Conditions treated
Learn which conditions our specialty team can help diagnose and treat, so your pet gets the right care for their needs.
Success stories
Discover how other pets have overcome their diagnoses with specialized care, giving you hope for your pet’s recovery.
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 critical care clinicians are prepared to take action to provide lifesaving care.
If your pet is experiencing a critical condition, you’ll have an entire veterinary team helping them so you can get back to what matters most – spending precious moments together.
Common cases that we see in the ICU include:
Your pet will receive unparalleled medical care during their time at the hospital (and they’ll be spoiled with love and attention, too).
Your pet can’t tell us what’s wrong, so we use sophisticated diagnostics and imaging tools to uncover the source of the problem.
Just as no two patients are the same, neither are their treatment plans. Our critical care team has experience with a range of advanced procedures and minimally invasive care options to get your pet on the path to wellness, including:
Experience makes all the difference.
Our critical care 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.
Dr. Nolan Chalifoux’s passion for critical care is driven by the ability to work as a team, devoting efforts to the sickest patients, nursing them back to health and giving them a second chance. His clinical interests include:
Dr. Chalifoux is one of few veterinarians in the region to offer plasmapheresis and hemodialysis to pets.
Dr. Chalifoux enjoys spending time with his family and friends, enjoying the Philadelphia restaurant scene and attending live music events. He lives with his partner (also a veterinarian) and their two cats, Swift and Cayenne, and a ferret named Hashbrown.
Dr. Rachel Manchester was introduced to veterinary medicine at an early age by her father, who is also a veterinarian. Her love for animals and science drew her to toward caring for a wide range of species, and over the years she has developed a deep appreciation for the bond between pets and the people who love them.
Passionate about emergency medicine and critical care, Dr. Manchester enjoys the variety of cases and fast pace of the specialty. She finds it especially rewarding to help guide owners through the difficult moments and to see particularly serious cases turn around – ultimately sending a beloved pet home to their family.
Her clinical interests include sepsis, coagulopathies and toxicities.
Outside of the hospital, Dr. Manchester enjoys spending time enjoying Philadelphia, including the wonderful food scene. She also loves traveling, reading and spending time with family, friends and her two amazing tabby cats, Branston Pickle and Ambrosia Custard.
Dr. Jennifer Morris enjoys all aspects of critical care medicine.
Dr. Morris has two cats.
We want you to be prepared for your pet’s visit to the ICU, so you have one less thing to worry about. Our entire BluePearl team will be with you every step of the way.
First, your pet will be triaged and cared for by our emergency medicine team. If they require hospitalization, your pet will be seamlessly transferred to the ICU, where our critical care team will stabilize and monitor them around the clock.
We know how difficult it is to be separated from your pet during this critical time, so we’ll keep you updated on their condition and continue to discuss testing and treatment options with you. Once your pet is stable, you’ll be able to give them more love and attention during visiting hours.
Our team will continue to partner with your primary veterinarian as part of 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 after being discharged from the hospital (such as giving medication or monitoring your pet’s symptoms), let us know – we’re here for you.
During an emergency, every second counts. If you think your pet is experiencing an emergency, call us so we can talk you through their situation and prepare for your arrival.
Our goal is always for your pet to have a complete recovery so they can return home with you, happy and healthy.