Emergency Veterinary Medicine by BluePearl Pittsburgh PA

BluePearl Pet Hospital
Pittsburgh North
Pittsburgh, PA
Emergency Medicine

24/7 Emergency and Specialty

Pet emergency medicine by BluePearl.

A BluePearl urgent care vet hugs a grey and white dog on an exam table.

Conditions treated

Learn which conditions our emergency team can help diagnose and treat, so your pet gets the right care for their needs.

A BluePearl emergency vet tech holds a grey cat in her arms while looking at a monitor.

Success stories

Discover how other pets have overcome their diagnoses with specialized care, giving you hope for your pet’s recovery.

A BluePearl client smiles while holding her dog at the front desk of the animal hospital.

Call the hospital

Take the next step toward answers and getting the care your pet needs by connecting with our hospital team.

Pet emergencies can be scary – we’re here to help you handle them.

We understand that seeing your pet sick, hurt or in distress can be stressful – especially if you don’t know what’s wrong. Fortunately, our experienced ER clinicians are prepared to take action and help.

Common pet emergencies.

A BluePearl anesthesiology and pain management vet prepares to fix an anesthetic facemask on a yellow lab while a vet tech helps hold the dog on the exam table.

Acting quickly in an emergency may save your pet’s life.

If your pet is experiencing an emergency, you’ll have an entire veterinary team helping them so you can get back to what matters most – spending precious moments together.

  • Accidents, injuries and trauma (hit-by-car, animal attacks, etc.)
  • Bleeding 
  • Bloat (gastric dilatation volvulus, or GDV)
  • Collapse or unresponsiveness
  • Complications from chronic diseases 
  • Difficulty breathing 
  • Straining to urinate
  • Ingestion of medications, poisons or objects 
  • Seizures
  • Vomiting and diarrhea

Our emergency team.

Experience makes all the difference. 

Our emergency team is made up of veterinarians, vet technicians and assistants, and support staff with rigorous training and experience in specialty medicine. The team works hand in hand to provide the comprehensive, compassionate care your pet needs and deserves. Because we’re a multidisciplinary hospital, the team can consult the expertise of other specialty departments, too.

Shari Brown

DVM
On the job

Dr. Shari Brown particularly enjoys treating dental and dermatology cases.

Education
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, VCA Arboretum View Animal Hospital, Downers Grove IL
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing
  • Bachelor of Arts, Biology, Albion College, MI
Off duty

Dr. Brown’s favorite pastimes include reading and traveling. She is married with three daughters and two cats, Cody and Flower.

Kasey Dahlgren

DVM

Emergency Medicine
Education
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, VCA Alameda East Veterinary Hospital, Denver, CO
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Colorado State University, Fort Collins
  • Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, California Polytechnic University, Pomona

Bella Halter

VMD

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Bella Halter has clinical interests in both emergency and critical care medicine.

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
  • Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, West Virginia University, Morgantown
Off duty

Dr. Halter enjoys fitness, cooking, and spending time with her two cats, Wilbur and Puma.

Katie Marino

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Katie Marino enjoys the spontaneity of emergency medicine and finds helping people and animals in emergency situations to be very rewarding. She is particularly interested in wound management.

Education
  • Clinical Rotation, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ross University, St. Kitts & Nevis, West Indies
  • Bachelor of Science, Biology, Wheeling Jesuit University, WV
Off duty

In her down time, Dr. Marino enjoys being outdoors and spending time with her wife, their three dogs (Cooper, Oscar, and Willow), and each of their families.

Ashtyn Neibar

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Ashtyn Neibar’s clinical interests include point-of-care ultrasounds and centesis procedures (removal of excess fluid).

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN
  • Bachelor of Science, Cell & Molecular Biology, Chatham University, Pittsburgh University, PA
Off duty

On her days off, Dr. Neibar enjoys getting away from the city and hiking with her 11-year-old husky.

Tyler Rothka

DVM

Emergency Medicine
Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, Grenada, West Indies
  • Bachelor of Science, Veterinary Medical Technician, Wilson College, Chambersburg, PA

Casey Simchik

DVM
On the job

Dr. Casey Simchik finds laceration repairs, abscesses, toxicities, neurologic disorders and infectious diseases the most gratifying to treat.

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana
  • Bachelor of Arts, Biology, Alfred University, NY
Off duty

Dr. Simchik enjoys running, photography, traveling and learning about other cultures. She also enjoys taking her mixed breed dog, Tenney, to the dog park and watching TV with her cat, Alley.

What to expect.

We know an unexpected trip to the emergency pet hospital can be stressful, and we want you to be prepared so you have one less thing to worry about. Our entire BluePearl team will be with you every step of the way.

Before your visit

  • If possible, call us before arriving so we can discuss your pet’s condition, help you with directions and prepare our team.
  • Collect your pet’s medical records, current medication or any historical information.
  • If your pet has eaten something potentially toxic, bring the substance with you if it’s safe to do so.

During your visit

  • When you arrive, let us know if you need help bringing your pet in from the car, and we’ll be ready to assist you.
  • Our team will perform an initial triage exam on your pet to assess their condition.
  • To stabilize your pet, we may need to administer IV fluids, pain medications, oxygen therapy and sometimes blood or plasma transfusions.
  • Before you leave, you’ll receive discharge instructions and a list of any recommended medications.

After your visit

  • We’ll let your family veterinarian know about your pet’s condition and the treatment they receive at BluePearl. This communication is key in the ongoing management of your pet’s care.
  • You know your pet better than anyone, and you play a crucial role in any follow-up treatment necessary. If you have any concerns about providing care at home (such as giving medication or monitoring your pet’s symptoms), let us know – we’re here for you.

Success stories.

"Thanks to the quick thinking of his veterinary team, the support of a generous donor dog, and the innovative use of autotransfusion, Harley pulled through surgery. Just two weeks later, Harley returned to BluePearl for his post-operative recheck. Tail wagging and spirits high, he was doing great."
Read Harley's story.
“The hard work and dedication of both teams was inspiring,” said Sierra, reflecting on Everest’s care at both hospitals. “No one gave up on him and because of that he thrived and was able to come to his forever home.”
Read Everest's story.
“Everyone at BluePearl was amazing. They were super kind and sweet, and now Suni is right back to his normal self.”
Read Suni's story.
"Over the next few days, it seemed that everything I have known and told people over my 30 years as a vet tech went out the window. Broski was nauseous and not eating and we were all worried there was something very wrong with him. Even after hours, the surgeon responded to my concerns and eased my worries. Our dog is now fully recovered and back to normal. Thank you to Dr. Heintz, Dr. Ferrell and everyone else who assisted!"
Read Broski's story.