Bluegrass Veterinary Specialists + Animal Emergency

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Bluegrass Veterinary Specialists + Animal Emergency BVS+AE is a 24-hour veterinary emergency and specialty referral hospital located in Lexington, KY.

Our focus is on individualized, progressive care with an emphasis on minimally invasive diagnostics and procedures. Bluegrass Veterinary Specialists and Animal Emergency is a proud extension of primary veterinary care in Lexington. Our 24/7 emergency vets serve with compassion and are backed by extensive experience in critical care situations

We continue highlighting our Emergency Technicians & Assistants today. As a reminder, these individuals work around the ...
10/22/2026

We continue highlighting our Emergency Technicians & Assistants today. As a reminder, these individuals work around the clock in our Emergency Department so they can help your pet whenever the moment arises: 1am, 5pm, Christmas Morning, 4th of July, etc our team is here to assist your fur baby.

Kirsten has been in veterinary medicine for 8 years, working in General Practice, Shelter Medicine, Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine. She earned her Bachelor's in Animal Sciences from the University of Kentucky and says she loves "working with pets with chronic conditions in Internal Medicine as someone who battles with her own chronic conditions especially after my bought with lymphoma last year". Kirsten is mom to her best boy Asher, and his wild little brother Milo, and her cats: Crookshanks, Sparrow and Yardstick the three-legged housecat. Outside of work, Kirsten loves being on the farm, reading, traveling and being in the water.

Alex is originally from Boise Idaho and earned her Associates of Applies Science from Rockford Career College. She has worked in emergency medicine for about 8 years and has
passed her VTNE (one the steps required to becoming a licensed veterinary technician). Her family includes her daughter, Emelia, two Shih Tzu's, Bella and Odie, her soul dog, Chance, a Pitbull and her perfect cat Dexter. Her hobbies include working out, being outdoors, painting and spending time with her daughter.

Bridgette is from Hazel Green, Ky and earned her Veterinary Technician degree from Morehead State University in 2017. She joined our Emergency Department in 2018. As a versatile technician, Bridgette took on additional duties in our Integrative Medicine Department and has also worked alongside the Cardiology and Surgery Teams. Bridgette's favorite thing about working in vet med is meeting all the patients and seeing how they can improve under our care. Her fur family includes, dogs Riley and Sophie, cats Sammy and Dean and is also the primary caregiver to family dog CoCo. In her downtime, Bridgette enjoys hiking, reading, attending concerts/music festivals and traveling.

For Vet Tech Appreciation Week, the team often gets to participate in some shenanigans that help to break up the serious...
10/21/2026

For Vet Tech Appreciation Week, the team often gets to participate in some shenanigans that help to break up the seriousness of our daily lives.

While many on our team have their fair share of tattoos (often commemorating a lost pet), we had some fun with some temporary vet med related ones!!

Today, we would like to begin highlighting our Emergency Technicians & Assistants! These individuals work around the clo...
10/21/2026

Today, we would like to begin highlighting our Emergency Technicians & Assistants!

These individuals work around the clock, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and even through the holidays to ensure that your babies receive the best possible care possible when an emergency arises! Not everyone can work the long hours they do or handle the emotionally-draining line of work that comes with emergency medicine, but luckily, these individuals are compassionate, skilled, and quick-acting, making them extremely valuable assets to our emergency team.

Our emergency team not only assists with new emergencies as they arrive, but are also tasked with the responsibility of completing treatments for all of the hospitalized patients. Their ability to multi-task and their attention to detail with their patient care make them stand out among others.

Victoria is from Harrodsburg, Ky. She has been in vet med for 10 years. She started at BVS in June 2022 as one of our CSR but we quickly moved her to "the back" to take advantage of her nursing skills. Tori has 4 dogs: Molly, Shoelace, Yogurt, and Hippie as well as 2 cats, Meowgi and Backpack. When she isn't working, she can be found reading or spending time with her husband and family.

Kaiden is a newer emergency veterinary assistant but has worked on the general practice side of vet med for 4.5 years. Kaiden's favorite part of working at BVS is experiencing the diverse range of cases, and working alongside such a dedicated team of professionals. Currently a student at the University of Kentucky, Kaiden's family includes wife, Angelina, and their fur kiddos: Lilith, Hiccup, Apple, and Khaleesi. Outside of work, Kaiden is a big hiker, nature lover and an avid reader.

Brooke has always had a passion for helping animals and helping those who cannot speak for themselves. She notes, "Working in veterinary medicine, especially emergency, has given her the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of both animals and the people who love them." Brooke loves the rewarding and unpredictable nature of veterinary medicine. She enjoys the challenges that come with each shift and the opportunity to continuously learn and grow. Outside of veterinary medicine, Brooke is a mom of two and is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Kentucky. Although she’s working towards a future in human healthcare, veterinary medicine will always hold a special place in her heart.

In addition to the technical skills needed to perform their animal-related duties, the emergency staff are trained to deal with emotionally distraught clients as well and help grieving owners through difficult situations. It takes a unique, compassionate, and selfless individual to work in small animal emergency medicine. We are very fortunate to have these individuals on our team. Thank you for all that you do for BVS+AE and the central-Kentucky community!!

Veterinary Technician Appreciation Week continues with our Cardiology Department team members!Our Cardiology Technicians...
10/20/2026

Veterinary Technician Appreciation Week continues with our Cardiology Department team members!

Our Cardiology Technicians and Assistants have a combined 29 years in veterinary medicine! These individuals work along side our board-certified cardiologist, Dr. Riepe, to diagnose, treat and monitor animals with heart and circulatory issues. Their daily duties include performing electrocardiograms (ECGs), setting up and assisting with echocardiograms (cardiac ultrasounds), placement of Holter monitors, and taking specialized thoracic radiographs (X-rays). Addiditonally, they may be asked to monitor anesthesia during procedures for our ER and Surgery Departments. These team members handle invasive blood pressure and catheter monitoring, and administer cardiovascular medications.
Another critical skill they possess is helping pet owners understand chronic conditions like congestive heart failure, medication schedules, and home monitoring. Excellent communication skills, precision and attention to detail are crucial skills for these individuals to be successful in their positions.

Jessica is originally from Eastern Kentucky and her background includes General Practice, Emergency, Neurology and Internal Medicine. She loves being an advocate for animals and can't imagine working outside of vet med. She is dog mom to Tyson and also mom to a turtle named Sammy. Outside of work, Jessica is a sports fan; rooting on the Dallas Cowboys and UK basketball and football. She also teaches boxing classes at a local gym!

Alexis is from Glasgow, KY. and earned her associate's degree in Applied Sciences with a focus in Veterinary Technology. She obtained her licensure in May of this year! Her background includes two years of General Practice and nearly three years of ER/Specialty. Her favorite thing about working at BVS is her coworkers; saying "Even on the hardest days, we're all there for each other, and the relationships formed here are amazing." Alexis has four fur-babies: two cats, Felix and Minny, a beagle named Kali, and a little mixed breed named Blip. Outside of work, she loves to listen to music, read, cook, plan which color to dye her hair next, and plan outings to local renaissance fairs and other fantasy events.

Tyson is an honorary member of the Cardiology Department. He is a 4.5 year old Sheltie and hails from Estill County. His favorite thing about working at BVS is getting belly rubs and receiving hugs from all the staff. In his down time, Tyson enjoys zoomies in the yard and playing with his toys. As a Certified Emotional Support Animal, he often visits his granny's nursing center, brightening many of the residents' day!

This week is Veterinary Technician Appreciation Week!We would like to take today to highlight our Surgery Department Tec...
10/19/2026

This week is Veterinary Technician Appreciation Week!

We would like to take today to highlight our Surgery Department Technicians and Assistants. These individuals possess an immense wealth of knowledge in regards to preparing the OR, sterilizing surgery equipment, preparing and monitoring anesthesia, and patient recovery, among other things. They often play dual roles and continue to be dynamic in surgery while also assisting wherever the hospital's demands are.

Our surgery staff is meticulous in their work ethic and extremely precise in the quality of their work, raising the standard for everyone else in the hospital. We are very excited for our surgeons, Drs Blakely and Thomason, to help them continue to grow and demonstrate the unique set of skills specially tailored to the surgery department. Thank you to our surgery staff for challenging and teaching the rest of the BVS+AE nursing staff to be experts in the OR too! Keep up the great work!

Kelli hails from Wilmore, Ky and earned her Associates Degree in Applied Science. Originally joining out Emergency Team in 2020, where she eventually held a leadership role. Kelli transitioned to our Surgery Department and is one of the team's senior members. Kelli is mom to 2 Pugs, Bogie and Biscuit. In her free time she enjoys fishing, hiking and watching sunsets.

Ashley is originally from Anchorage, Alaska, and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Health Technology from Murray State University. She has been in veterinary medicine since 2020 and joined BVS in January 2023, as a Licensed Veterinary Technician. Ashley joined our Surgery Department this past summer as she moved from Emergency overnights. Ashley is mom to 5 fur-kids: Callie, a Domestic Medium Haired cat who is her heart and soul, Potato, a bottle-baby kitten who is now flourishing, Mocha, her goofy partner in crime, Thistle, her nearly 17-year-old retired show Border Terrier and Zoey, an 11-year-old Toy Australian Shepherd, who was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor that causes seizures. Ashley is cherishing every moment with her sweet girl. Outside of work, she enjoys attending church, caring for an ever-growing plant collection, and creating custom pet portraits and other animal-themed artwork.

Ian is from Charleston, South Carolina and has been in veterinary medicine for 4 years. Joining our Emergency Department on an as needed basis, in August, he was quickly swept up by the Surgery Department as a full time member. Ian is fur-dad to Parris, a retriever mix Tito and Howzer, both Dachshunds and Phasma, an Australian Cattle Dog. When not covering extra hours here at BVS, Ian is busy with wildlife conservation and restoring cars.

We are thankful to have such hardworking and goal oriented team members in our Surgery Department!

Are YOU ready?? We are!!!Kick off your Howloween festivities by supporting the Lexington Humane Society. Join us and o...
10/14/2026

Are YOU ready?? We are!!!

Kick off your Howloween festivities by supporting the Lexington Humane Society. Join us and other vendors for an afternoon full of costumes, games and plenty of fall fun🍂

And who knows? You might even get to leave with your newest very best friend. LHS will have adoptable dogs at the event ready to meet you! 🐕🦴🐩

📅 Sunday, October 18 | 1–5 PM
📍 Gatton Park

Bark Bash is FREE to attend, with donation-based activities that support the animals in LHS care. To participate in the LHS' Critter Costume Contest, be sure to register if you haven't already! 🧡
➡️ https://lexingtonhumanesociety.org/event/bark_bash/

Which traits describe your cat? Let us know in the comments! 😸
09/28/2026

Which traits describe your cat? Let us know in the comments! 😸

They're adorable and always on alert, but what else do you know about a dog’s nose? https://pbxx.it/7r3z4c
09/27/2026

They're adorable and always on alert, but what else do you know about a dog’s nose? https://pbxx.it/7r3z4c

Where is the coolest place your dog has ever visited? Let us know in the comments below. 😎
09/26/2026

Where is the coolest place your dog has ever visited? Let us know in the comments below. 😎

Address

1591 Wi******er Road, #106
Lexington, KY
40505

Telephone

+18592687604

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