BluePearl Pet Hospital
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Emergency Medicine

24/7 Emergency and Specialty

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

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

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

Education
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Specialty + Emergency 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.

Keith Frickey

DVM

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

Heidi Lewis

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Heidi Lewis’s clinical interests include hemodynamic stabilization in blunt trauma patients, acute kidney injury management, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) management, surgical intervention, wound repair and region-specific infectious disease treatment.

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman
  • Bachelor of Science, Portland State University, OR
Off duty

Dr. Lewis’ family includes her spouse, their 15-year-old dachshund and a pair of 12-year-old cats. She is looking forward to life in Florida, where she plans to learn to sail, bike to the beach for nice long swims, take guitar lessons and do artsy crafty things in her time off.

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.

Shreya Patel

MVB

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Shreya Patel finds toxicities, endocrine diseases like Addisonian crisis, lacerations and immune-mediated diseases the most gratifying to treat.

Education
  • Internship, Internal Medicine, Mississauga-Oakville Veterinary Emergency Hospital, Oakville, Ontario, Canada
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Mississauga-Oakville Veterinary Emergency Hospital, Oakville, Ontario, Canada
  • Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland
  • Bachelor of Science, Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Off duty

Dr. Patel’s family includes her husband, who is a farrier, and their pug, Kevin.

Natalie Sastiel

MPH, DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Natalie Sastiel is a dedicated emergency clinician with a passion for helping pets and their owners. Her clinical interests include laceration repair and unblocking cats.

Education
  • Internship, Emergency & Critical Care, Palm Beach Veterinary Specialists, FL
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca NY
  • Master of Public Health, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
  • Bachelor of Science, Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville
Off duty

Dr. Sastiel enjoys gardening and growing her own food. She has three sons and two golden retrievers, Nala and Pumba.

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.