Critical Care & Pet ICU in Traverse City, MI

When your pet is critically ill or injured, speed, skill, and constant monitoring make all the difference. At Bay Area Pet Hospital, our ICU is designed for the most serious cases, where round-the-clock attention, advanced equipment, and a deeply dedicated team can mean the difference between crisis and recovery.

female veterinarian holding cat in towel on critical care table

If your pet needs constant monitoring, advanced treatment, or intensive support, our 24/7 team is equipped and ready to help. Just call or come straight to our hospital.

veterinarian holding black and white Spaniel puppy's face

What is Veterinary Critical Care?

Critical care is a specialized branch of emergency medicine focused on patients who require intensive monitoring, advanced diagnostics, and continuous treatment. This is the space where pets facing heart failure, trauma, sepsis, or serious infections receive the life-saving support they need. It’s where tiny details are watched closely, and where treatment plans shift minute by minute as your pet’s condition evolves.

Conditions We Commonly Treat in Our ICU

Our team is equipped to treat a wide range of life-threatening conditions, including:

  • Trauma injuries: Hit-by-car cases, big dog/little dog altercations, fractures, internal bleeding

  • Heart failure: Pets in respiratory distress, pulmonary edema, fluid overload

  • Septic abdomens: From ruptured organs, abscesses, or untreated infections

  • Gastrointestinal foreign bodies: Obstructions, perforations, and sepsis

  • Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA): Critical metabolic imbalances requiring central line management

adult gray cat on veterinary exam table

How Critical Care Makes a Difference for Pets

In emergency situations, what happens after treatment can be just as important as what happens during it. Pets recovering from trauma, surgery, or serious illness are at risk for sudden changes that can go unnoticed without constant monitoring. Our ICU is designed to catch those changes early, so we can intervene before they become life-threatening.

This close observation is critical for:

  • Adjusting medications in real time

  • Managing pain and sedation safely

  • Preventing complications from surgery or injury

  • Supporting the body’s natural healing process

  • Improving the overall chances of recovery

All patients in our ICU receive individualized care plans and constant monitoring from highly trained staff. This level of attention improves outcomes, reduces recovery time, and provides vital early detection if conditions shift.

young female veterinary technician sitting on the floor with cat laying in her lap

We’re Here When Your Pet Needs Us Most

When your pet needs intensive support, you can count on us to provide attentive care, advanced treatment, and heartfelt compassion every step of the way. From the most delicate recoveries to the moments of steady progress, we’re here to help your pet heal, and help you feel supported, too.

If you think your pet may need critical care, don’t wait. Give us a call or come straight to the hospital. We’re here 24/7, ready to help.