BluePearl Pet Hospital
Charlestown
Boston, MA
Emergency Medicine

24/7 Emergency and Specialty
Emergency:
24/7
Specialty:
By appointment

Pet emergency medicine 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 ER clinicians are prepared to take action and help.

A vet tech examines a dog and is delighted

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
  • Wound repairs
  • Allergic reactions
  • Coughing
  • Heart failure
  • Lameness/limping
  • Eye injuries/infections

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.

Ashley Felhofer

MSc, DVM

Emergency Medicine
Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ross University, St. Kitts & Nevis, West Indies
  • Master of Science, Biodiversity, Wildlife and Ecosystem Health, University of Edinburgh, Scotland
  • Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, University of California, Davis

Ariana Ferraro

DVM
On the job

Dr. Ariana Ferraro is passionate about delivering life-saving care to pets. She is particularly interested in treating cases of toxin ingestion, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV).

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
  • Bachelor of Science, Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington
Off duty

Dr. Ferraro enjoys skiing, hiking and spending time with her dog, Rio, and her cat, Ramona.

Abigail Gilman

DVM
On the job

Dr. Abby Gilman is a RECOVER and Fear Free certified veterinarian who is passionate about delivering excellent medical care for pets. She is particularly interested in feline medicine, including urethral obstructions, trauma and wound management.

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames
  • Bachelor of Arts, Behavioral Neuroscience, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY
Off duty

In her free time, Dr. Gilman likes to cook and bake with her fiancée and play with their two cats, Nora and Daisy.

Oliver Hummer

DVM
On the job

Dr. Oliver Hummer is dedicated to providing compassionate and respectful emergency medical care. His clinical interests include gastrointestinal emergencies, neurologic and cardiac diseases and trauma cases.

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Colorado State University, Fort Collins
  • Bachelor of Science, Animal Sciences, University of California, Davis
Off duty

In his free time, Dr. Hummer loves baking, reading, hiking, board games and spending time with his partner and pets.

Kerrianne Kalbko

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Kerrianne Kalbko’s clinical interests include trauma, transfusion medicine and endocrinopathies, such as diabetes and Addison’s disease.

Education
  • Internship, Emergency Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Animal Medical Center, New York City
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA
  • Bachelor of Science, Biology, Arizona State University, Temple
Off duty

Dr. Kalbko enjoys photography, traveling, cooking and cross training. She has a yellow lab named Ivy and a golden retriever named Rusty.

Amanda Makein

DVM
On the job

Dr. Amanda Makein  is particularly interested in radiology and ultrasound testing.

Education
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Specialty + Emergency Pet Hospital, Waltham, MA
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, AL
  • Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth
Off duty

Dr. Makein likes to hike and kayak with her husband and pug, Olive. She also enjoys whitewater rafting, camping and any outdoor activity.

Lexi Souther

DVM
On the job

Dr. Lexi Souther’s clinical interests include polytrauma, endocrine diseases and cardiac emergencies.

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh
  • Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
Off duty

Dr. Souther loves reading and any outdoor activity, especially white water rafting and hiking. She grew up on a farm with horses, dogs, cats, chickens and ducks, but doesn’t have any animals of her own (yet!). Fun fact about Dr. Souther: she has had a horse that has been in her family almost as long as she has. They got the horse when Dr. Souther was eight months old.

Publications and articles

Hannah van Bergen

DVM
On the job

Dr. Hannah van Bergen’s clinical interests include emergency and critical care medicine, at-home euthanasia and maxillofacial trauma.

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
  • Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs
Off duty

In her free time, Dr. van Bergen enjoys crocheting, knitting, reading a good book and going to music festivals and concerts. She also loves spending time with friends, family and her dog and cat.

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.