Veterinary Emergency + Referral Center of Hawaii

We're thrilled to welcome Dr. Kathryn Pitt to our renowned surgery team! With her impressive background—graduating from Michigan State University, completing her residency at UC-Davis, and finishing a Surgical Oncology Fellowship at Colorado State University—she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience. Passionate about education, she also holds a post-graduate certificate in Veterinary Education. We're excited to provide her expertise in soft tissue and surgical oncology procedures to our patients!

Read more about Dr. Pitt: https://www.verchawaii.com/staff/kathryn-a-pitt

Beach days are the best days, especially with our furry pals! Keep an eye out for these signs – they may suggest your buddy had a bit more fun than intended signs after romping in the saltwater:
• Vomiting 🤮
• Diarrhea 💩
• Irritated eyes 👀
• Excessive head shaking 🐶
• Lethargy 😴
• Irritated skin 🐾

Spot any of these symptoms? Give us a call at (808) 735-7735 to determine if further medical assistance is needed. Let’s keep those tails wagging safely!

Meet Max, the friendly and lovable feline member of our client care team! Providing the purr-fect start to our week. 🐱

From everyone at VERC, we wish you and your family a happy and safe 4th of July!

As we prepare to celebrate the 4th of July, here are some tips to ensure your pets' safety during the festivities. Remember, if an emergency occurs, we are available 24 hours a day. Please feel free to contact us at (808) 735-7735 if you need assistance.

🌞🐾 Keeping Pets Hydrated: Your Summer Guide! 🐾🌞

Just like us, our furry friends can suffer from dehydration and heatstroke. Here's how you can keep your pet safe and hydrated:

🚰 Fresh Water Always: Ensure your pet has access to fresh water at all times. Change their water daily and consider multiple water stations in your home.

🌳 Shade is a Must: Whether indoors or out, make sure your pet can relax in cool, shaded areas, away from direct sunlight.

👅 Watch for Signs of Dehydration:

Excessive panting or difficulty breathing
Increased heart rate
Dry or sticky gums
Weakness or lethargy
Sunken eyes

🕒 Mind the Time: Avoid vigorous play or walks during peak sun hours. Early mornings or evenings are safer and cooler.

🍉 Fun with Ice & Treats: Spice up their hydration routine with ice cubes, frozen treats, or fruits safe for pets (like watermelon, minus the seeds!).

🚑 Know When to React: If your pet shows any signs of dehydration or heatstroke, it's essential to act fast:

💦 Provide them water immediately
💨 Bring them to a cool, air-conditioned area
🆒 Apply towels soaked in cool (not cold) water to their head, neck, and chest
📞 We're Here to Help: If your pet’s symptoms persist or worsen, bring them in to be seen. Our team is ready to ensure they receive the care they need.

Let’s make this summer safe and enjoyable for our pets! July is Pet Hydration Awareness Month. Remember, if you're ever concerned about your pet's hydration or heat tolerance, give us a call or visit us. Your pet's health is our top priority! 💧🐶😺

Looking for a summer fruit that’s safe to share? 🍉 🍉 🍉

Watermelon is 92% water so it’s a great treat to help keep your pet hydrated. It also has low calories, no fat or cholesterol, and is high in potassium and vitamins A, B6, and C. But be sure to remove the seeds and rind!

Try freezing small chunks of watermelon to make an extra special treat for a hot day! 🍉 🍉 🍉

🐾📸 Happy National Selfie Day, pet parents! 📸🐶🐱

Today is the paw-fect excuse to strike a pose with your furry best friend! 🐾❤️ Whether it's a silly selfie or a heartwarming moment, let's celebrate the unconditional love and joy our pets bring to our lives. 🥰

Share your favorite pet selfies in the comments below and spread some smiles! Let's fill our feeds with adorable faces and wagging tails! 🐾📸

📸🐾

Hooray for summer! ☀️ What activities will you be doing with your companions this summer?

VERC is a college friendly workplace! We provide internship opportunities to students from the WCC Vet Tech Program at Windward Community College. Let’s extend a warm welcome to Michelle (left) and Tatum (right) who are interning with us this Summer! Congratulations to both of you on your achievements so far!

Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful dads of both four- and two-legged "children"! 💕🐱🐶

🔥🚗Hot Car Alert: Keep Your Pet Safe! 🚗🔥
With summer in full swing, remember the dangers of leaving pets in hot cars. At VERC, we're here to ensure the safety and well-being of your furry family members.
Even on relatively mild days, the inside of a parked car can quickly become dangerously hot, putting pets at risk of heat stroke and even death. Here's what you can do to keep your pet safe:
1. Never Leave Pets Unattended: Even for a few minutes, never leave your pet alone in a parked car. The temperature inside can skyrocket in a matter of minutes.
2. Plan Ahead: If you're running errands, leave your pet at home where they'll be safe and comfortable.
3. Spread Awareness: Educate friends and family about the dangers of leaving pets in hot cars. It takes a community to keep our pets safe.
Let's work together to keep pets out of hot cars and ensure a safe and enjoyable summer for all. If you have any concerns about your pet's well-being, don't hesitate to contact us for guidance. 🐾☀️

🐾🚨 Pet Disaster Preparedness Month is here! 🚨🐾
Is your furry friend ready for anything? 🌀 🔥🌊 Don't wait until it's too late to ensure your pet's safety during emergencies. Follow our checklist for the perfect pet disaster preparedness kit:
✔️ Food & Water: Stock up on a 3-7 day supply of food and 1 gallon of water per day for each pet.
✔️ Medications & Medical Records: Pack a 1-2 week supply of meds and copies of your pet's medical records.
✔️ Identification: Update ID tags and consider microchipping your pet for added security.
✔️ Comfort & Shelter: Have carriers, bedding, and familiar toys ready to reduce stress.
✔️ Sanitation: Don't forget litter, waste bags, and cleaning supplies.
✔️ Safety Equipment: Leashes, flashlights, and reflective gear ensure safe transport.
✔️ Emergency Contacts: Keep vet info and pet-friendly accommodations handy.
✔️ Special Needs: Cater to your pet's unique requirements with specific supplies.
✔️ Documentation & Planning: Create a written plan and share it with your family.
Be proactive, not reactive! 🛡️ Share this checklist with fellow pet parents to help them prepare too. Together, we can keep our beloved pets safe no matter what comes our way. 🐶🐱

🌸 Managing Seasonal Allergies in Pets 🌸

Spring and summer bring beautiful blooms, but also seasonal allergies for many pets.
Here’s how to help:

🤧 Symptoms: Itching, redness, sneezing, ear infections.
❤️ Prevention: Wipe your pet’s paws and fur after outdoor play, use air purifiers, and consult your vet for allergy management options.
❤️Treatment: Your vet may recommend antihistamines, medicated shampoos, or allergy shots.
❤️Help your pets enjoy the season without the itch!

🔥🐾 Hot Asphalt Alert: Protect Your Pup's Paws! 🐾🔥
As temperatures soar, remember that hot asphalt can pose a serious risk to your furry friend's paws.
Walking on hot pavement can lead to painful burns and blisters on your dog's paw pads. Here's what you can do to keep them safe:
1. Test the Pavement: Before heading out, place the back of your hand on the pavement. If it's too hot for your hand, it's too hot for your dog's paws.
2. Opt for Cooler Times: Schedule walks during cooler parts of the day, like early morning or late evening, to avoid hot pavement.
3. Protective Measures: Consider using protective booties to shield your pup's paws from the heat.
4. Stay in the Grass: Whenever possible, walk your dog on grassy areas or shaded paths to minimize contact with hot surfaces.
5. Hydrate and Rest: Bring along water for your dog to drink and take breaks in the shade to prevent overheating.
By staying vigilant and taking these precautions, you can ensure a safe and enjoyable summer for your furry companion.
Let's keep those paws cool and happy! 🐶❤️

We are so excited to introduce another new veterinarian on our ER team!

Dr. Jang was born in Korea and grew up on the east coast of Canada where she attended veterinary school. She completed a small animal rotating internship at Friendship Hospital for Animals in Washington DC prior to moving to Hawaii. She has been practicing emergency and critical care (ECC) medicine ever since. Aside from ECC, her professional interests include neurology, animal welfare, trauma, and toxicology.

Join us in welcoming Dr. Ang to our ER team!!

Dr Erica Ang grew up in Singapore and obtained her veterinary degree from the Royal Veterinary College in London. She practiced in Singapore as a general practitioner, then transitioned to emergency & critical care for several years before moving to Hawaii. Her medical interests include internal medicine, emergency medicine, and critical care. She finds treating critically ill pets deeply rewarding as they recover and are nursed back to health. She is excited to join VERC and work with a team of like-minded animal lovers.

This Memorial Day, the team at VERC honors and remembers the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

Let's take a moment to reflect on the courage and dedication of our heroes. Their sacrifices have allowed us to live in peace and pursue our passions—including the care and well-being of our beloved pets.

Wishing everyone a safe and meaningful Memorial Day. Thank you to our service members, past and present, for your incredible service and commitment. 🐾❤️

🐾 Calling all dog lovers! 🐶 🐾 Let's bark about National Rescue Dog Day, celebrated every May 20! This is the paw-fect opportunity to honor the pawsome pups in shelters who embody resilience and unconditional love.

Got a rescue dog in your fam? Post a pic below and share their story and the joy they bring.

Thinking about expanding your fur family? Look no further than local rescue centers for a chance to give a deserving doggo a forever home full of love and tail wags. 🐶❤️🐾

Meet Freya, a 2-year-old female German Shepherd who was referred to Dr. Baye Williamson at VERC due to experiencing intermittent pain while playing since she was 5 months old.

After a neurological evaluation and MRI, Dr. Williamson diagnosed her with lumbosacral foraminal stenosis. This diagnosis meant that her sciatic nerves were being pinched as they left the spinal canal and traveled down her legs which resulted in intermittent pain. It was determined that Freya needed an uncommon surgery to enlarge the foramina and relieve the compression on her nerves.

Due to the rare surgery, Dr. Williamson enlisted the help of Dr. Carrie Jurney, a fellow neurologist and co-owner of Remedy Veterinary Specialists in the San Francisco Bay area, to perform the surgery alongside her to ensure the best possible outcome for Freya. We are happy to report that Freya did very well during her surgery and is recovering at home with her owner, a local registered veterinary technician. Stay tuned for updates after her follow-up visit with the neurology team!

Thanks to Chipperton Photography for the photo of Freya

🌸💕 Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing pet moms out there! 💕🌸

Today, we celebrate the special bond between fur babies and their devoted moms. From late-night cuddles to endless games of fetch, your love makes all the difference. Take some time today to bask in the unconditional love of your pets. And if your pet needs any veterinary care, remember we're here for you. Happy Mother's Day from VERC! 🌷🐾

Don't forget to join us at the Hawaii Pet Expo this weekend!! May 4-5 from 10am-4pm at Neal Blaisdell Exhibition Hall! Find us at booth #40 and #41 alongside FACE Foundation and FACE Foundation Hawaii.

Stop by our booth for your very own pair of light up kitty ears!! Take a photo of you or your pet wearing our light up ears and tag us on Facebook to be entered for a chance to win a grand prize.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Join us at the Hawaii Pet Expo this weekend on May 4-5 from 10am-4pm at Neal Blaisdell Exhibition Hall! Find us at booth #40 and #41 alongside FACE Foundation and FACE Foundation Hawaii. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Coughing, choking, labored breathing, and swelling of the throat all point to respiratory distress in your pet. It could mean viral or bacterial lung infections, allergic reaction to insect bites, sensitivity to medicine or vaccines, heart failure, or even cancer.

Take your pet to a veterinarian immediately if you notice any difficulty breathing.

The World Veterinary Association created in 2000 as an annual celebration of the veterinary profession. Today we celebrate the efforts of all veterinary medical teams around the world! 🌎❤🐕🐈🩺

Spring cleaning is a priority in many households this time of year 🧹🌸 But be sure to keep all cleaners and chemicals out of paws reach! Almost all cleaning products (including natural ones) contain chemicals that could be harmful to pets. Read the label to ensure proper use and storage of your cleaning products. Here are some chemical ingredients to watch out for:
❌ Chlorine (Bleach): Pets breathe faster than we do, which means more toxins are absorbed into their system. Though it is naturally occurring, chlorine in high concentrations can be deadly to pets.

❌ Ammonia: Found commonly in oven cleaners, window cleaners, floor waxes, and fertilizers – often listed as ammonium hydroxide. Exposure may cause severe damage to eyes, skin, stomach, and even death.

❌ Glycol Ethers: These chemicals are known to cause various cancers in lab rats, as well as birth defects, delayed development, and other effects, such as anemia, eye and nose irritation, and weight loss. Commonly listed as 2-Methoxyethanol, 2-Ethoxyethanol, and 2-Butoxyethanol.

❌ Formaldehyde: Exposure usually comes from inhalation, though it can also be absorbed through skin. It doesn’t have to be listed on your cleaner ingredient list, other names for formaldehyde include: formalin, formic aldehyde, methanediol, methanol, methyl aldehyde, methylene glycol, and methylene oxide.

❌ Phthalates: Since hormones control so much more than just reproduction in your pet’s system (and yours), phthalates have been linked to indirect symptoms such as weight gain, cancers, and developmental delays. You’ve probably heard of the commonly-known phthalate, BPA, but there are many more.

If you suspect your pet has consumed a toxic cleaning product or chemical, immediately contact us. You can also connect with the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435

This week is dedicated to our veterinary receptionists, customer service representatives, and administrative teams who help keep it all together for our patients and hospital teams. During an unexpected animal emergency or health crisis, people often feel distressed and vulnerable. These team members are typically the first point of contact to determine urgency, schedule visits, explain processes, and guide pet parents to action. With their care, they help keep people and patients attended to and support hospital operations running smoothly.

Today kicks off ! This week we are showing additional gratitude for our team members who work so hard to keep our hospital running. 🐕🐈♥

From our entire family here at VERC, thank you all for the love, compassion, and dedication you give to our patients every day!

Please join us in celebrating our dedicated staff by commenting your appreciation below!

Happy National Cat Lady Day!
Embrace the Cat Lady within you, and share a picture of you and your feline bestie in the comments below! ❤🐱🐈😻❤

This time of year, people start using more fertilizers, insecticides, and herbicides for their lawns and gardens. Ingredients in these products can be dangerous if your pet ingests them. This is a reminder to keep all lawn and garden care properly stored and away from pets.

If you suspect your pet has consumed fertilizer, insecticide, or herbicide, immediately contact us at 808-735-7735. You can also connect with the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435