BluePearl Pet Hospital
Nashville, TN
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 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

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.

Mallory Brink

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Mallory Brinks’ particular clinical interests include critical care and internal medicine cases such as feline asthma, immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA), diabetes, and feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD).

Education
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Animal Emergency and Specialty Center, Knoxville TN
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus
  • Bachelor of Science, Chemistry, University of the South, Sewanee TN
Off duty

Dr. Brink enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and rescue dog Dee.

Julie Buford

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Julie Buford’s professional interests include emergency medicine, soft tissue surgery, mentoring, leadership development and volunteering at local veterinary clinics.

Education
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, Tinton Falls, NJ
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, AL
  • Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
Off duty

Dr. Buford’s hobbies include traveling, playing tennis, reading, watching college football and being with family. She shares her home with her husband, three kids and a plucky cat.

Justin Campbell

DVM
On the job

Dr. Justin Campbell is passionate about making a positive impact for families in stressful times, especially by making complex, difficult situations clearer for pet owners. He finds trauma cases particularly gratifying to treat.

Education
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Carolina Veterinary Specialists, Greensboro, NC
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg
  • Bachelor of Science, Biology, Emory and Henry College, VA
Off duty

Dr. Campbell lives with his wife, whom he met while living in Australia, and his 14-year-old Cavoodle dog named Oakey Dokey. He enjoys travel, fly fishing, volleyball and golf.

Jessica Fournier

MS, DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Jessica Fournier enjoys all aspects of emergency medicine.

Education
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, Franklin TN
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Western University, Pomona CA
  • Master of Science, Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh
  • Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh
Off duty

Dr. Fournier enjoys body building, cross training, traveling, hiking, photography and going on adventures. A fan of all hounds, her dog Sadie is a red tick coonhound, beagle mix.

Marie Noel

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Marie Noel’s professional interests include trauma management, critical care and pain management.

Education
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Specialty + Emergency Pet Hospital, Nashville, TN
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL
  • Bachelor of Science, Animal Science and Equine Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington
Off duty

Dr. Noel enjoys hiking, Barre3, cooking new recipes, and trying new coffee shops and wine bars. She has a perfect Bichon named Beignet who is always happy to be included in any adventure!

Ruzena Pack

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Ruzena Pack was a certified veterinary technician before vet school. She finds it particularly rewarding to treat cases of gastrointestinal foreign bodies and is continually amazed at what dogs and cats will eat.

Education
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, Franklin, TN
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Starkville
  • Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs
  • Associate of Science, Veterinary Technology, Northwestern Connecticut Community College, Winsted
Off duty

Married to a firefighter/EMT, Dr. Pack and her husband enjoy live music, hiking, kayaking, cooking and bass fishing together. Hockey season brings household tension; she’s a fan of the Nashville Predators, but he loves the Redwings. The couple has two dogs, Chihuahua Vince and Rottweiler mix Sadie.

Sarah J. Roberts

DVM

Emergency Medicine
Education
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, BluePearl Specialty + Emergency Pet Hospital, Cary, NC
  • Clinical Rotation, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, Grenada, West Indies
  • Bachelor of Science, Marine Science, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL

Whitney Smith

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Whitney Smith has worked in emergency medicine since graduating from veterinary school. Her special interests include feline medicine and gastrointestinal disease.

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus
  • Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry, Trinity College, Hartford CT
Off duty

Dr. Smith has a passion for cavalier King Charles spaniel rescue.

April Williams

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Williams spent seven years in the U.S. Army. She has worked in emergency medicine for a number of years and particularly enjoys managing trauma cases.

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station
  • Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station
Off duty

Married, Dr. Williams considers herself a home body. She does enjoy running, hiking and reading. The family pets include Jessie, a pit bull mix, and Harper, a pit bull.

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.