Critical Care and Emergency

The VSH Emergency & Critical Care department operates 24-hours a day, seven days a week, covering the emergency and urgent healthcare needs of your pets.

The department is led by Dr. Monica Clare and is staffed with emergency doctors, residents, and technicians. The hospital has a state-of-the-art intensive care unit with complete monitoring capabilities. We are also experienced with ventilation. Patients are supported by an on-site full service laboratory for rapid test results - especially important when a patient is in critical condition.

Dogs and cats are separated to minimize stress. Runs are large and glass enclosed to allow continual observation. A team approach is used with all patients. In addition, hospitalized patients are overseen by a single specialist.

We coordinate closely with the patient’s family veterinarian to determine how cases are handled. Communications with the referring veterinarian are enhanced with timely phone conversations and detailed faxed reports.

Call immediately if you are having a veterinary emergency.

North County 760-466-0600

San Diego 858-875-7500

Emergency and Critical Care Services

Full service diagnostic laboratory for immediate test results
Emergency surgery
Blood and plasma transfusion
Oxygen cages and nasal oxygen therapy
Abdominal and cardiac ultrasound
Video endoscopy and laparoscopy
Blood pressure monitoring
Blood gas analysis
Centralized cardiac monitoring
Pulse oximetry
Ventilator
Advanced Nova blood gas/electrolyte monitor
24-hour monitoring by staff veterinary technicians trained in critical care, surgery, and internal medicine
Consultation with specialists always available

North County

Julie Brown, DVM: Dr. Julie Brown received her DVM degree from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2009. Following graduation, she completed a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery here at Veterinary Specialty Hospital. Dr. Brown enjoys the fast pace and unpredictability of emergency medicine. Other interests include abdominal surgery and wound management. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities including softball, SCUBA diving, learning to surf, and spending time with her Shepherd mix, Chloe.

San Diego

Monica Clare, VMD, Diplomate ACVECC: Dr. Monica Clare received her veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 2000. She then completed an internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York. Dr. Clare then pursued a residency in Emergency and Critical Care at the University of California, Davis and Advanced Critical Care and became boarded in 2005. Dr. Clare worked in Los Angeles for 2 years prior to arriving at VSH. Her interests include respiratory disease and mechanical ventilation. She has published journal articles and a textbook chapter on ventilation.
Lynda Cornelison Elliott, DVM: Dr. Lynda Cornelison Elliott graduated from Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine in 2003. She completed an internship here at Veterinary Specialty Hospital between 2003-2004. Dr. Cornelison Elliott has been practicing with Veterinary Specialty Hospital since September 2005.
Janan Abed, DVM: Dr. Janan Abed, although originally from Long Island New York, received her DVM from Iowa State University in 2007 and then completed a general rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the Animal Medical Center in New York City in 2008. Before moving to San Diego, Dr. Abed spent a year working as a daytime emergency and critical care instructor at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. Some of her clinical and research interests include coagulation disturbances, sepsis, and polytrauma. She is an avid Giants and Yankees fan. Dr. Abed lives in San Diego with her rambunctious orange tabby named Jeter and her talkative black striped tabby named Minka.
Tracy Julius, DVM: Dr. Tracy Julius is originally from Minnesota, and graduated from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008. She completed a small animal rotating internship at the Pet Emergency and Specialty Center in 2009, and then joined the Veterinary Specialty Hospital for an Emergency and Critical Care residency. Some of her clinical interests include mechanical ventilation and acid/base disorders. Dr. Julius and her husband share their home with their two cats, Vinny and Zelda.

Critical Care and Emergency

Emergency and Critical Care Services

North County

San Diego

Specialties