Veterinary Emergency Referral Center

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Pensacola, FL
Veterinary Emergency Referral Center

Veterinary Emergency Referral Center Your source for emergency and specialty veterinary care.

Veterinary Emergency Referral Center is a 24/7 emergency and specialty hospital, offering cardiology, critical care, ophthalmology and surgery specialties. Our state of the art facility and credentialed staff provide support for the local veterinary community in Northwest Florida and Alabama, as well as critical services to thousands of pet owners in our area.

04/01/2025

What’s it called when all the treats are gone? A cat-astrophe !🐈

03/31/2025

With spring here and warmer weather creeping in, snake bites are more of a risk than ever. Just like us Floridians, snakes enjoy “tanning” in the sunshine. Our furry companions do not always watch where they step and can easily stumble onto a basking snake, startling the snake into a defensive bite. We recommend using caution around wooded areas, leaf piles and any body of water.
Symptoms can include:
🐍Swelling around bite strike area
🐍Discharge or bleeding from strike wound
🐍Pain
🐍Lethargy

VERC carries the necessary antivenin for many of the venomous snakes in North America, including several types of vipers and rattlesnakes.

If you suspect your pet has been bitten by a snake, contact VERC at (850) 477-3914 to bring them in ASAP. VERC is open 24/7 for your pet emergencies.

03/28/2025

🐾Meet Kobe🐾

Kobe, a 9-month-old Australian Shepherd, presented to VERC after falling from an unknown height. Kobe suffered from a Left Femur Fracture that needed immediate surgical correction. Our Board-Certified Surgeon, Dr. Lemarie, put together a surgical plan for Kobe’s Femur Repair and quickly moved into surgery to save Kobe’s leg. After several days in the ICU for continued intravenous pain medications, Kobe went home to continue his healing journey in comfort. Several weeks and repeat radiographs later, Kobe has a clean bill of health and is back to playing like a normal puppy again!

03/24/2025

A disease like Parvovirus in dogs is highly contagious and can have deadly consequences. Here’s what you need to know:

🐾 Parvovirus attacks the gastrointestinal tract
🐾 The main way that dogs contract Parvovirus is through the f***s (stool) and vomit of infected dogs
🐾 Parvovirus can affect puppies too young to be vaccinated, puppies within their vaccination course, and unvaccinated adult dogs. Flies and other vectors can also carry the virus from yard to yard.
🐾 Vaccinating your pet is the only way to protect them from the disease

Some of the signs of parvovirus include lethargy, loss of appetite, abdominal pain and sometimes bloating, fever or low body temperature (hypothermia), vomiting, and severe (often bloody) diarrhea. Persistent vomiting and diarrhea can cause rapid dehydration, and damage to the intestines and immune system can cause septic shock.

If your dog exhibits symptoms of parvovirus, take them to your nearest veterinarian to be tested immediately. Call VERC at (850) 477-3914 we are open 24/7. The quicker they can be treated, the better the chance of recovery.

03/21/2025

🐾Meet Pupples 🐾

Pupples, a 7-year-old Chihuahua mix, presented to VERC after her owner noticed her having a plantigrade stance (when the pet stands with its weight on its heels or ankles, instead of its paws). Initial diagnostics showed an incidental and concerning finding of increased bile acids, leading to the discovery of a Porto-Systemic Shunt. A porto-systemic shunt (PSS) is an abnormal connection between the portal vascular system and systemic circulation, which can lead to a large variety of life altering issues. VERC’s surgery team quickly pulled together a plan for the PSSL surgery to get Pupples back to normal. Pupples surgery was quickly scheduled, followed by several days in the ICU with frequent repeat bloodwork to ensure Pupples had a healthy recovery. Pupples has since gone home with her owner, living her best life running around showing her healed incision to anyone who will look.

03/20/2025

With the First Day of Spring falling during we want to highlight the most common toxic plants and flowers:

- Lilies (lethal to cats)
- Sago Palms
- Azaleas
- Daffodils
- Tulips
- Hyacinths
- Cyclamens
- Crocus
- Oleander
- Hibiscus

If you suspect that your pet has ingested a toxic flower or plant, contact VERC at 850-477-3914 to bring them in ASAP. You can also call the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for further instruction.

03/18/2025

March is National Pet Poison Prevention Awareness Month and today kicks off Pet Poison Prevention Week. In the event of a poisoning or toxin exposure, quick action and expert advice are critical. We recommend you save numbers and addresses in your phone for your veterinarian, your nearest emergency animal hospital, and a poison control hotline.

VERC is open 24/7 for Emergency Care | 850-477-3914

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is staffed by board-certified veterinary toxicologists and specialist technicians and are available every day 24/7. They can be reached at (888) 426-4435.

The Pet Poison Helpline is also available 24/7 and can be reached at (855) 764-7661.

03/15/2025

We will remain open during the storm for pet emergency needs 🐾⛈

We hope everyone stays safe!

📱 850-477-3914
📍 4800 N Davis Hwy, Pensacola, Fl.
💻 Vetemergencycenter.com

03/14/2025

Happy Pi Day! We celebrated 3.14 day with PUPPY 🐶 Safe Pies, spreading joy and mathematical wonder! How does your family celebrate this yummy artimetic occasion?

03/12/2025

Pets can be curious, and sometimes that leads to swallowing indigestible objects which can result in a bowel or gastrointestinal obstruction.

The treatment for bowel obstruction can vary and depends on the severity of the condition. In some cases, a blockage may pass on its own. In others, surgery may be required.

Obstructions can be very serious and may even result in death, so it is important to see your veterinarian if you discover or suspect your pet swallowed something indigestible. "Pets can be curious, and sometimes that leads to swallowing indigestible objects which can result in a bowel or gastrointestinal obstruction.

The treatment for bowel obstruction can vary and depends on the severity of the condition. In some cases, a blockage may pass on its own. In others, surgery may be required.

Obstructions can be very serious and may even result in death, so it is important to see your veterinarian if you discover or suspect your pet swallowed something indigestible. VERC is open 24/7 for emergencies: 850-477-3914.

03/07/2025

A disease like Parvovirus in dogs is highly contagious and can have deadly consequences. Here’s what you need to know:

-- Parvovirus attacks the gastrointestinal tract
-- The main way that dogs contract Parvovirus is through the f***s (stool) and vomit of infected dogs
-- Parvovirus can affect puppies too young to be vaccinated, puppies within their vaccination course, and unvaccinated adult dogs. Flies and other vectors can also carry the virus from yard to yard.
-- Vaccinating your pet is the only way to protect them from the disease

Some of the signs of parvovirus include lethargy, loss of appetite, abdominal pain and sometimes bloating, fever or low body temperature (hypothermia), vomiting, and severe (often bloody) diarrhea. Persistent vomiting and diarrhea can cause rapid dehydration, and damage to the intestines and immune system can cause septic shock.

If your dog exhibits symptoms of parvovirus, take them to your nearest veterinarian to be tested immediately. Call VERC at 850-477-3914 we are open 24/7. The quicker they can be treated, the better the chance of recovery.

03/05/2025

Computed Axial Tomography (also referred to as CAT scan or CT scan) is a versatile imaging procedure that can be used to evaluate almost every part of your pet’s body. CT uses x-rays and a computer to generate cross-sectional images of a region of interest. In veterinary medicine, a CT scan is often used for imaging of the chest, abdomen, nose, bones and joints.

This technology is very useful when looking at parts of the body such as the lungs and thorax, nasal passage and sinuses, ears, abdomen and some orthopedic structures. CT scans are non-invasive and are not painful.

The table on which the pet lays is slowly advanced into the part of the machine that performs the scan (called the gantry). An x-ray tube rotates 360° around the patient to record the x-rays from many angles, creating image ""slices"". The number of images taken depends on the area and size of the suspected problem. When the computer finishes processing the information, the slices are stacked together to create a three dimensional image of your pet without superimposition of organs or other tissues.

Your pet will be anesthetized approximately 30-60 minutes for the CT scan. Before any anesthesia is given, we will make sure that your pet is healthy enough to undergo anesthesia. We will place an intravenous catheter for fluid administration throughout the procedure. Your pet’s vital signs will be carefully monitored during and after anesthesia. If your pet requires CT imaging, our team is happy to answer any questions you may have leading up to their appointment with us [850-477-3914].

02/28/2025

Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) surgery is primarily performed to treat cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) disease or injury - one of the most common orthopedic conditions seen in veterinary medicine. This ligament is normally responsible for the stability of the knee joint.

A TPLO involves altering the joint angles of the knee by making a cut in the tibia, rotating it, and securing it in a new orientation with a bone plate and screws. By doing so, the CCL is no longer needed to maintain stability.

If your pet is referred to VERC for surgery, you will receive detailed instructions about your pet's gradual return to normal activity in the months following their TPLO surgery. If you have any questions leading up to your pet's appointment, please contact VERC at 850-477-3914.

02/27/2025

As in human medicine, advances in imaging have significantly increased our ability to quickly and safely diagnose the cause of a variety of illnesses in companion animals. If your pet needs an MRI, your primary care veterinarian will likely refer you to a local veterinary specialist or radiologist for evaluation and subsequent imaging if indicated.

Magnetic resonance imaging (or MRI) can help specialists a lot. This versatile imaging procedure is performed on pets under anesthesia, so it is often reserved it for situations where other imaging has not provided enough information. MRI is the imaging tool most often recommended by veterinary neurologists and radiologists to evaluate the nervous system and sometimes the musculoskeletal system. In contrast to CT, which is better for bone evaluation, MRI is significantly better at imaging soft tissues, such as the brain, spinal cord, intervertebral discs, tendons and ligaments, and muscles.

Very small abnormalities, down to about 1-2 mm in size, can be detected with MRI that are otherwise missed on CT and other imaging techniques. MRI also allows us to obtain images from all three planes of the body, left-to-right, front-to-back, and top-to-bottom without having to move the patient. This gives us the ability to view the body three-dimensionally.

MRI results are interpreted by a board-certified veterinary radiologist and are used by our team of specialists or can be ordered by your primary care veterinarian. If your pet requires MRI imaging, our team is happy to answer any questions you may have leading up to their appointment with us. Don't hesitate to call us at 850-477-3914

02/20/2025

Today is National Love Your Pet Day 🐱🐶🦜🐟🐴🦎

As if they are not already loved every day, today is a day to show pets a little more affection, give them a special treat, or take them to one of their favorite places.

How will you make today a little more special for your pet? Share pictures in the comments below!

02/14/2025

Happy Valentine’s Day! 💞 It’s that special time of year to share the love – especially with your pets. We hope your day is filled with extra snuggles and sloppy kisses from your furry loved one!

How are you celebrating with your pet this year? Let us know in the comments! 💕

02/10/2025

With Valentine’s Day approaching, most pet parents know the danger chocolate poses to dogs, but this is a reminder that certain flowers can also be extremely toxic to your pets. Some of the more popular holiday varieties include:

Lilies (all varieties): Kidney failure in cats 🐈

Chrysanthemums (Daisy/Mum): Vomiting, diarrhea, hypersalivation, incoordination, or dermatitis in cats and dogs 🐈🐕

Baby’s Breath: GI upset such as vomiting and diarrhea in both cats and dogs 🐈🐕

Daffodils: Small ingestions can cause GI upset. Large ingestions cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors and cardiac arrhythmias in both cats and dogs. Bulbs are the most poisonous part. 🐈🐕

Tulips: Vomiting, depression, diarrhea, hypersalivation in cats and dogs. Highest concentration of toxin in bulb. 🐈🐕

Roses: Although the petals are non-toxic, the thorns can be dangerous if your pet steps on or swallows the stem! 🐈🐕

If you suspect your pet has consumed toxic flowers or plants immediately contact VERC at 85-477-3914 right away. You can also connect with the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

02/08/2025

Did you know, Veterinarians can specialize in veterinary surgery, similar to how human medical doctors can specialize in surgery.

If your animal develops a problem or injury requiring advanced care and procedures, your primary care veterinarian or emergency room veterinarian may refer you to an ACVS board-certified veterinary surgeon.

Becoming a Board Certified Surgical Specialist requires many years of rigorous studies after veterinary school. These requirements include a minimum of a one-year internship followed by a three-year residency program that meets guidelines established by ACVS. Residents must also conduct research published in a scientific journal and pass rigorous board examinations.

To give your pet the best care, your primary care veterinarian might refer you to VERC to see our veterinary surgeon for specialty care.

Address

4800 N Davis Highway
Pensacola, FL
32503

Telephone

(850) 477-3914

Website

http://vetemergencycenter.com/

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Videos

Happy Pi Day! We celebrated 3.14 day with PUPPY 🐶 Safe Pies, spreading joy and mathematical wonder! How does your family celebrate this yummy artimetic occasion? #PiDay

Happy Valentine’s Day! 💞 It’s that special time of year to share the love – especially with your pets. We hope your day is filled with extra snuggles and sloppy kisses from your furry loved one! How are you celebrating with your pet this year? Let us know in the comments! 💕