Bay State Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Services

06/19/2026

Last night, we had the pleasure of welcoming local veterinarians and veterinary technicians to Bay State Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Services for an evening of learning, collaboration, and professional growth.

Our board-certified surgeons delivered two outstanding presentations:

🔹 Minimally Invasive Surgery in Veterinary Medicine
Presented by Dr. Lori Agulian, DVM, DACVS

🔹 Antimicrobial Use in the Treatment of Canine Pyometra
Presented by Dr. Lindsey Lavin, DVM, DACVS

Both presentations sparked thoughtful discussion and provided valuable insights into advancing patient care. We are incredibly grateful to Dr. Agulian and Dr. Lavin for sharing their expertise, and to everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to join us.

We love connecting with our referring veterinary community and creating opportunities to learn from one another. Providing continuing education and fostering collaboration aligns directly with our commitment to excellence, innovation, and advancing veterinary medicine for the benefit of our patients.

Thank you to all who attended. We look forward to seeing you at future educational events!

06/16/2026

It takes a special kind of person to be a Veterinary Technician or Technician Assistant at Bay State Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Services. Every day, our teams care for patients facing a wide range of illnesses and injuries, many of them serious, complex, and life-threatening. Their knowledge, skill, and compassion make a difference in the lives of pets and the families who love them.

At BSVESS, no two days are ever the same. While our technicians and technician assistants never know what will come through our doors, they are always ready to provide expert care when pets need it most.

Thank you to our incredible technicians and technician assistants for your dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment to our patients and their families. 🫶

06/11/2026

When Andrea Rubi was found in Providence, she required urgent medical care. She arrived at Bay State Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Services with multiple puncture wounds, scratches, bruising, and a laceration to her left elbow. She was also running a high fever.

Our Emergency team quickly got to work. Diagnostic testing showed that her kidney and liver values were normal, and X-rays did not reveal any fractures or dislocations. Andrea Rubi was admitted to the hospital for IV pain management, fluids, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, close monitoring, and supportive care.

Under anesthesia, Dr. Nelson carefully clipped, cleaned, flushed, and surgically repaired two of her larger wounds. A smaller puncture wound was left open to allow for proper drainage, and her rabies vaccine was boosted as part of her treatment plan.

Thanks to the dedicated care of our team, Andrea's fever resolved, her comfort improved, and she was soon ready to be discharged from our care.

We are incredibly grateful to Providence Animal Control Center for bringing this sweet girl to us and ensuring she received the medical attention she needed. Thank you for entrusting us with her care. We are so happy to have been part of Andrea Rubi's journey toward recovery. 💙

06/09/2026

When it matters most.

After receiving routine vaccines, Louie, an 8-year-old Portuguese Water Dog, experienced vomiting later that evening. The following day, he became lethargic and developed labored breathing. Concerned for his condition, his family brought him to their primary veterinarian, where X-rays revealed signs of early aspiration pneumonia.

Louie was referred to Bay State Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Services for advanced care. Upon arrival, our emergency team quickly began treatment with oxygen therapy, IV fluids, anti-nausea medications, and antibiotics. He was admitted to the hospital for ongoing oxygen support and intensive treatment for aspiration pneumonia.

Over the next several days, Louie received around-the-clock monitoring and care from our Emergency and Critical Care team as he worked toward recovery.

We are thrilled to share that Louie was able to return home to his family! His recheck bloodwork looked great, he is feeling well, and he is getting back to enjoying his normal everyday life.

Way to go, Louie! ❤️ Thank you to his family for trusting us with his care, and to our dedicated team for being there when it mattered most.

06/05/2026

Congratulations, Murphy!

Murphy, a 9.5-year-old Yellow Labrador Retriever, has officially completed his CHOP chemotherapy protocol, and we could not be prouder of him!

In December 2025, Murphy was evaluated for increased thirst and urination, along with decreased energy and appetite. During his evaluation, an enlarged spleen was identified on ultrasound. Following referral for a comprehensive ultrasound and aspirates of his spleen and sublumbar lymph node at our sister hospital, Ocean State Veterinary Specialists, cytology confirmed a diagnosis of multicentric lymphoma.

Under the care of Dr. Koterbay and our Medical Oncology team at Bay State Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Services, Murphy completed the CHOP chemotherapy protocol with remarkable strength and resilience.

This week, Murphy received his final chemotherapy treatment! 💙

Throughout his journey, Murphy has been an absolute champion. His sweet personality, positive spirit, and his family's dedication have inspired our entire team. Please join us in congratulating Murphy on this incredible milestone and wishing him continued health, happiness, and many adventures ahead!

06/03/2026

You are loved.
You are seen.
You are safe here.
You are needed.
You are unique.
You are enough.
You are you.
You are valid.
You are heard.
You matter. 🌈

At Bay State Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Services, we celebrate Pride not just this month, but every day. We are committed to fostering a welcoming, inclusive environment where everyone, clients, patients, and team members alike, feel respected, valued, and supported for exactly who they are. Veterinary medicine is strongest when people can bring their authentic selves to work, feel a sense of belonging, and know they are part of a community that cares.

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

Love is love.
Inclusion matters.
Diversity makes us stronger.
Kindness makes a difference.

06/01/2026

We’re so grateful for kind words like this! Check out this recent Google review left by Ariel C. 💙

Thank you, Ariel, for trusting Bay State Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Services with Kosmo’s care. We know that an emergency visit can be stressful and overwhelming, and we’re honored that our team could provide support, guidance, and compassionate care during such an important time. We’re especially grateful for your recognition of Chris. Taking the time to answer questions, explain the hospitalization process, and help pet owners feel informed and supported is an important part of the care we provide. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with Chris and the rest of our team.

At BSVESS, our goal is to care for every patient as if they were our own while providing clear communication and support for the families who love them. Knowing that you felt comfortable and informed throughout Kosmo’s stay means so much to us.

Thank you again for your trust, recommendation, and support. We wish Kosmo a smooth recovery and many happy, healthy days ahead!

Our emergency service is available 24/7 for pets throughout Southern New England.

05/28/2026

We are so fortunate to have Susan Hamin on our team. 💙

Susan provides incredible support to both our team members and clients, helping bring people together through compassion, understanding, and shared experiences. She supports our veterinary professionals through the many emotional challenges that come with working in veterinary medicine, including grief, burnout, compassion fatigue, and the day-to-day emotional weight of caring for critically ill patients.

Susan also helps guide pet parents through loss and healing by facilitating our Pet Loss Support Group, creating a safe and supportive space for families navigating one of the most difficult parts of loving a pet.

Susan said it perfectly:

“Veterinary teams are extraordinarily passionate, dedicated, and skilled. They absorb urgency, trauma, loss, and joy — often in the same shift. They push themselves beyond their limits because they care deeply about what they do. And they carry so much.”

We are deeply grateful for Susan’s compassion, advocacy, and unwavering support for both our team and the families we serve.

From the desk of Susan Hamin, a licensed mental health counselor embedded within two of our SpecER hospitals, Ocean State Veterinary Specialists and Bay State Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Services

"I don't wait for people to come to me — I wander. I move through the hospital to witness the teams in their work, get a sense of the energy, let people know I am there, and learn about the medicine. That presence matters, and it's how trust gets built, one conversation at a time.
What I offer grows directly from what staff share with me. Their experiences and needs shape everything — it's a collaboration, and it constantly inspires me.

I meet with staff, interns, and managers individually and in groups to create space for the things that don't always get talked about — compassion fatigue/burnout, moral distress, self-compassion, communication, navigating misunderstandings and conflict, interpersonal issues, and personal and professional stressors. I help teams regulate under pressure, understand one another better, and build stronger working relationships. I also run a pet loss support group and support clients through anticipatory grief and loss.

Veterinary teams are extraordinarily passionate, dedicated, and skilled. They absorb urgency, trauma, loss, and joy — often in the same shift. They push themselves beyond their limits because they care deeply about what they do. And they carry so much. It's what makes mental health support a necessity.
I am honored to be the person who gets to say — you don't have to carry it alone.

I love them. I love the animals. I love this work. And I am grateful every day to be part of their world." ~Susan Hamin

As Mental Health Awareness month wraps up, here at UVC we know that continuing to prioritize our teams' well-being through consistent support is what leads to sustainable, fulfilling careers.

05/28/2026

Pictured here are some of our emergency clinicians, veterinary technicians, and technician assistants, a highly skilled, compassionate team dedicated to delivering timely, evidence-based, and patient-centered care to every animal who enters our hospital.

At Bay State Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Services, our emergency team is trained to rapidly assess and prioritize patients based on medical urgency and the severity of their condition. Patients requiring immediate, life-saving intervention are treated without delay, while stable patients are evaluated in the order they arrive. While emergency medicine can sometimes involve unexpected wait times due to the nature of critical care, our team remains focused on clear communication, continuous reassessment, and delivering the highest standard of veterinary medicine throughout your visit.

Behind every patient is a collaborative, multidisciplinary team committed to advancing emergency and specialty veterinary medicine through expertise, teamwork, and compassion. We are proud to support the human–animal bond throughout Southern New England when families need us most.

Our emergency service is available 24/7.

📞 If your pet is experiencing an emergency, please call us at (508) 379-1233.