apart a couch—raising concerns about a possible foreign body or obstruction.

Bo was seen by Dr. Danielle Johnson, DVM, and was bright, alert, and had normal vital signs upon arrival. To be thorough, our team performed abdominal x-rays under sedation. Fortunately, no obstruction or foreign material was found. Bo was diagnosed with gastroenteritis and treated with subcutaneous fluids and an anti-nausea injection to help him feel better and recover comfortably at home.

We're wishing Bo a speedy recovery and hoping he stays far away from couch cushions in the future! 💙