BluePearl Pet Hospital
Midvale, UT
Emergency Medicine

Emergency and Specialty
Emergency:
Tue 8 am-Sat 6 pm
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 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.

James Akagi

DVM

Emergency Medicine
Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman
  • Bachelor of Science, Bioveterinary Science, Utah State University, Logan
Off duty

Dr. Akagi enjoys fishing and hunting; including fly fishing, large game and upland hunting, and shooting sports. He also enjoys spending time with his family, beekeeping and bee health.

Joe Evans

MS, DVM

Emergency Medicine
Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman
  • Master of Science, Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Science, Utah State University, Logan
  • Bachelor of Science, Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Science, Utah State University, Logan
Off duty

Dr. Evans enjoys working cows with his family and kids, training horses and taking horse pack trips in the mountains.

Carinne Ramirez

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Carinne Ramirez is part of our emergency medicine training program for clinicians. She will be working in small animal emergency and is looking to develop her skills in soft tissue and orthopedic surgery.

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate TN
  • Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, University of California, Davis
Off duty

Dr. Ramirez loves hiking, backpacking, snowboarding and running. She and her husband are always looking for adventure along with their dog Oakley, who also prefers the outdoors to being inside.

Deborah Schiffer

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Deborah Schiffer is particularly interested in internal medicine and exotic animal cases.

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
  • Bachelor of Science, Zoology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Off duty

A die-hard sports fan, Dr. Schiffer’s favorite pastimes include snowboarding, hiking and kayaking. She has a German shepherd named Hazel, a cat named Scarlett and a pig named Louis.

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.