Mission | Overland Park Veterinary Emergency & Specialty

It's National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day! 🐾 🐱 Today is the perfect reminder to schedule a check-up for your feline. Regular vet visits are key to ensuring a long, healthy, and happy life for your cat. Show your kitty some extra love and make that appointment today! 😻 #veterinarymedicine

Happy #wellnesswednesday! As a pet owner, knowing the signs of an emergency is important. Check out our tips below to stay prepared for the unexpected. 🐶 🐱 🐾 No matter the time, Overland Park Veterinary Emergency and Specialty is open 24/7 with an ER doctor on duty, ready to handle all your pet's emergency and urgent care needs. #veterinaryemergency

We want to congratulate one of our devoted emergency veterinarians, Dr. Christa Heilman, on recently accepting her new role as our Emergency and Critical Care Admin Liason. 👏 As the ECC Admin Liason, Dr. Heilman will assist in keeping the line of communication within our hospital, allowing our teams to provide the most efficient and effective veterinary care possible. 🐾 On top of being a full-time ER veterinarian, Dr. Heilman also serves as the Rotating Intern and ER Mentee Focal for our hospitals. We are thankful for the time and dedication Dr. Heilman has given to MVES and OPVES, and we look forward to the lasting impact she will make as the new ECC Admin Liason. Join us in congratulating Dr. Heilman! 😻 #Congratulations #careergrowth #veterinaryECC

🐾Pawsitive Update🐾 🐶 If you have been following our page, you may have seen Remi's story and an update from our team on managing his chylothorax. Remi is a gentle 5-year-old dog who’s captured our team's hearts. His journey with us began in May 2023, when he was brought to our Mission hospital with severe respiratory distress and loss of appetite. Following a transfer to our Surgery department at OPVES, Remi was diagnosed with idiopathic chylothorax. Thanks to the expertise of team members, including cardiologist Dr. Shane Murphy, anesthesiologist Dr. Charlotte Marquis, and surgeon Dr. David Allen, Remi underwent multiple critical interventions, including surgery and weekly routine fluid drainage. 🌟 We are thrilled to report that Remi recently had his pleural port removed after nearly a year of dedicated care—a huge milestone! We’ll continue to monitor his progress, but we’re thrilled with how far he’s come. Here's to Remi and his incredible medical journey! 🌟 #veterinarymedicine #veterinarysurgery

Did you know today is National Hand-Holding Day? Don't forget to hold the hands of the ones you love!😻 #nationalhandholdingday #petlovers

Sometimes, even therapy dogs need some care of their own. 🐶 🌍To round out International Assistance Dog Week, here is a Pawsitive Tail from one of our patients, Luna, an 8-year-old doodle who is a career registered therapy dog! 🏥Luna initially presented to our Overland Park hospital in July. She was diagnosed with Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV), a critical condition in which the stomach abnormally rotates 180 degrees, cutting off blood flow and leading to severe complications. Immediate surgery was essential to save her life. During the procedure, our surgical team untwisted Luna's stomach and removed a significant portion of it (40-60%) due to necrosis. Additionally, her spleen was also excised. Following the surgery, Luna spent four days in our ICU, where she received intensive care and began her recovery. 🐾 Luna was adopted at 11 weeks old and spent three years training as a registered therapy dog. Before her surgery, she spent her days comforting patients at the Dipoto Counseling Group. Although she is currently on a leave of absence due to her procedure, Luna has also been exercising her skills with the youth group at Linden Baptist Church. As Luna continues her recovery, we look forward to seeing her return to her important role as a therapy dog, bringing joy and comfort to those in need. ❤️ #internationalassistancedogweek #veterinarysurgery

We are excited to welcome first-year surgery resident Dr. Brandon Pate to the team! ☀ Originally from Alabama, Dr. Pate graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Animal Science and received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Mississippi State University in 2019. 🎓 Following graduation, Dr. Pate worked at various small animal GP clinics in Florida and a mixed animal hospital in Alabama. 🐾 Dr. Pate will undergo advanced training and mentorship throughout his surgical residency, elevating his skills and knowledge in surgical techniques, patient care, and research. Dr. Pate's arrival marks the eighth new doctor to join our team since June, alongside our ER mentees, rotating interns, and surgical interns. We look forward to following his journey and the contributions he will bring to our surgical services and hospitals. 🏥 #welcometotheteam #newteammember

Meet July's Patients of the Month, Sunny and Luna! They are two incredibly sweet and tough pups who have experienced quite the medical journey. 🐶 ☀Sunny was rushed to OPVES with labored breathing and persistent coughing. He was diagnosed with severe pneumothorax, where air accumulates around the lungs, causing them to collapse. Despite multiple interventions, Sunny's condition worsened, requiring emergency thoracocentesis and chest tube placement. Sunny experienced several cardiopulmonary arrests but was revived each time, showcasing his resilience. Surgeons placed chest tubes and used blood patches to seal a ruptured bulla in his lung, which was the source of the pneumothorax. After a week of vigilant monitoring and treatment, Sunny's condition improved, and he was able to go home. Sunny's case highlights the importance of immediate medical intervention and the expertise required to manage complex emergencies. At his re-check, Sunny showed no signs of breathing difficulties and was eager to return to his playful self. Join us in wishing Sunny a full recovery as he returns to his happy, healthy self!❤️ 🐾 Luna, a 6-year-old Husky mix, was brought to MVES Emergency Service after a severe dog attack, leaving her with multiple bite wounds on her neck and ear. She developed a severe bacterial infection and sepsis, requiring immediate pain management and wound care. Treatment Journey: Luna's wounds were cleaned and dressed with honey alginate and calcium alginate to aid healing. Despite significant antibiotic resistance, our team administered a successful new treatment. She underwent dorsal cervical wound closure and right ear canal ablation, with a Jackson Pratt drain placed to support healing. Recovery: Luna's recovery has been remarkable. She is eating, drinking, and full of energy; her wounds are healing well. The team celebrated her discharge, proud of her resilience and positive spirit. We are honored to feature Luna as our Patient of the Month, celebrating her courage and determination. Join us in sending Luna lots of love and well wishes for her continued recovery! 🏥 😻 #patientofthemonth #veterinarycare #veterinaryexcellence

⭐Officially official⭐ Congratulations to Dr. Alex Portanova on her internal medicine board certification! #careergrowth #vetmed

Happy #WellnessWednesday! We want to share a pawsitive ending to a sweet pup's parvo journey. 🐾 Introducing Ms. Chloe, a now 10-month-old pup who received inpatient care for parvovirus at only eight months old. Chloe's journey began in May when she presented with symptoms such as vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and loss of appetite, ultimately testing positive for parvovirus. 😿 Chloe's fight against this relentless virus was not easy. She spent nine days in our hospital receiving intensive care and treatment. Chloe received round-the-clock care throughout her stay, including IV fluids, medications, and supportive therapies. Her progress was closely monitored, and our team worked tirelessly to ensure she received the best possible supportive care. Today, we are thrilled to share that Chloe has made a remarkable recovery! She is back home with her loving family, enjoying playing outside with her sisters. Chloe's journey reminds us of the importance of early detection, prompt treatment, and the power of a dedicated owner's love and veterinary care. We want to thank Chloe's family for entrusting us with her care and their patience and support during this challenging time. We also thank our incredible team, whose expertise and compassion made Chloe's recovery possible. We wish Chloe a speedy and complete recovery and look forward to hearing about her continued progress. #PawsitiveTales #Canineparvovirus