AVCC’s Expert Team of Veterinarians Work Together to Save Roxy
“It was a terrifying experience and it became severe rather quickly,” recalls Lilly of her dog Roxy. The sweet Staffordshire Terrier was on her everyday walk with Lilly’s dad in South Florida when she suffered a severe heatstroke. “The climate was ok when they started, but then it became too hot. My dad noticed immediately the excessive panting and Roxy collapsed during the walk.”
Lilly’s mom quickly picked up Roxy by car and the couple began first aid at home, “but Roxy was delirious and unresponsive,” adds Lilly. So, they rushed her to Advanced Veterinary Care Center’s 24 hour emergency and specialty veterinary hospital in Davie.
“When she initially came in, we didn’t think she was going to make it,” admits Lilly. “It was touch and go for everyone, a 50/50 situation because of the severity; Roxy is a pit bull and it affects her ability to regulate in the heat.” Doctors and nurses at AVCC got right to work on Roxy, as heatstroke can affect multiple organ systems, including: the brain, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, the blood clotting system and more. Roxy received immediate intensive care including IV fluids, antibiotics, gastrointestinal support and more. “So many staff members were working together from different lenses. It was an all-hands-on team,” she added.
Lilly admits she was in a state of shock at first. And then came the emotions, “Roxy is my first baby. She is a such a crucial part of the household. She is the grounding force. The staff at AVCC was so effective, so quickly. You could see it was a team effort, with tender loving care at every step. They were the path to her healing. They made the odds in her favor. It was an amazing experience.”
Roxy at Home
Today, Roxy is back to full health and doing all of her favorite things. “She very much gives nanny energy and is a support toeveryone. She also loves to de-stuff her plushies and pillows and sit in a pile of stuffing. It’s relaxing for her!”
And, while Roxy still jumps around whenever she wants to go on a walk, Lilly wants to bring awareness to the hazard of heatstroke and share this experience with other pet owners. “We try to be as educated as possible. Sometimes you get confident, like ‘my dog is healthy, this will never happen to me.’ But, it can happen anytime and it’s so important, especially in South Florida. I give credit to my parents and the team at AVCC for the immediate support. Many dogs don’t have the privilege to survive this. Roxy not only survived, but she is thriving today!”
And, Lilly is especially grateful for the compassion and expertise of the AVCC team. “I think sometimes there is a stigma that veterinarians will do their job and that’s it. But, that’s not the case with AVCC. They will go above and beyond from the sense of a pet parent. At no point in time, did they refer to Roxy as a pet. They referred to her as my baby. It was as if I had an extension of myself giving that level of care. That’s what I got at Advanced Veterinary Care Center. They go out of their way to give you the same love and care as you would for your pet at home. We were hoping for a miracle and AVCC was my miracle!”
About the dangers of heatstroke:
Reduce your pet’s risk of heatstroke with these tips from The American Animal Hospital Association. Click here for more.
About Advanced Veterinary Care Center in Broward County
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.
AVCC is centrally located in South Florida. We are 20 minutes from most of Broward County and 45-60 minutes from much of Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties and minutes away from Fort Lauderdale.
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.