Emergency Veterinary Medicine by BluePearl Ft. Lauderdale FL

BluePearl Pet Hospital
Fort Lauderdale, FL
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.

Merna Abdo

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

In addition to emergency medicine, Dr. Merna Abdo is interested in animal dentistry. She is certified in Fear Free handling.

Education
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Pet Hospital, Sandy Springs, GA
  • Clinical Rotation, University of Florida, Gainesville
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ross University, St. Kitts & Nevis, West Indies
  • Bachelor of Arts, Biology, Broward College, Davie, FL
Off duty

Dr. Abdo enjoys trying new restaurants, exploring the city, strolling on trails and spending time with her Goldendoodle named Oslo.

Astrid Beniquez

MS, DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Astrid Beniquez’s clinical interests include:

  • Minimally invasive approaches to surgery
  • Wound and tissue reconstructive procedures
  • Trauma
  • Oncology case
  • Anatomic and clinical pathology
  • Providing high-quality patient care
Education
  • Internship, Small Animal Surgery, VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital, FL
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, VCA Regional Institute for Veterinary Emergencies, Chattanooga, TN
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN
  • Master of Science, Veterinary Forensic Science, University of Florida, Gainesville
  • Bachelor of Science, Microbiology & Cell Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville
Off duty

In her free time, Dr. Beniquez enjoys reading new books, trying new foods, playing guitar and sketching. She has four well-fed cats and fluently speaks English and Spanish.

Erica Castaneda

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Erica Castaneda’s clinical interests include cardiology, kidney disease and integrative treatment options for pain management and rehabilitation.

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville
  • Bachelor of Science, Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando
Off duty

In her free time, Dr. Castaneda enjoys reading, yoga, Pilates and exploring new places to eat with her husband and two dogs, Snoopy and Frankie.

Keith Frickey

DVM

Emergency Medicine
Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge

Jennifer Liscinsky

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Jennifer Liscinsky is an experienced emergency clinician dedicated to helping pets and their owners. Her interests include trauma, endocrine diseases, and immune mediated diseases. She also has training and experience in wildlife, exotic, and zoo animal medicine.

Education
  • Clinical Rotation, University College Dublin, Ireland
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ross University, St. Kitts & Nevis, West Indies
  • Bachelor of Science, Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park
Off duty

Dr. Liscinsky enjoys traveling and exploring new countries, hiking, tennis, paddleboarding, and scuba diving. She likes to spend time at the beach and volunteer with sea turtle rescue programs. She also enjoys spending time at home with her 4 cats and dog, Crash.

Sagen Woolery

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Sagen Woolery is the medical director of our Fort Lauderdale hospital. Her compassion for clients and their pets, diagnostic ability and surgical knowledge make her a well-rounded doctor.

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State College, Starkville
  • Bachelor of Science, Biology, Mississippi University for Women, Columbus
Off duty

Dr. Woolery enjoys traveling, playing tennis, hiking, volunteering with international veterinary outreach programs and spending time with friends and family. She has two rescue Pomeranians named One-Eyed Winnie and Snaggle-Poof.

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.