What our ICU provides
The ICU at Frisco Emergency Pet Care is designed for patients who cannot be safely managed at home or treated and released. Our team is present around the clock, which means your pet is never left unmonitored during their stay.
Conditions commonly requiring ICU care
Respiratory emergencies
Pets in respiratory distress — from pulmonary edema, pneumonia, pleural effusion, asthma, or other causes — often require oxygen therapy and close monitoring while the underlying cause is treated. A patient can deteriorate rapidly if respiratory support is insufficient. Our ICU allows us to titrate oxygen delivery and intervene immediately if a patient's condition changes.
Sepsis and severe systemic illness
Sepsis — a life-threatening systemic infection response — requires aggressive IV fluid therapy, antibiotics, and continuous monitoring. Patients with septic shock can deteriorate very quickly. ICU monitoring allows us to detect early changes in blood pressure, organ function, and fluid balance and respond immediately.
Post-surgical recovery
Patients who have undergone emergency surgery — particularly those who were in shock or poor condition prior to surgery — require intensive post-operative monitoring. This includes pain management, fluid balance, wound monitoring, and watching for post-operative complications such as bleeding or anesthetic recovery issues.
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
DKA is a serious complication of diabetes in which the body begins breaking down fat for energy, producing acidic ketones. Treatment requires careful, slow correction of blood sugar and electrolyte imbalances with IV fluids and insulin — a process that typically takes 24–72 hours of continuous monitoring.
Severe toxin exposure
Some toxin cases require extended monitoring even after initial decontamination. Anticoagulant rodenticide toxicity, for example, may require several days of monitoring and treatment as clotting factors are restored. Xylitol toxicity may require blood sugar monitoring for 12–24 hours.
How long will my pet need ICU care?
Length of stay varies enormously based on the condition and how well the patient responds to treatment. Some patients stabilize and can be transferred to standard hospitalization or discharged within 12–24 hours. Others with complex conditions may require multiple days of intensive care. We give you our best estimate when your pet is admitted and update you as the picture develops.
We know it is hard to leave your pet. We commit to keeping you informed — at minimum at every shift change, and immediately if there is a significant change in your pet's condition. You can call us any time, day or night, for an update. We would rather you call than worry at home.