Intensive Support for Pets: Veterinary Critical Care in Salt Lake City, UT
When your pet is seriously ill or too unstable to go home, you need to know they are being watched closely by people who are prepared to respond. WAG provides veterinary critical care in Salt Lake City, UT for dogs and cats who need intensive monitoring, advanced medical support, and around-the-clock care.
Our ICU team cares for pets with breathing problems, shock, major injuries, severe infections, organ complications, neurologic emergencies, post-surgical needs, and other conditions that can change quickly. These moments can feel frightening, and we want you to feel informed, included, and supported through each step.
At WAG, critically ill pets are cared for by critical care and internal medicine specialists, veterinary technician specialists in emergency and critical care, and a 24/7 hospital team. We focus on stabilizing your pet, watching for subtle changes, supporting comfort, and keeping you updated while your pet is in our care.
If your pet is showing signs of a serious emergency, contact WAG or come in right away.
When Does a Pet Need Critical Care?
A pet may need critical care when they are seriously ill, unstable, or at risk of getting worse without close medical support. Critical care is different from a standard emergency exam because it provides ongoing observation, frequent reassessment, and treatment that can be adjusted as your pet’s condition changes.
Your dog or cat may need critical care for:
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Trouble breathing or the need for oxygen support
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Collapse, shock, or severe weakness
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Major trauma after an accident, fall, or bite wound
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Severe vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, or gastrointestinal disease
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Sepsis or serious infection
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Toxin exposure
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Heatstroke
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Kidney failure or urinary complications
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Severe anemia or blood loss
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Diabetic ketoacidosis
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Uncontrolled pain
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Seizures, paralysis, or other neurologic symptoms
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GDV or other life-threatening abdominal emergencies
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Post-surgical monitoring after a complex procedure
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Heart, lung, kidney, liver, or endocrine complications
Specialized ICU Nursing Care at WAG
Nursing care is one of the most important parts of critical care. At WAG, critically ill patients are supported by veterinary nurses with advanced emergency and critical care training, including veterinary technician specialists (VTS) in emergency and critical care.
A VTS is a highly trained credentialed veterinary nurse who has completed advanced education, case experience, and examination requirements in a focused area of veterinary medicine. This certification represents a high standard of skill in monitoring fragile patients, responding to urgent changes, supporting advanced treatments, and working closely with doctors in the ICU.
WAG believes this level of nursing expertise matters for pets and their families. Our critical care nurses help track subtle changes, provide hands-on support, send updates, and keep patients as comfortable as possible throughout hospitalization.
What Should I Expect If My Pet Is Hospitalized?
If your pet needs hospitalization, our team will explain why we recommend ICU care and what we are watching for. We will review your pet’s treatment plan, expected monitoring, estimate when available, and possible next steps.
During hospitalization, your pet will have a dedicated nurse who helps monitor their comfort, progress, and response to care. Doctors provide medical updates multiple times a day, and your pet’s nurse can send daily pictures and provide additional updates throughout the day.
Visits are not only allowed; they are encouraged. Depending on your pet’s needs, visits may take place in the ICU or in one of our visitor rooms. Because the ICU is a working medical space, there may be brief times when we ask visitors to wait or step out so our team can safely care for your pet or another patient.
We know it is hard to leave your pet at the hospital. At WAG, we want you to feel informed, included, and supported while your pet receives the care they need.
If your dog or cat is showing emergency symptoms, contact WAG or come in right away. Our team is here day and night to help your pet receive the care they need.
Frequently Asked Questions About Veterinary Critical Care
Critical care patients are cared for by critical care and internal medicine specialists, an in-house doctor 24/7, and skilled veterinary nurses. WAG also has Veterinary Technician Specialists in Emergency and Critical Care, a high-level nursing certification focused on ICU and emergency patients.
A VTS is a Veterinary Technician Specialist with advanced training and certification in a specific area of veterinary medicine. A VTS in Emergency and Critical Care has specialized experience caring for unstable, critically ill, and complex emergency patients.
Yes. Critical care patients are continuously observed in WAG’s ICU by veterinary nurses, with an in-house doctor available 24/7. This helps our team respond quickly if your pet’s condition changes.
WAG can provide mechanical ventilation, high-flow oxygen, oxygen cage support, blood and plasma transfusions, feeding tubes, urinary catheters, and advanced therapeutic support. Our team will explain which options your pet needs and why.
WAG can perform many diagnostics in-house, including bedside ultrasound, digital X-rays, CT, MRI, fluoroscopy, lab testing, coagulation testing, and blood gas analysis. This helps our team make timely decisions for unstable patients.
Doctors provide updates multiple times a day and contact you right away if your pet’s condition or treatment plan changes. Your pet’s dedicated nurse can also send daily pictures and provide additional updates throughout the day.
Absolutely! Visits are not only allowed, but encouraged when your pet is hospitalized in critical care. Depending on your pet’s needs, visits may take place in the ICU or in one of our visitor rooms.
Our team explains what we are seeing, what we recommend, and why each step matters. Whenever possible, we provide estimates before treatment and update you if the care plan changes.
Most patients go directly from the ICU to home once they are stable. You will receive detailed discharge instructions, and your family veterinarian will receive full records for follow-up care.