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Appeal Archive > Intensive Care Appeal

As one of our “Animal Hospital’s” many services, the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) plays a vital role in the treatment and care of seriously ill and injured animals. It provides a warm, quiet and less stressful environment, with specialist equipment such as incubators, piped oxygen and 2 heated kennels.

Animals involved in Road Traffic Collisions (RTCs); those with urinary tract disease, respiratory disease or diabetes; nervous/stressed animals such as wild animals; those recovering from serious operations; all rely on the therapy received in ICU to survive.

As the economic downturn takes its toll, our client base is increasing, placing a massive strain on the resources available. While other forms of veterinary care may be within their means, when an animal is in need of intensive care it can be too much for some owners to afford. We are therefore seeing a dramatic increase in the need for this specialist care as more people are turning to us for help.

An increase in the number of stray animals has resulted in more ill and injured animals needing our emergency treatment. Velvet was brought into the Clinic for critical care having been involved in a RTC. Her jaw had been fractured and she had a prolapsed eye (the eyeball had popped out). After emergency surgery to repair her jaw and insert a feeding tube, she was transferred to ICU where she received special liquid nutrition, frequent strong pain relief and constant observation by the veterinary nurses. Sadly we could not save the eye and it had to be removed which meant she underwent a second anaesthetic. Following that operation she was back in ICU with intravenous (IV) fluids and further close monitoring. Her stay in ICU lasted for 6 days. As she was a stray, the Branch bore the burden for the entire cost of her care. This intensive hospitalisation would have cost £1,600 in a private practice. Thankfully Velvet has made a full recovery and is now at the Dogs Home, waiting to start a new life.

The need for our ICU is clear. The unit is seldom empty averaging 5 animals using the facilities at any time. Due to the growing demand for our services, these facilities are being put under greater pressure and we are struggling to provide the care these animals desperately need. We are therefore launching our Intensive Care Appeal to help fund additional equipment that will enable us to give the best possible care to these highest risk and seriously ill patients, giving them the greatest chance for survival.

With your help we can provide…
• Infusion Pumps (£800) - very important for administering IV fluids, ensuring the patient receives the correct volume of fluid at the correct rate. With currently only 2 pumps, we are forced to prioritise which animals are the most in need and vulnerable, spending more time monitoring the remaining animals closely, removing staff from helping other animals in need.

• Infusion Warmers (£200) - keep the IV fluid warm before entering the animal. We currently have no infusion warmers.

• Vet Bed (£16 per kennel) - a specialist bedding material that draws body fluid away from the animal, keeping it warm and comfortable.

• Kennel Mounted IV Stands (£100) - the ICU has little space meaning staff must keep moving floor stands. This is both distressing for the animals and hazardous to staff when carrying an animal.

• Other items include digital thermometers, heat pads, medical feeding tubes, urinary catheters & chest drains.

Every penny really does count and by contributing to the Intensive Care Appeal you can help us to continue our important work, providing life saving care to the most vulnerable of animals, giving them the chance for a brighter future.

You can make a secure online donation by clicking here or calling us on 0117 3003968.

Please support our appeal today and you can help make the difference between life and death.

For more information, or to get your school or work place involved, please contact e-mail Rebecca or call 0117 3003968.