Emergency & Critical Care
Animal Emergency Critical Care
Rest assured, when your pet is in need of emergency or critical care, they will receive compassionate, expert care from the most credentialed and experienced emergency and critical care team in the area. Led by a board-certified specialist in emergency and critical care, the practice includes nearly a dozen emergency clinicians and approximately twenty licensed veterinary technicians, several of whom have advanced certification in the specialty of emergency and critical care. Our dedicated team is uniquely qualified to provide the best across-the-board care from stabilizing trauma patients to overnight monitoring and advanced critical care.
The Perfect Partnership For Your Patients’ Care
From minor emergencies to complex conditions, we will be here for you and your pet. When time is of the essence, knowing what to do and having the right tools on hand with the expertise to use them is what ensures successful treatment. AECC has a vast array of diagnostic and treatment technologies in-house and at our fingertips. We are available 24-hours a day, ensuring that all patients can be seen in a timely manner, especially when your primary veterinarian’s office is closed.
You can count on AECC. We are a sure thing.
- Emergency and urgent care
- Advanced critical care
- Comprehensive diagnostics
- 24/7 accessibility
- Timely communication
- Experienced emergency clinicians
Diagnostics
- Real-time complete laboratory
- Digital radiography
- Contrast radiographic studies
- Ultrasonography (F.A.S.T., physiologic echocardiography, guided centeses)
- Cystocentesis, thoracocentesis, pericardiocentesis, abdominocentesis, arthrocentesis
- Advanced imaging (CT, MRI)
Monitoring
- TLC patient care: compassionate overnight monitoring to advanced critical care
- Blood gas monitoring
- Acid base monitoring
- Blood pressure monitoring (Doppler, CVP to continuous invasive)
- ECG monitoring: interval to continuous telemetry
- Capnography, oximetry, anesthesia monitoring
Therapy
- Advanced life support, resuscitation and defibrillation
- Multi-modal pain management
- Blood product transfusion therapies with blood typing and cross matching
- Oxygen Therapy
- Critical care ventilation
- Peritoneal dialysis
- Enteral and parenteral nutrition support
Specialists:
Medical Director, Emergency and Critical Care
Dr. Barnes attended the University of Maryland, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science in 1978. As our most well-seasoned veterinarian, in 1982, she received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine, Tuskegee, Alabama, where she graduated as a Dean’s List member with High Honors. In 1996, Dr. Barnes completed an alternative track residency program with credentials approved in Emergency Critical Care.
Dr. Barnes is a past President of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society as well as the District of Columbia Academy of Veterinary Medicine. She is a member of the Society of Critical Care Medicine, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association and past President of the Northern Virginia Veterinary Medical Association.
Dr. Barnes is a Veterinary Instructor and Consultant for Region Three of the United States Police Canine Association. She lives her life-long passion in emergency critical care medicine and surgery and enjoys teaching and facilitating this discipline to all interested.
Her special interests include sonography, advanced imaging and emergent surgical techniques. She insists upon comprehensive pain management and is an advocate for her patients and their families.
Dr. Barnes lives with her husband, also a veterinarian, and they have five furry children, all of whom are rescued pets: two American Staffordshire Terriers named "Aspen" and "Opie," and three cats, "Dexter," "Thor" and "Charlie." As a previous marathon runner, Dr. Barnes is also PADI-certified (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) and enjoys scuba and the outdoors whenever possible.
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care
Dr. Leonard received her Bachelor of Science degree in Pathobiology from the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Illinois Veterinary School, located in Champaign-Urbana, IL, and performed her residency at the Veterinary Institute of Trauma, Emergency and Critical Care in Milwaukee, WI.
Dr. Leonard also completed an ACVECC-approved three-year residency in emergency and critical care at Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. Dr. Leonard is board certified through the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care.
She is a member of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the Northern Virginia Veterinary Medical Association.
Dr. Leonard is a noted author and has given numerous lectures to law enforcement canine handlers, laypersons, children, veterinary technicians, veterinarians and residents training to be Diplomates.
Dr. Leonard's special interests include nutrition, pain management, and intensive care nursing techniques.
Dr. Reese served 4 1/2 years as a veterinary assistant in emergency practice prior to attending veterinary school at Washington State University, Pullman, WA. She went on to attend Idaho State University in Pocatello, ID, where she graduated in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology. Dr. Reese received her veterinary degree from Washington State University in 1995, where she also graduated Cum Laude. She spent three years at a small animal private practice, and has 11 years emergency medicine practice experience. She joined the AECC team in 2002.
Dr. Reese is a member of the National Veterinary Honor Society, the Veterinary Emergency Critical Care Society, and has been a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association for 14 years. Her medical interests include emergency medicine, critical care medicine, theriogenology, and small mammal and reptile medicine.
Dr. Reese has five cats: two Ragdolls named "Christopher" and "Jinx," a Siamese named "Gremlin," and two Maine Coons named "Kittebunkport" and "Maistro." She also has three dogs, a Mini-Aussie named "Pip," a Shih Tzu named "Chaz" and a Bassett Hound named "Dyson," as well as two horses, a half-Arabian named "Tori," and "Majik," who is 7/8 Arabian. Dr. Reese's hobbies include endurance riding and competitive trail riding, scuba diving, and science fiction books and movies.
Dr. Proulx began her career by studying anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania. Following graduation, she spent time in Lopburi, Thailand, where she worked in the veterinary department of a wild animal rescue center.
Dr. Proulx went on to pursue a career in veterinary medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2005. She graduated with honors, and was inducted into The Society of Phi Zeta, the honor society of veterinary medicine. She completed a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. Following her internship, Dr. Proulx relocated to Virginia, and worked for a year and a half at the Regional Veterinary Referral Center as a staff veterinarian in the emergency and critical care department.
Dr. Proulx joined AECC in 2008. Dr. Proux is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society. Her recreational interests include hiking, camping, rock climbing, traveling and speaking Thai. Dr. Proulx shares her home with her cats: "Foxy," "Bernard," and "Anna."
Dr. Loveland worked as a Licensed Veterinary Technician while working her way through undergraduate school at the University of Maryland, which was completed at Washington State University. She graduated with a double major—a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science as well as in Biology. She completed a Master’s degree in Microbiology, and went on to receive her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine through Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, St. Kitts, West Indies. Dr. Loveland completed her internship in emergency and critical care at the Dove Lewis Emergency Animal Hospital in Portland, OR.
Dr. Loveland joined AECC in May 2006. Her medical interests include completing a residency in emergency and critical care in the near future, emergent surgery, and working with involved and intense critical care cases.
Dr. Loveland has numerous pets, including "Kanga," a coyote/husky cross, "Chance," a Pointer/Pit Bull cross, "Kamiack," a Border Collie/Australian Shepherd cross, "Forrest," an Irish/English Setter cross, "Seamus," an Irish Setter, three cats named "Grizzly," "Wheat" and "Otumbishi," two cockatiels named "Piranha" and "Nemo," as well as many wildlife rehabs and rescue domestic pets.
Bio coming soon.
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