BluePearl Pet Hospital
Cedar Rapids, IA
Critical Care

Emergency and Specialty
Emergency:
24/7
Specialty:
Mon-Thu: By appointment 9 am-5 pm

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.

Leo B. Roa Guzman

MVD

Critical Care
On the job

Dr. Leo Roa Guzman has been practicing emergency medicine since 2007 and finds the field particularly gratifying, especially the technological advancements that have allowed for better patient care. His clinical interests include trauma cases, mechanical ventilation and transfusion medicine.

Education
  • Residency, Emergency & Critical Care, Eastern Iowa Veterinary Specialty Center, Cedar Rapids
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional Pedro Henriquez Urena, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Off duty

Dr. Roa Guzman spends most of his free time with his family and pets. He also enjoys travelling and finding places to go hiking and biking.

Elizabeth Streeter

DVM, DACVECC
Board Certified in Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care

Critical Care
On the job

Dr. Elizabeth Streeter was previously a faculty member at Iowa State. Her research interests – head trauma, point-of-care testing, and injury severity scores – have resulted in a number of published articles, book chapters and requests for presentations around the world. She particularly enjoys treating trauma and cardiac cases.

Education
  • Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care
  • Residency, Emergency & Critical Care, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Mesa Veterinary Hospital, Phoenix, AZ
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames
  • Bachelor of Science, Psychology/Pre-Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City
Off duty

Dr. Streeter enjoys crafting, traveling and running and is working toward a goal of running a half marathon in each of the 50 states. She has eight rescued animals: six dogs and two cats.

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.