Nashville Veterinary Specialists and Animal Emergency

06/25/2024

Let’s talk about HEAT STROKE! 🌡️ Heat stroke in dogs and cats (as well as many other animals) occurs when their body temperature rises to dangerously high levels, typically above 104°F. This can happen when animals are exposed to high temperatures/humidity, especially if they are unable to cool themselves adequately. Signs of heat stroke include excessive panting, drooling, rapid heart rate, lethargy, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, and collapse. It is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate veterinary attention to prevent organ failure and death. Since temperatures are rising here in TN, make sure to keep a close eye on your furry friends to ensure they are not getting overheated! 🌞

Preventing heatstroke in dogs and cats involves several key measures to keep them safe during hot weather..
1. Provide Ample Water: Ensure your pets have access to fresh water at all times.
2. Provide Shade: Create shaded areas where pets can rest comfortably away from direct sunlight.
3. Avoid Excessive Exercise: Limit outdoor activities and exercise during the hottest parts of the day. Opt for early morning walks/enrichment time since the pavement is coolest in the mornings. Engage in gentle exercise and keep play sessions short.
4. Never Leave Pets in Vehicles: Temperatures inside a car can rise dangerously high within minutes.
5. Avoid Hot Surfaces: Keep pets off hot pavement or sand, as these surfaces can quickly heat up and burn paw pads. A good rule is if you can't keep your hand flat on the pavement for at least 5 seconds without it being uncomfortable, it is too hot for pets to walk on.
6. Monitor Indoor Temperatures: Ensure indoor areas are well-ventilated and cool.
7. Grooming: Regular grooming can help maintain your dog's coat and skin health, which can with heat regulation.

FOR BRACHYCEPHALIC ANIMALS (breeds that have a short muzzle and flat face) - They are extremely heat intolerant and do poorly with higher temperatures even with precautions. Please take even EXTRA precautions if you own a brachycephalic breed! 🐱🐶

06/21/2024

Dogtor Murphy says happy Friday!! 🐶🩺

06/20/2024

Everyone, meet Joe! ❤ Joe holds a special place in our hearts…He's been under the care of both our Internal Medicine and Surgical Departments since undergoing toe amputations. He was diagnosed with IMHA (Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia) and he got an opportunistic infection on his foot since his immune system was being suppressed that led to his toes needing to be amputated. Throughout his treatments, Joe has shown incredible resilience and patience, making him an ideal patient! With the unwavering support of his amazing family, Joe is recovering well and is as cheerful as ever! We're deeply grateful for him and his wonderful family. Keep up the great progress, Joe—you're a favorite here at NVS! 👏🐾🌟

06/19/2024

Here are more pictures of a few rescue kittens some of our team members recently adopted! Happy kitten season 🐈‍⬛

06/18/2024

Finn absolutely adored the toy our Oncology Department gave him—it really helped him stay brave and relaxed during his appointment! 🐵🙈

06/17/2024

Happy kitten season from NVS! 🐱 Here are some pictures of kittens that have been adopted by our NVS employees over the years. During this peak period, typically in spring and summer, shelters see a surge in kittens. Learn how you can support by adopting, fostering, or volunteering to ensure these adorable balls of fur find loving homes. Together, we can make a difference! 😺💕

06/11/2024

Showing some love to our amazing patients! Moose, a cherished member of our cardiology family, has won over the hearts of everyone at NVS. Here he is, spreading joy with his sweet kisses during his procedure 🥰😘 These heartwarming connections are what truly make our work extraordinary!

06/10/2024

We are proud to announce that construction is underway for the new NVS Radiation Oncology Unit! This will be an expansion of our current NVS Medical Oncology Unit. It will be the first radiation facility in Nashville dedicated to animals with cancer. The anticipated completion date will be December 2024!

What is Radiation Oncology? Radiation oncology is a branch of medicine that specializes in the use of radiation therapy (also known as radiotherapy) to treat cancer and other medical conditions. Radiation oncologists are trained to use radiation to target and destroy cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissues surrounding the tumor.

06/07/2024

Here is our one and only Dr. Salinas during an orthopedic surgery! Orthopedic surgeries in animals are performed to address a variety of musculoskeletal issues and injuries. These surgeries aim to alleviate pain, improve mobility, and enhance the overall quality of life for the animal 🐶🥼 Common reasons for orthopedic surgeries in animals include repairing fractures, correcting congenital deformities, addressing ligament or tendon injuries (such as torn cruciate ligaments), treating joint diseases like arthritis, and resolving spinal conditions 🦴 Thank you, Dr. Salinas, for all you do 🔩

06/06/2024

Everyone, please congratulate Dr. Tidwell for finishing her ER Mentorship program and accepting a full time position here at NVS as an ER Doctor! We are so excited for her to join our team and can't wait to see what the future holds! 🐶🐱🐾

06/05/2024

Occasionally we get a patient that requires intensive care and multiple nurses/doctors. In this picture you can see a ventilator, anesthesia machine, and various monitoring equipment on one of our patients. Ventilating a dog or cat might be necessary in situations such as respiratory distress due to illness, injury, or a medical emergency. It assists in stabilizing their breathing, ensuring adequate oxygenation, and supporting their respiratory function until the underlying issue can be addressed or treated.

06/04/2024

Here is Dr. Trzil doing a scope! 🥼💉 She plays a key role in our Internal Medicine Department, her knowledge and compassion speak volumes. By the smile on her face, I think you can tell she likes her job! We are so thankful to have her on our team, show her some love in the comments 🐶

06/03/2024

More pictures from our picnic party! 🧺 🐶

05/28/2024

We had our intern “going away party” at the park a few weekends ago and it was such a beautiful yet bitter sweet event! We will miss them all dearly, as they all have played a key role in our hospital while they’ve been here this past year. It has been an honor to be able to host them and watch them continue their growth as veterinarians and we are so excited for the future that awaits them all! To the intern class of 2024, thank you for all your hard work and dedication to NVS! We value and appreciate you all more than you know 🐶 🏥

05/25/2024

Stella, from Lucky Farms Animal Rescue had a fabulous time here at NVS with our Oncology team! Isn’t she beautiful?? 🤩

05/24/2024

Here are some of our anesthesia nurses doing what they do best, prepping patients for procedures! 🧼 These nurses hold a vital role in our hospital and often deal with anesthesia monitoring which can be a daunting task. They are in charge of overseeing their patients health before, during, and after their surgeries 💉 Please show them some love, their job is not for the faint of heart!

05/22/2024

Let's talk about Cicadas 🪳 The most common question we are asked in Vet Med during Cicada season is, "Can my pets eat them?" In short, yes, dogs and cats can eat cicadas. But, in small quantities. Cicadas are not poisonous, don't bite, sting, or carry diseases and they are not toxic to pets. However, their hard exoskeletons can cause gastrointestinal upset and irritation or obstruction if consumed in large amounts, or pose a choking hazard. They are harmless to you, your home, your crops, and your pets although they can damage some trees and bushes. They feed on fluids from tree roots. They will naturally aerate your lawn and add nutrients to the soil as they decompose 🌿 They should be gone in a few weeks, so just make sure your furry friends don't eat too many of them at a time 🐶🐱

05/21/2024

Our Neurology Department loves their patient, Marley! Isn’t she the cutest fluffy Frenchie you’ve ever seen?! 🤩🩷

05/21/2024

Calling all Emergency Vet Techs! NVS Nashville has openings for Veterinary Technicians.

We’re offering:
💰 $1500 Signing Bonus
💰 $21-$48 competitive hourly pay based on experience
💰 $4.50 additional per hour for overnight and weekend shifts
🐶 Pet discounts
🌴 Paid time off
📈 401(k) match
🏥 Health Insurance
📕 CE allowance
💲 Scrub allowance
🩺 Penn Foster discounts/scholarships

APPLY TODAY: https://indeedhi.re/4akzubS

P4odjayb3q jobs available in Nashville, TN on Indeed.com. Apply to Veterinary Technician and more!

05/20/2024

We had our annual intern going away party this weekend at the park and it was oh so fun 🥹🫶🏼 More pictures and videos to come SOON! We love our team here at NVS and we are so thankful for each and every one of our staff members.

05/17/2024

Here is one of our nurses, Rebecca, giving her first epidural! 💉 We do epidurals in veterinary medicine to help control pain during surgeries that involve the hind limbs, tails, or pelvis. Some example surgeries are tail amputations, leg fractures, pelvic fractures, Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO’s), and Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO’s) 🦴 The epidural can last for 12-24 hours and help lower the amount of opioids that patients have to be on which lowers the time they have to be in the hospital. Good job, Rebecca! 👏🏼

05/16/2024

Have you ever wondered what an x-ray of an animal's chest looks like? 🩻 Look no further! On the computer screen you can see an x-ray of a canine chest. The Cardiology Department often does chest x-rays on their patients to check for fluid on the inside of the lungs (pulmonary edema) which would be a sign of active congestive heart failure🫀A huge part of all of our jobs here is reading x-rays, here is what it looks like when we are actually doing that! 🐶

05/15/2024

We love our nurses in the ICU 👏🏼🥇 Our nurses in the ICU work behind the scenes most of the time to ensure our critical patients are getting the best treatment imaginable. They treat each patient like they are their own and make sure all their needs are met 🐶 We couldn’t thank them enough for all they do!

05/13/2024

HAPPY (one day late) MOTHER'S DAY!👩🏼‍🍼Whether you are a dog mom, cat mom, human mom, or anything in between - we hope you had a great day yesterday. Thank you for all you do! 🐕🌸🐱🩷🧒🏻

05/10/2024

Everyone, meet Orchid! 🌸 Orchid was recently hit by a car where she sustained fractures to both her radius and ulna. Our Surgery department has been medically managing her fractures and it has been going great! She is healing like a champ. Keep up the good work, Orchid! 🍒🐕🍌🍉

05/09/2024

What would we do without our AMAZING Neurologist, Dr. House?! Here are some pictures of her performing a neurologic examination on one of her patients. We are so thankful for her and her team!

05/06/2024

Our Internal Medicine department has years of experience in many different types of endoscopy procedures💉 They perform upper gastrointestinal endoscopies and colonoscopies to help diagnose and treat diseases such as lymphoma or IBD. Even some foreign bodies can be removed via endoscopy! 🎾 All of our patients that undergo an endoscopy procedure are monitored by Internal Medicine licensed technicians that have been trained in anesthesia. Here are some cool pictures of Dr. Neuzil performing a scope recently with some of her nurses, Carrie and Lilly 🐕

05/04/2024

It's CYTAUX SEASON, protect your feline friends! 🐈

Spring and summer bring sunshine and warm days, but also bring far less pleasant things, such as ticks🪳 Most pet owners are aware of the risks ticks pose to dogs, but what about cats?

What is Cytaux?
Cytauxzoon felis is a protozoal organism transmitted to cats via the bite of an infected tick. It infects certain cells in the blood, resulting in an often fatal disease characterized by lethargy, inappetence, fever, anemia (low levels of red blood cells), icterus (yellowing of the skin and eyes), respiratory distress, and neurological signs.

Outdoor cats are at the greatest risk, but any cat is susceptible if ticks are accidentally brought into the home by people or other animals. 🐱

What can I do to protect my cat?
Flea and tick prevention is essential, but not all preventatives are created equally and even the preventatives that protect against ticks do not protect against all tick species. Ensure the flea and tick preventative you choose protects against the Lone Star Tick (A. americanum), which is the tick most likely to harbor this insidious infection. Revolution Plus and Nexgard Combo are both approved for the Lone Star tick 💊 Questions about preventative medications can best be answered by your family veterinarian.

05/02/2024

Let’s talk about BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS! 🩸 Veterinary patients sometimes need blood transfusions just like in human medicine. We can see blood loss secondary to multiple causes including immune-mediated, trauma, and surgical loss. At NVS, we are fortunate to have great relationships with multiple blood banks which allows us to have a steady stock of stored blood products! 💉

Unfortunately, just like in human medicine, we often face nationwide blood shortages. During those times we rely on our in-house blood donor program. Our in-house donor program is made up of employee-owned cats and dogs who donate their blood to other cats and dogs who may need it. Pictured is Remi who belongs to one of our internal medicine technicians. She is one of our biggest donors at 130 pounds! Any cat or dog in good health and of appropriate size/age can become a blood donor and we are very fortunate to have so many at NVS! 🐶 🐱

The bloody picture is a blood bag that ruptured in transport (which is heartbreaking but can happen) luckily this one was replaced within 24 hours! 🏥