Coastal Care Veterinary Emergency & Referral Hospital

08/31/2026

Weird Case Alert! ⚠️ 🐍

Meet Asmodeus, a ball python who presented to Dr. Webb with severe swelling of the head and neck -- so severe that poor Asmodeus could not even close his mouth!) 😳

His examination revealed that the swelling was caused by air trapped under the skin, a condition referred to as subcutaneous emphysema.

A CT scan was performed to rule out a tracheal or lung mass as an underlying cause. Asmodeus was started on pain medication and antibiotics, and his owner was instructed to withhold food while we monitored his condition. Over the next couple of weeks, the swelling gradually resolved.
Asmodeus is now back to normal and ready for his next meal! 🐍🍽️

Throughout it all, he remained remarkably tolerant of his medications and didn’t seem to hold a grudge against the veterinary team during his recheck visits. 😂

💬 Pet owners: what’s the weirdest thing your pet has ever done?

08/28/2026

Even as we head toward the end of summer, blue-green algae blooms are still being reported in lakes across Nova Scotia. For an up-to-date list of lakes in the province where blooms were noted and safety measures, please visit:

https://novascotia.ca/blue-green-algae/?fbclid=IwY2xjawT9GYRwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5nazE3wsuKA3OYCJLtEqwKxhDMDeCLNOUB9lB2PMYVZWL_qN178A0JmMjciQ_aem_VSaQsjJe51YPA2Q7t0f0sQ

Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) can produce toxins that are particularly dangerous to our pets. Dogs who come into contact with blooms along the shoreline and can become fatally ill after ingesting contaminated water or algae.

🐾 Before letting your dog swim or drink from a lake:

• Check the water and shoreline for unusual green, blue-green, brown or scummy material
• If you see a bloom, keep your pet out of the water
• Don't let your dog drink lake water where a bloom is present
• Keep pets away from algae mats that have washed onto shore
• If your pet has been exposed, contact your veterinarian immediately

When in doubt, stay out! 💚

Beautiful lakes are one of the best parts of a Nova Scotia summer—let's keep our four-legged swimmers safe while enjoying them.

08/27/2026

We look forward to being part of Hope For Wildlife's Open House this weekend! Come out to get a behind the scene look into the great work they do for the wildlife of our province. Stop by our Coastal Care table to say hello!

08/25/2026

The Little Moments 💛

Specialty and Emergency medicine can be tough. Our teams see some of the hardest moments for pets and their families, help them through the heaviest moments, the days can be long, busy, and emotionally demanding.

That’s why the little moments of joy mean so much. ❤️

Sometimes, it’s a simple quiet cuddle with a patient, a wagging tail, or a patient who decides that right now is the perfect time for some extra love.

Saffron was recently in for a recheck with our Ophthalmology team after an eye surgery and she clearly knew exactly what her mission was. When she found our Referral Assistant, Sophie, she took full advantage of the opportunity for some cuddles. 🥰🐾

These light-hearted little moments may seem small, but they can make a really big difference to the people who care for your pets every day. Little moments often bring big smiles to our team.

Thank you, Saffron, for giving Sophie—and all of us—a reason to smile. 💕

08/24/2026

Cuteness overload 😍

Meet Larry! He and his flockmate Bobbie (not pictured) came in rcently to see Dr. Webb for their first veterinary visit.

Pop quiz: Can you guess what species of parrot Larry is? 🦜

Drop your guesses in the comments! ⬇️

Have a feathered friend of your own? We'd love for you to share their photos with us! 📸

08/23/2026

At Coastal Care Veterinary Emergency & Referral Hospital, we bring together specialty veterinary medicine, advanced diagnostics, and 24/7 emergency care under one roof—so pets can access the care they need.

Our specialty services include:

🩺 Internal Medicine
🧠 Neurology
👨‍⚕️ Surgery
👁️ Ophthalmology
💉 Anesthesia & Pain Management
🐍 Exotics
🚨 Critical Care
💊 Dermatology
🩻 Radiology

And our advanced diagnostic capabilities include:

🧲 MRI
🖥️ CT
📡 Diagnostic Ultrasound
🩻 Digital Radiography (X-ray)
🔍 Endoscopy
🔬 Advanced laboratory diagnostics

From complex medical cases to emergency situations, our teams work together across specialties to provide comprehensive, collaborative care for your pet.

Advanced veterinary care. Specialized expertise. One team. 🐶🐱 For more information about our doctors or the services we provide at Coastal Care, visit www. coastalcarevet.ca.

Coastal Care Veterinary Emergency & Referral Hospital in Halifax provides specialist and emergency care to pets from across Atlantic Canada. Learn More.

08/21/2026

We’re Hiring! 🐾💙

Looking for a career where every day makes a difference?

Coastal Care Veterinary Emergency & Referral Hospital is hosting a Hiring Open House on Friday, September 4th from 9 AM–12 PM, and we want to meet you! Space is limited and appointments are pre-arranged. RSVP is required.

We’re looking for great people to join our growing team in:

🐾 Veterinary Assistants — multiple positions; in our ER & Specialty departments

🔬 Dedicated Lab - Pharmacy Assistant

💙 Client Care Representative

Come meet our team, learn more about the roles, get a feel for our hospital, and find out what it’s like to be part of Coastal Care!

📅 September 4th
⏰ 9 AM–12 PM
📍 Coastal Care Veterinary Emergency & Referral Hospital
Space is limited and appointments are pre-arranged. RSVP is required!

📩 Email [email protected] to reserve your time slot.

We can’t wait to meet you! 🐶🐱 Know someone looking for a rewarding career in vet med? Please like, comment, or share this post with your friends!

08/19/2026

Your pet’s care is a team effort. 🐶🐱🐷🦆🐍🐹🐰

We’re proud to be part of the veterinary community here at home. ❤️ We know that having access to a multispecialty hospital right here in Nova Scotia means your pet can receive advanced care without the added stress, cost and time that comes with having to travel. And just as importantly, your family veterinarian remains an important part of the journey, helping ensure continuity of care before, during, and after referral.

How do we work in conjunction with your family veterinarian?

🤳 We encourage the veterinary community to reach out!
Should your family vet want to discuss a potential referral, or talk through treatment changes for an existing specialty patient, our team is happy to connect with them. Open communication between veterinary teams helps ensure everyone is on the same page and working toward the best possible care for your pet.

📋 We share our records and diagnostic reporting.
As soon as your pet is checked in at Coastal Care, your family veterinary hospital receives a notification email from our system. Through an information portal they can then begin viewing records. This helps keep them informed about their patients and allows them access to medical records as they are completed by our veterinarians.

🤝 We encourage working together throughout the referral process.
Referral doesn’t mean your family veterinarian steps away from your pet’s care. We work alongside them, providing specialty expertise and advanced diagnostics when needed, while keeping your primary veterinary team informed so they can continue to support you and your pet before and after their visit with us.

Having a multispecialty hospital close to home means more options, more expertise, and more support for pets and their families. When veterinary teams work together, your pet gets the benefit of all of us. ❤️🐾

To explore what services we offer and find more information about Coastal Care and our team visit, www.coastalcarevet.ca.

08/17/2026

It has been a very busy summer at Coastal Care, with some incredibly full weeks for our ER, specialty, and support teams. There are many days where our team can related to Romeo here. We know that those busy days can sometimes mean longer wait times, and we truly appreciate the patience, understanding, and kindness our clients have shown our team as we’ve worked through those busy days.

Our team continues to show up every day ready to care for your pets, even when the hospital is at its busiest. We’re incredibly grateful for their hard work—and for the clients who recognize just how much goes on behind the scenes.

Here’s to making it through the busy days together… and hopefully everyone is finding a little time to rest and recharge when able.❤️🐶⚾️

Thanks for your patience, everyone. We appreciate you.

08/14/2026

🐾 Dorothy takes her farm dog responsibilities VERY seriously. 🌾

Unfortunately, sometimes that dedication comes with a few… pointy consequences.😬

Dorothy made her second trip to Coastal Care after another encounter with a porcupine — and this time, she managed to collect over 200 quills! 🦔

After a little sedation and some dedicated care from our ER team, Dorothy was on her way and recovering well. ❤️‍🩹

We’re hoping this experienced farm dog might think twice before rushing into action next time… but some of life's lessons are harder learned.

Get well soon, Dorothy! And maybe give the porcupines a little more personal space next time. 🐶💛