BluePearl Pet Hospital
Brandon, FL
Critical Care

24/7 Emergency and Specialty

Pet critical care by BluePearl.

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 critical care clinicians are prepared to take action to provide lifesaving care.

A vet specialist holds a small grey puppy wearing a cone on an exam table.

Conditions we treat.

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.

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

Common cases that we see in the ICU include:  

  • Post-surgery recovery 
  • Trauma
  • Sepsis
  • Respiratory distress
  • Pneumonia
  • Shock

Services we offer.

Your pet will receive unparalleled medical care during their time at the hospital (and they’ll be spoiled with love and attention, too).

Advanced diagnostics

Your pet can’t tell us what’s wrong, so we use sophisticated diagnostics and imaging tools to uncover the source of the problem. 

  • Blood/urine testing 
  • Electrocardiography (ECG) 
  • Endoscopy
  • Ultrasound
  • Radiography (x-rays)

Treatment plans

Just as no two patients are the same, neither are their treatment plans. Our critical care team has experience with a range of advanced procedures and minimally invasive care options to get your pet on the path to wellness, including:

  • Blood transfusions
  • Electrolyte replenishment
  • Oxygen therapy
  • Breathing support
  • Catheterization
  • Nutritional support
  • IV fluid therapy

Our board certified specialists and critical care team.

Experience makes all the difference. 

Our critical care 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.

Maxie Bowen

DVM

Critical Care
On the job

Dr. Maxie Bowen is particularly interested in treating respiratory emergencies, mechanical ventilation, toxicities and polytrauma.

Education
  • Residency, Emergency & Critical Care, BluePearl Specialty + Emergency Pet Hospital, Tampa, FL
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville
  • Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of Georgia, Athens
  • Bachelor of Arts, International Affairs, University of Georgia, Athens
Off duty

Dr. Bowen has a mini farm with six chickens, two tortoises, one snake, three cats and four dogs. She enjoys working with rescue organizations and almost always has a foster pet in her home. In her free time, she likes being in nature, going to the beach and visiting her family.

Jessica Weeks

DVM, DACVECC
Board Certified in Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care

Critical Care
On the job

Dr. Jessica Weeks’ special interests include trauma, sepsis, blood transfusions and mechanical ventilation.

Education
  • Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care
  • Residency, Emergency & Critical Care, BluePearl Specialty & Emergency Pet Hospitals, Tampa FL
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Valley Animal Hospital, Tucson AZ
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville
  • Bachelor of Science, Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis
Off duty

Dr. Weeks enjoys time with her husband, ornery cats and her one-eyed dog.

What to expect.

We want you to be prepared for your pet’s visit to the ICU, so you have one less thing to worry about. Our entire BluePearl team will be with you every step of the way.

How the ICU works

First, your pet will be triaged and cared for by our emergency medicine team. If they require hospitalization, your pet will be seamlessly transferred to the ICU, where our critical care team will stabilize and monitor them around the clock.

We know how difficult it is to be separated from your pet during this critical time, so we’ll keep you updated on their condition and continue to discuss testing and treatment options with you. Once your pet is stable, you’ll be able to give them more love and attention during visiting hours.

Our team will continue to partner with your primary veterinarian as part of 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 after being discharged from the hospital (such as giving medication or monitoring your pet’s symptoms), let us know – we’re here for you.