AVCC’s Expert Team Leads Leo from Belly Troubles to Birdwatching Bliss
“I could tell he was uncomfortable and he declined so quickly,” recalls Heidi of her sweet Maine Coon cat Leo. It was late at night when Leo was gagging, with nothing but bile coming out. After a visit to a local veterinarian, Heidi was referred to Advanced Veterinary Care Center’s 24-hour emergency and specialty hospital. “I also mentioned it to a friend who told me they were the best in the area,” she adds.
An ultrasound revealed Leo had a foreign body. “It was a massive hairball,” says Heidi. “It got stuck between his intestine and stomach.”
“The doctor came back and we talked about needing an endoscopy or surgery. We were having emotions. This whole process was completely new and unknown territory; the anxiety and unpredictability that comes with an emergency is challenging. My husband and I felt deeply supported by the staff. They were kind, patient and understanding of what we were going through. The communication was great. You can call at any point. Even the nurses were mindful and caring and we could visit when we wanted,” says Heidi gratefully.
Leo underwent an enterotomy, a surgical procedure to remove the foreign body, with AVCC’s Director of Surgery and Board Certified Veterinary Surgeon, Dr. Shiara Arulpragasm. Today, Leo is doing fantastic! “He likes to jump and he’s so much better,” adds Heidi. “He loves looking out the window at the squirrels and birds. He has so much energy and is super playful. He loves to play peek a boo and now it’s up a notch!”
“I had such a good experience because I felt like the staff at Advanced really cares about the animals and they are not just animals to them. It’s a level of care and community from all the providers there. They are definitely the best in the area. They understand that these pets are family.”
About Advanced Veterinary Care Center
South Florida’s Premier Veterinary Emergency Hospital
We Have a Fully Staffed Veterinary Emergency Hospital
We have the largest team of veterinary emergency doctors and nurses in South Florida. Our emergency doctors are internship trained and have years of experience in emergency medicine. Every person on our ER team is RECOVER certified (basic and advanced life support/CPR training).
A Collaborative Approach to Veterinary Care
Our emergency doctors are supported 24/7 by our team of board-certified veterinary specialists. We work as a team to provide the best possible outcomes for pets and their people. Great veterinary medical care is a team sport – our collaborative approach and the quality of our team give patients the best chances for the best possible outcomes. We have earned a reputation for handling the most challenging cases because of our team and our approach.
Board Certification. It Matters!
Board certification in an accredited veterinary specialty is the only accepted standard for expertise in veterinary medicine. Our experts are all board certified in their specialties and they have collectively published over 30 peer-reviewed publications in veterinary medical journals.
We Have a State-Of-The-Art Facility
Including a full in-house lab, canine and feline blood products, a brand new 32-slice Fuji CT unit, surgical suites, minimally invasive surgical equipment, flexible and rigid endoscopy, mechanical ventilator, blood products and all equipment and services necessary for state-of-the-art care.
Centrally Located, Easily Accessible, and Worth the Drive.
We are 20 minutes from most of Broward County and 45-60 minutes from much of Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties.
We are Privately Owned and Operated.
The owners of AVCC are full-time veterinarians and active members of our community.
Advanced Veterinary Care Center in Davie (Broward County) is open 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. If you have any questions regarding our services, please feel free to call us anytime at 954-500-8387 or visit us online here.