Emergency Veterinary Medicine by BluePearl Washington PA

BluePearl Pet Hospital
Pittsburgh South
Washington, PA
Emergency Medicine

After-Hours Emergency and Specialty
Emergency:
Sun 7 am-Fri 5 pm
Urgent care:
Fri: 7 am-5 pm
Specialty:
Mon-Fri: 7 am-4 pm
Request Appointment

Pet emergency medicine by BluePearl.

A BluePearl urgent care vet hugs a grey and white dog on an exam table.

Conditions treated

Learn which conditions our emergency team can help diagnose and treat, so your pet gets the right care for their needs.

A BluePearl emergency vet tech holds a grey cat in her arms while looking at a monitor.

Success stories

Discover how other pets have overcome their diagnoses with specialized care, giving you hope for your pet’s recovery.

A BluePearl client smiles while holding her dog at the front desk of the animal hospital.

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 ER clinicians are prepared to take action and help.

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.

Rachel Adams

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Rachel Adams’ clinical interests include surgical emergencies and polytrauma. As specialty service head, she supervises the specialty and emergency clinicians at our Washington, PA, hospital.

Education
  • Fellowship, Small Animal Surgery, University of Georgia, Athens
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Metropolitan Veterinary Emergency and Referral Hospital, Akron, OH
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens
  • Bachelor of Arts, Biology, Adrian College, MI
Off duty

Dr. Adams loves to play and watch ice hockey, especially the Pittsburgh Penguins. Other favorite pastimes include snowboarding, soccer and running. Her family includes her husband, son, and two dogs: Shetland sheepdog, Reese, and Catahoula mix, Trafford.

Shari Brown

DVM
On the job

Dr. Shari Brown particularly enjoys treating dental and dermatology cases.

Education
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, VCA Arboretum View Animal Hospital, Downers Grove IL
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing
  • Bachelor of Arts, Biology, Albion College, MI
Off duty

Dr. Brown’s favorite pastimes include reading and traveling. She is married with three daughters and two cats, Cody and Flower.

Amanda Castle

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Amanda Castle’s clinical interests include regenerative medicine, pain management, emergency medicine, soft tissue surgery and internal medicine.

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens
  • Bachelor of Science, Biology, West Liberty State College, West Virginia
Off duty

In her free time, Dr. Castle enjoys spending time with her husband and two boys, leading Youth Group, gardening, beekeeping, outdoor DIY projects, and charity cycling and running events.

Cody Kelley

DVM

Emergency Medicine
On the job

Dr. Cody Kelley’s clinical interests include trauma and wound repair, ultrasonography, soft tissue surgery and Fear Free patient handling.

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus
  • Bachelor of Science, Pre-Medical Biology, Kutztown University, PA
Off duty

In his free time, Dr. Kelley enjoys climbing, bouldering, backpacking and mixology.

Casey Simchik

DVM
On the job

Dr. Casey Simchik finds laceration repairs, abscesses, toxicities, neurologic disorders and infectious diseases the most gratifying to treat.

Education
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana
  • Bachelor of Arts, Biology, Alfred University, NY
Off duty

Dr. Simchik enjoys running, photography, traveling and learning about other cultures. She also enjoys taking her mixed breed dog, Tenney, to the dog park and watching TV with her cat, Alley.

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.

Success stories.

"Thanks to the quick thinking of his veterinary team, the support of a generous donor dog, and the innovative use of autotransfusion, Harley pulled through surgery. Just two weeks later, Harley returned to BluePearl for his post-operative recheck. Tail wagging and spirits high, he was doing great."
Read Harley's story.
“The hard work and dedication of both teams was inspiring,” said Sierra, reflecting on Everest’s care at both hospitals. “No one gave up on him and because of that he thrived and was able to come to his forever home.”
Read Everest's story.
“Everyone at BluePearl was amazing. They were super kind and sweet, and now Suni is right back to his normal self.”
Read Suni's story.
"Over the next few days, it seemed that everything I have known and told people over my 30 years as a vet tech went out the window. Broski was nauseous and not eating and we were all worried there was something very wrong with him. Even after hours, the surgeon responded to my concerns and eased my worries. Our dog is now fully recovered and back to normal. Thank you to Dr. Heintz, Dr. Ferrell and everyone else who assisted!"
Read Broski's story.