Pet Specialists of Austin Specialty Care

Similar to intensive care units within human medicine, Critical Care is a specialty branch of veterinary medicine dedicated to providing around-the-clock care for pets with serious medical conditions.

Critical care involves especially close monitoring and intensive management of pets whose conditions may be rapidly changing. An Emergency & Critical Care Specialist is a veterinarian extensively trained in a diverse range of advanced veterinary care, from ventilation to emergency procedures. They focus on providing life-supporting treatment to the sickest of pets, giving them the best chance of survival.

While some surgeries are available through your primary care hospital, some advanced or complex procedures require advanced skills, training, intensive care before or after surgery, and specialized equipment. Similar to the training for human medical doctors, veterinarians can choose to do additional training, publish research, and take an exam to achieve “board certification” in an area of expertise. Our specialty teams work closely with your primary care veterinarian to ensure an exceptional experience for you and your pet. 

Internal Medicine is a specialty branch of veterinary medicine involving the treatment and management of more complex conditions affecting pets’ internal organs that often coincide with chronic illnesses. Conditions that cannot be effectively managed by your family veterinarian alone will often receive a consult or be referred to an internal medicine specialist to receive a second opinion or to pursue more advanced care options.

Thrive Pet Healthcare is a nationwide network of veterinary hospitals, with some locations offering veterinary neurology for dogs and cats. Read more. 

Medical oncology teams within our Thrive Pet Healthcare community work closely with referring and primary care veterinarians to provide advanced cancer treatment for pets. Your pet’s oncology team can perform a thorough evaluation, utilizing state-of-the-art diagnostics to gain a deep understanding of the disease behavior. From there, a personalized treatment plan will be determined to treat or manage your pet’s cancer. 

Chemotherapy is a form of treatment for many types of cancer in dogs, cats, and other animals – including humans! It involves the use of powerful drugs that can delay or prevent the spread of cancerous cells, alleviate symptoms of cancer, and with some types of cancer, even achieve remission (when the cancer and its symptoms are no longer detectable). 

Advanced imaging uses the latest technology to help diagnose specific health conditions in pets. Based on your pet’s symptoms, our veterinarians may recommend a particular type of imaging that will take a closer look at problem areas, such as X-rays (radiographs), ultrasound, echocardiogram, MRI, CT scan, and more.

Our community’s outstanding orthopedic veterinarians and surgeons use breakthrough research within the field to implement advanced therapies, such as CrCL surgeries like TPLO surgery, fracture repair, and innovative devices. These are all designed to help improve or conserve your pet’s mobility following traumatic accident, illness, or age-related condition.  

Pet owners commonly refer to CrCL surgery as an ACL surgery, however CrCL surgery is the medically accurate term. ACL surgery is the human equivalent treatment.

A common form of cruciate or knee surgery is TPLO surgery. Your pet’s orthopedic veterinarian will be able to help decide which type of CrCL surgery is ideal for your pet. It's important to note that these surgeries are commonly referred to by pet owners as ACL surgery, however CrCL surgery is the medically accurate term. ACL surgery is the human equivalent treatment.

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TPLO surgery changes the angle between the thigh bone and the shin bone. The goal is to lessen how much the tibia shifts forward during a stride and it is achieved through an incision, rotation of the tibia, and then insertion of a bone plate. TPLO surgery helps create a stifle (knee) that is stable without the torn cruciate ligament. The medial meniscus is also evaluated at the time of surgery and if torn removed. At times, a releasing incision of the meniscus is done to help prevent a future tear.

Cardiology is a branch of veterinary medicine concerned with diagnosing, treating, and managing conditions related to the heart. This includes a pet’s blood vessels, circulatory system, and sometimes their lungs.

The heart is one of your pet’s most essential organs, continually pumping blood containing oxygen and nutrients to the rest of the body. In most heart-related problems, either damage or deterioration occurs to either the heart valves or heart muscles.

No matter what type of heart problems your pet may have during their life, our Primary, Specialty, and Emergency Care teams have the skills and resources to help your pet have the highest quality of life possible through treatment and hands-on management.