Ocean State Veterinary Specialists

06/24/2024

Thank you VinceB for donating blood today to our Blood Bank! If you see VinceB today give him all of the kisses and treats! 👑

Saving lives one blood donation at a time ❤

"This is such an outstanding experience. Vince was treated like a king from the moment he walked in until the moment he left and the process is so quick and easy for both of us."
- Jennifer Mattson Bousquet, VinceB's owner

If you are interested in learning more about how your dog can be a hero just link VinceB check out: osvs.net/blood-bank/

Send a message to learn more

06/24/2024

Meet Fred!

Fred recently came in through our ER because he was very lethargic, was having trouble walking, and was weak. Fred was examined by our team and made great strides while in the hospital. He is now back to his normal self and activities. He made many friends at OSVS and even matched one of our Technician Assistants, Riley!

06/21/2024

We recently received this very touching email addressed to our team from Dr. Barbara Korry who is one of our most loyal referring veterinarians. The OSVS team is sending all of our love to Dr. Korry, Kiwi's family and friends ❤

To all the wonderful, smart, caring people at OSVS

Thank you for the incredibly beautiful arrangement of flowers, I was not expecting that and they are so beautiful as is the sentiment on the card. Your acknowledgement and kindness are very comforting as I wade through the grief.
Thank you:
to the emergency clinician who took 13-year-old Kiwi with the dreaded old lab/bleeding spleen when I and my family were an emotional wreck
to the staff who coordinate blood products (and the dog who gave her life saving blood and their family)
to all the staff who treated her with skill and TLC (I know you did, because you did this for every patient I sent to you)
to Dr. Ralphs for suggesting a pexy and checking the stats on it (hey Chris, she lived another 20 months and DID NOT BLOAT! Good call!) - she was retrieving the paper (only 10 feet! don't worry I am a mother hen!) three days post op-what skill to do this surgery and have the patient so comfortable post op. Nary a problem with the recovery, the surgery was a mere hiccup in her life.
to the anesthesia and surgical staff who allowed Dr. Ralphs to be in and out so quickly on a fragile patient
to Dr. Kessler and Dr. Sweet for their compassionate and reassuring encouragement...my dog had a miracle too!
to any other staff I may have forgotten - I saw you, heard you and gained comfort and strength from the experience
to Dr. Caleb Alexander for his unwavering support and willingness to give his recommendation, not just lay out the options but to see Kiwi and her family as the unique unit every patient is, for his guidance as chemo went well then not so well, for his assurance that my choices for Kiwi were good ones (so hard when it is your own) and for his gentle sincere caring which comes across so well not just to me but to my clients
to Dr. Newell and the imaging team who provided crucial decision-making information so quickly
to the lab staff who helped manage her case
to the nurses who also had to deal with her food restrictions, problem list and med list but carried on with the new critical problem at hand
to Dr. Block and Dr. Johnson for their vision and the hard, hard, dedicated work to see it through-you created this team that created this miracle.
to the reception staff who made communication so easy and were always so caring and encouraging and understood my pain
to the oncology staff who hit every vein (despite my placing a bad hex telling you her veins could be iffy) and truly see and treat patients as individuals
I didn't try to play specialist Bingo but between my kitty Cosmo and Kiwi I hit most of you....and I must say, I and Kiwi (and Cosmo) won. Kiwi lived 14 years, 8 months and 4 days (but who's counting) after her diagnosis of splenic hemangiosarcoma on her 13th birthday (don't worry, she ate the cake a few days late)
You gave us 20 wonderful months with her. She went swimming in March, she stared a hole in me when daylight savings time disrupted the Kiwi Meal and Snack and Bedtime Schedule, she trotted after me and lay, like a compass rose, where she could see me at all times.
She was there gently by my elderly mom's side, never tripping her, providing a little PT as mom stroked her soft head (and used her 57-year-old carpet sweeper on the never-ending lab hair...what can I say, Kiwi likes to help where she can)
She was treated graciously and gently by her two doggie pals who never bumped or rough housed with her
She was treated kindly by the birds, squirrels and rabbits who would scamper about as long as it was only little Kiwi in the yard (they know the Golden has many a notch on her belt)
She taught me so much and was so cherished.
She had one, then a few days later, another of slightly slow eating at breakfast followed by her normal appetite. Then a week later what I suspect was a met in her liver that bled out rapidly. I was able to euthanize her at home within minutes and she went very gently and peacefully.
I am beyond distraught, disoriented, exhausted and bereft but mostly
I am grateful- for all you do, and all the extra wonderful time I had with my sweet girl because of you all.
I know all your clients are fortunate to have the skill and resources available to perform at the highest level of medicine for their pets. Without you she would not have had this time.
The flowers are beautiful. I draw comfort from them and feel such gratitude for you all. Thank you from me and Kiwi's family and friends.

- Barbara Korry, DVM

06/21/2024

Way to go, Jameson!! We are cheering you on and are so happy to be a part of your story 💙

Yesterday I went to see Dr Alexander at Ocean State Veterinary Specialists. He's my Oncologist. He said I look really good and was happy with how well I'm doing.

Also, since my mom & I have worked so hard along with my girlfriends at Vca Atwood Animal Hospital on getting me more comfortable at the vet he said I'm now a good candidate for an injectable chemo medication down the road if needed. Prior to this, the medication I'm currently on was my last option.

We got my bloodwork results in today, and it was all normal! Yay!!!

As long as all goes well I'll have follow up xrays in August to see gow things look inside my lungs.

06/20/2024

This is us Thursday!

Meet Cassidy Bechtle, one of our dedicated and kind Certified Veterinary Technicians. Cassidy has worked at OSVS for three years. She started her veterinary medicine journey working in a general practice at the age of eighteen as a kennel assistant. She then attended the University of Massachusetts where she played volleyball and pursued a degree in veterinary technology. Cassidy loved college, it provided her with hands-on training and a great education. Her senior year was spent doing internships in six different hospitals. She learned to be adaptable in each hospital setting and felt ready to dive into veterinary medicine once she graduated. Right after graduation, Cassidy moved from New Hampshire to Rhode Island to pursue her career at OSVS.

Cassidy spends her days focused on caring for and treating our most critical patients in the hospital. She works in a variety of roles in the hospital, but loves working in emergency and critical care. Cassidy feels that she has been given a lot of opportunities to learn at OSVS she started in ER outpatient, then moved into ER treatment, and is now in ER procedures and completed her ICU training this winter so she can manage our most critical cases. A role that she thrives in. When she is in ER procedures, she assists in laceration repairs and unblocking cats, placing nasogastric tubes, and treating inpatients. Her ER days are very fast-paced. When she is in ICU, she spends two days focusing on intensive nursing care. Which means her undivided attention is on our most critical patients. ICU patients can range from seizure watch to critical table cases that must be attended to 24 hours a day. Treating our ICU patients is a new role for Cassidy and she has found out that she loves it! She gets to figure out each patient’s quirks, follow along with their care, and create more of a long-term relationship with each critical patient. Cassidy is so excited about OSVS’s expansion OSVS. She can’t wait for the new ICU which will be separate from the organized chaos of the ER so our inpatients can have a quiet space and we can help more animals by having more space to do so!

Outside of work, Cassidy spends time with her fiancé and her dog named Willow who is a 2.5-year-old German Shepherd mix. They spend a lot of time at the beach, go on adventures, and love to go hiking together. Cassidy is getting married this fall so she has been spending much of her free time wedding planning.

06/19/2024

Elko and Lily are helping to spread the world about mushroom toxicity. Here are two examples of Amanita mushrooms. 🍄🍄🍄

If your pet ingests a mushroom, please call us immediately at 401-886-6787.

To help with identification, bring a mushroom specimen with you to the hospital. Wrap the mushroom in a damp paper towel rather than a plastic bag. This will preserve the integrity of the specimen and make identification easier. You can also take a picture of the mushroom, but make sure to capture all aspects including the gills, cap, and stem.

06/18/2024

Amanita mushrooms are popping out of the ground this week, they are one of the deadliest types of mushrooms that grow. At OSVS we have seen multiple mushroom toxicity cases in the past few years. We are sharing the most common clinical signs of mushroom poisoning in dogs:

• Drooling
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Weakness/lethargy
• Abnormal heartbeat
• Trouble breathing
• Uncoordinated movements/stumbling
• Disorientation
• Increased drinking and urinating
• Yellow discoloration to gums and eyes
• Tremors/seizures

There are over 10,000 species of mushrooms in the United States, but only about 100 are toxic. However, it can be difficult to accurately identify mushrooms to determine which are safe and which are poisonous. Mushroom poisoning in dogs may affect pets quickly (within 15-30 minutes after ingestion), but they can also be delayed up to 24 hours. It may take 2-3 days to see evidence of liver and kidney failure. All mushroom ingestions by pets should be considered potentially toxic, and should be seen by a veterinarian immediately. Mushroom poisoning in dogs can be fatal, so do not wait until clinical signs are noted.

06/17/2024

This week is the official kick-off of summer. We love summer, which means pool parties, beach trips, longer days, and sunshine. It also means rising temperatures. This week, it is supposed to reach 90 degrees. Please do not leave your dog in the car. Running into the store for "just a minute" can be fatal to your dog!

Heat stroke in dogs can have many symptoms, including:

Early signs: Heavy panting, rapid breathing, excessive drooling, dry mucous membranes, bright red gums and tongue, hot skin, and a higher heart rate.

Other signs: Hyperactivity, difficulty maintaining balance, vomiting, diarrhea, mental dullness or loss of consciousness, uncoordinated movement, and collapse.

If your dog is experiencing signs of heat stroke, please call us immediately at 401-886-6787

06/13/2024

Check out Chester! This adorable senior is feeling so much better now that his tumor has been removed by our team!

Thank you Vintage Pet Rescue for entrusting us to care for your little man 💙

06/13/2024

This is us Thursday!

Meet Tiffany Irizarry, one of our 3rd-year Emergency and Critical Care Residents! Tiffany is a pleasure to work with and cares so much for her patients and their owners. Tiffany grew up in Long Island, New York. She attended Providence College for her undergraduate degree where she majored in public and community service with a biology minor. She continued her education at Davenport University where she graduated with an MBA with a concentration in healthcare. While working in human medicine. as a social worker, she noticed many resources available for humans but minimal resources were available for their pets. She realized that she wanted to return to school to become a veterinarian to better the lives of these animals left in inhumane situations. This soon led her to St. Matthews University in the Cayman Islands where she attended Veterinary school. After graduating from veterinary school and finishing her clinical she came back to her roots. She joined our team at OSVS as an Emergency and Critical Care Resident where she is so happy to be back in Rhode Island.

Tiffany has found her passion in veterinary medicine. Her niche is emergency and critical care medicine, for her, she feels this is where she thrives and can make a difference. She sees clients and their pets at their very worst and best moments. Being able to be a support system to both clients and their loved ones is the best part of her job. She wants to be able to help wherever she can, no matter the circumstance she can figure out how to help pets when there are financial constraints. When cases come in where neglect or domestic violence is present, she feels that she can be an advocate for these pets that deserve to be cared for and loved. Working at OSVS has given her the groundwork and tools that she was looking for and she is extremely proud to be a 3rd-year resident. She will be taking her state board test in September. Tiffany loves her coworkers at OSVS, the technicians, her resident mates, her mentor, our CSRs, and the support staff, for Tiffany OSVS feels like a big family. She knows that our priority is caring for and helping our patients. That connection runs true and is present in every one of her co-workers.

Returning to Rhode Island has given Tiffany time to connect with her old college friends. She and her fiancé are getting married in one year. Her mentor at OSVS will be proudly officiating the wedding. Tiffany loves Disney and makes sure to visit once a year. She spends her free time with her 3 Yorkies, a Golden Retriever, a parrot, 2 parakeets, a turtle, and a cat. Her turtle has been in the family for generations and is older than she is!

06/12/2024

Meet Bernard!

Bernard is a 7-year-old Bernese Mountain dog who is an internal medicine patient at OSVS. He was initially referred to the surgery service for a left lung lobe mass. Bernard underwent surgery with Dr. Coronado and our surgery team to remove the lung lobe mass. While recovering from surgery, Bernard's cough persisted and became lethargic and uninterested in food. Our team tried different medications to figure out what was best for Bernard's symptoms based on his recent thoracotomy since his mass turned out to be non-cancerous. After much testing, our team ruled out a fungal infection and suspected his mass was secondary to auto-immune disease. Bernard came in for recheck diagnostics because of his symptoms, and it was noted that he had free fluid and an infection in his chest. Bernard underwent surgery again, and a chest tube was placed to remove the free fluid and pus, and a pneumothorax was noted. Pneumothorax is a serious condition in dogs and cats that occurs when air or gas builds up in the pleural space, the area surrounding the lungs. This prevents the lungs from inflating normally. Our team worked hard to remove both the free fluid and the air buildup that was occurring in Bernard’s lungs, treating his infection and his inflammatory lung disease. After spending 8 days in the hospital with around-the-clock care, Bernard was finally feeling well enough to be discharged. Bernard has improved so much since his last hospital stay. He has been coming in for rechecks regularly with Dr. Crain and is feeling better, eating and gaining weight, and is finally back to barking! He recently celebrated his 7th birthday with his family and is so happy to be home!!

Please note that Bernard’s family planned. They had health insurance in case an emergency arose, and in Bernard’s case, he was fortunate that his family was prepared. We cannot prevent emergencies from happening. Health insurance for your pet is not a requirement, but when an emergency occurs, it can be lifesaving.

06/10/2024

Is surgery your passion?

Ocean State Veterinary Specialists is looking for a Surgery Clinic Technician, Anesthesia Technician, Instrument Technician and Surgery Technician Assistant to join our team. The OSVS team is made up of a talented yet fun group of veterinary professionals who truly care about their patients and clients. If you have worked in a fast-paced general practice, or have previous experience in emergency, or specialty medicine and are looking for a way to utilize and grow your skills and knowledge – this is an exceptional opportunity. At OSVS, the continued education of our support staff is paramount. Not only do our techs get to work with the best veterinary team, but we also provide in-hospital continuing education lectures and labs and many opportunities for cross-training.

If you are interested in learning more about our open positions and applying: osvs.net/open-positions/

06/06/2024

Grief, loss, and heartbreak. Three of the most difficult emotions to process. At Ocean State Veterinary Specialists and Bay State Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Services we offer a Pet Loss Support Group where talking about grief is what we do.

The dates for our Pet Loss Support Group this month are Tuesday, June 11th, and Tuesday, June 25th, from 4:30 - 5:45 PM. The group is held virtually on Zoom.

Testimony from our Pet Loss Support Group:

"On Memorial Day weekend of 2023 our lives were changed forever when our 3 year old French Bulldog needed to be put down due to an accident. My husband Charlie and I were in agony and could not imagine the next 5 minutes, never mind any longer, in our future. One of the staff at OSVS gave me a handout and contact information for Susan and the Grief Support Group. It was the best decision we ever made. The first session was hard but you can choose to share or not. It is a place where we started our healing journey, a journey we still continue to this day. Please try it out; it is a big step in your journey to gain support and know you are not alone." - Charlie & Michele

Please join us. We heal in community. It helps to know we are not alone.

06/05/2024

You are loved. You are seen. You are safe here. You are needed. You are unique. You are enough. You are you. You are valid. You are heard. You matter.

We are celebrating PRIDE always at Ocean State Veterinary Specialists! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

06/04/2024

Happy 11th Birthday JARVIS!! 😻😻😻

You are one special cat. We are so happy you are home! Jarvis's mom has been sending our team pictures of Jarvis's recovery journey and we are absolutely loving these updates. Just look at this ham, he was born for the camera!

Do you remember Jarvis's story?

Jarvis is an 11-year-old cat who was adopted by his owner in 2013. Once he turned 9.5, he developed pretty bad arthritis; he spent about a year having trouble jumping up to his food counter which had to be elevated due to his housemate having a prescription diet who would steal Jarvis’s food if she could reach it. Jarvis’s life changed dramatically when he started Solensia last summer for his arthritis. He became his young self again and started to become more active. On March 31st he escaped an 8-foot fence and went missing! The next day a good samaritan brought Jarvis to OSVS, where we scanned his microchip and were able to contact his owner. Our team suspected he’d crawled into a car engine to keep warm because he was a bit singed when he was brought in. He was noted to have severe burn wounds on his face, ears, abdomen, head, and left paw. Jarvis underwent a wound debridement surgery and escharectomy surgery to take care of his wounds. Jarvis was an inpatient in the hospital with us for 15 days being cared for by our team 24/7. He made so many friends while he was in our care. A few of our nurses set up an iPad so he could watch cartoons to keep him entertained. He is so clearly loved by our team. He was readmitted twice to the hospital for wound evaluation and bandage changes a few days after he was discharged. He has been a fighter throughout his multiple hospital stays and surgeries and is continuing to do well at home as he recovers. Jarvis’s owner has been an amazing advocate for him and has provided him with a cozy space and constant care while his wounds are on the mend.

We are glad we were able to be a part of Jarvis’s success story. Thanks to his care team, Dr. Senft, Dr. Lavin, Dr. Vardanega, Dr. Sousa, Dr. Turner, Dr. Yungmeyer, nurses Amy, Sarah, Tionna, Liz and in reception Brianna, Blue, Jennah, Amy, Rachel, and Vanessa got special recognition from Jarvis’s owner! 💚

05/27/2024

Celebrating the start of summer and the sacrifices of our military heroes.

Home of the free, because of the brave. On Memorial Day, we remember and honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Memorial Day is a great day to enjoy time with friends and family, but the holiday has a deeper meaning. We remember those who gave their lives for our freedom.

We are open 24/7 if an emergency occurs call us at 401-886-6787

05/23/2024

We are getting closer to completion! 🏗🔨📣

Ocean State Veterinary Specialists is in the process of adding almost 10,000 sq ft to our existing 26,000 sq ft hospital. The construction is nearing the final stages of completion. The expanded space will house a new Intensive Care Unit on the first floor, and additional office space and a teaching center on the second floor. The demand for emergency and specialized veterinary care has been increasing. We have been facing significant challenges in keeping up with the growing needs of the community, both due to limited space to house inpatients, and limited staff to see the number of patients needing care. The new space will nearly double the capacity for hospitalizing seriously ill patients.

We are working hard to find additional emergency doctors and nurses, and the state-of-the-art intensive care unit will help attract more talented professionals to join our team!

Interested in joining our world-class veterinary care team? Check out our open positions: https://osvs.net/careers/

05/21/2024

Meet Harvey!

Harvey was seen through our Urgent Care by Dr. Johnson and technician, Meagan. Just look at that face. He is the sweetest puppy and was the perfect patient.

Did you know we are now offering Urgent Care through our Emergency department. Urgent Care appointments are open most days from 8 AM – 6 PM and are available on a first-call, first-serve basis. Your pet will be seen by the attending veterinarian for non-life-threatening emergencies. We hope this helps to reduce the wait time in our emergency room and gets pets medical treatment faster for non-urgent ailments.

To make an appointment, please call 401-886-6787

05/15/2024

This testimonial is why OSVS exists. Behind the scenes our ICU and emergency room is always bustling. Our team is working hard to ensure your loved ones get the best treatment, care and medicine. We know waiting is not enjoyable and we try our hardest to get pets seen in a timely manner. Please remember if your pet is not being cared for immediately it is because your pet is stable. If you are waiting, it is because we have many critical patients being attended to by our team.

Thank you so much, Kim, for recognizing how difficult the veterinary field is and how hard our employees work everyday to save the lives of loved ones. We are so happy Bertie is now with his family 💙

Send a message to learn more

05/14/2024

May is Mental Health Month! Our staff walked to raise awareness for mental health wellness and su***de prevention at the Paws for Prevention and Wellness Fair this past weekend.

Our pets play an important role in our lives. They can lower stress and bring happiness. The Paws For Prevention walk celebrated that bond and the positive impact our pets have on our mental health. The Ocean State Veterinary Specialists team goal was $1,000. We superseded our goal and raised $1,280 towards critical research, education programs, advocacy, and support for those affected by mental health and su***de. The OSVS team led the walk as the highest team fundraisers!

American Foundation for Su***de Prevention ❤

***deprevention

05/13/2024

Thank you, Casey, for the special thank you 💙

We are so grateful that you mentioned that Zeke was in great hands while at our hospital and that you were met with compassion, professionalism, quick action, and knowledge. We are glad Zeke is home with his family recovering and that we could be there for you both during the midst of this emergency!

Send a message to learn more

05/12/2024

05/09/2024

This is Bingo!

Bingo is a 5.5-year-old Greyhound. He came in through our emergency department because he had a laceration on his right hind paw and was bleeding heavily. The wound was cleaned, flushed, and repaired by Dr. Dworkin. Bingo did great during sedation. He will be under strict exercise restriction for the next few weeks and will need his bandage changed to make sure everything is healing correctly, but otherwise, this adorable cutie can get back to cuddling with his family!

05/07/2024

Meet Jarvis!

Jarvis is an almost 11-year-old cat who was adopted by his owner in 2013. Once he turned 9.5, he developed pretty bad arthritis; he spent about a year having trouble jumping up to his food counter which had to be elevated due to his housemate having a prescription diet who would steal Jarvis’s food if she could reach it. Jarvis’s life changed dramatically when he started Solensia last summer for his arthritis. He became his young self again and started to become more active. On March 31st he escaped an 8-foot fence and went missing! The next day a good samaritan brought Jarvis to OSVS, where we scanned his microchip and were able to contact his owner. Our team suspected he’d crawled into a car engine to keep warm because he was a bit singed when he was brought in. He was noted to have severe burn wounds on his face, ears, abdomen, head, and left paw. Jarvis underwent a wound debridement surgery and escharectomy surgery to take care of his wounds. Jarvis was an inpatient in the hospital with us for 15 days being cared for by our team 24/7. He made so many friends while he was in our care. A few of our nurses set up an iPad so he could watch cartoons to keep him entertained. He is so clearly loved by our team. He was readmitted twice to the hospital for wound evaluation and bandage changes a few days after he was discharged. He has been a fighter throughout his multiple hospital stays and surgeries and is continuing to do well at home as he recovers. Jarvis’s owner has been an amazing advocate for him and has provided him with a cozy space and constant care while his wounds are on the mend.

We are glad we were able to be a part of Jarvis’s success story. Thanks to his care team, Dr. Senft, Dr. Lavin, Dr. Vardanega, Dr. Sousa, Dr. Turner, Dr. Yungmeyer, nurses Amy, Sarah, Tionna, Liz and in reception Brianna, Blue, Jennah, Amy, Rachel, and Vanessa got special recognition from Jarvis’s owner! 💚