BluePearl Pet Hospital
Pittsburgh South
Washington, PA
Critical Care

After-Hours Emergency and Specialty
Emergency:
Mon 7 am-Thu 7 am
Urgent care:
Thu 7 am-5 pm
Sun: 7 am-7 pm
Specialty:
Mon-Fri: By appointment

Pet critical care 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 critical care clinicians are prepared to take action to provide lifesaving care.

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

Conditions we treat.

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.

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:  

  • Post-surgery recovery 
  • Trauma
  • Sepsis
  • Respiratory distress
  • Pneumonia
  • Shock

Services we offer.

Your pet will receive unparalleled medical care during their time at the hospital (and they’ll be spoiled with love and attention, too).

Advanced diagnostics

Your pet can’t tell us what’s wrong, so we use sophisticated diagnostics and imaging tools to uncover the source of the problem. 

  • Blood/urine testing 
  • Electrocardiography (ECG) 
  • Endoscopy
  • Ultrasound
  • Radiography (x-rays)

Treatment plans

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:

  • Blood transfusions
  • Electrolyte replenishment
  • Oxygen therapy
  • Breathing support
  • Catheterization
  • Nutritional support
  • IV fluid therapy

Our board certified specialists and critical care team.

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.

Samuel Durkan

DVM, DACVECC
Board Certified in Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care

Critical Care
On the job

Dr. Sam Durkan’s particular clinical interests include trauma, emergency surgery, sepsis, coagulation, endocrine emergencies and mechanical ventilation.

Education
  • Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care
  • Residency, Emergency & Critical Care, Tufts University, North Grafton MA
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Rochester Veterinary Specialists, NY
  • Clinical Rotation, North Carolina State University, Raleigh
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ross University, St. Kitts & Nevis, West Indies
Off duty

Away from the hospital, Dr. Durkan enjoys hiking, biking, water sports, yoga and is an avid motorcyclist. He and his wife have two children and two dogs.

Meredith Maczuzak

DVM
On the job

Dr. Meredith Maczuzak’s clinical interests include polytrauma, parvoviral infections and acute abdominal syndrome.

Education
  • Residency, Emergency & Critical Care, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Southpaws Veterinary Specialists & Emergency Center, Fairfax VA
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
  • Bachelor of Science, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
Off duty

Dr. Maczuzak has a black cat she calls Dr. Tipper Bruce, PhD, an expert in seasonal conifers and décor. Her great Dane is Sir Lloyd Von Maczuzak.

Danna Torre

DVM, DACVECC
Board Certified in Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care

Critical Care
On the job

Dr. Danna Torre’s particular clinical interests include transfusion medicine and mechanical ventilation. She also finds it rewarding to treat coagulation disorders and immune-mediated diseases.

Education
  • Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care
  • Residency, Emergency & Critical Care, Tufts University, Medford MA
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, Tinton Falls NJ
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, Medford MA
  • Bachelor of Science, Biology, Binghampton University, NY
Off duty

Dr. Torre enjoys exercise classes. She and her husband have two children and three brachycephalic (short-snouted) dogs.

What to expect.

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.

How the ICU works

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.