Veterinary Specialists of Birmingham

08/06/2025

Join us tonight at Birmingham Barons Bark in the Park night! 🐶❤️

Stop by our booth to win a prize and grab a FREE custom Pawprint Rookie Card and a pup cup for your pet! 🐾⚾️

Can’t wait to see you there! 👋

📲 More details: https://www.milb.com/birmingham/tickets/promotions

08/05/2025

We love hearing such great things about our doctors! 😍 ❤️

Dr. Lock is incredibly kind and ensures every pet parent fully understands their pet's condition and answers any questions you may have.

Thank you, Craig, for sharing your kind words! 💙

08/01/2025

Meet our sweet friend Pepper! 🐾 💜

Pepper is a 6-year-old chihuahua mix who presented to VSB's Emergency Service in June, after having been attacked by another dog. Pepper was evaluated by Dr. Hoff, and it was found that she had a large laceration to the left side of her abdomen that was potentially affecting the abdominal cavity.

Due to the potential for instability of the body wall, muscle damage, and the risk of infection, Pepper was then transferred to Dr. Moser and the surgery team for abdominal exploration, surgical repair, and drain placement. 🏥 ⚕️

Pepper spent 2 days with us, being cared for by our dedicated ICU staff, before being discharged for continued care and drain management at home with her loving family. 🏡 💕

After 4 days at home, Pepper returned to have her drain removed, followed by her final recheck appointment 2 weeks post-op for her staple removal. At that time, Pepper was healing well, and no additional follow-ups were needed! 🙌 🎉

If your pet needs emergency care, VSB is here for you 24/7/365. Not only are we open 24/7 with a full emergency team, but we also have three surgeons and an internist available for critical pets that may require additional expertise. Bottom line--your pet will receive the best care possible, right here at VSB. We're here for you and your pets, always. 💙 🩺

☎️ (205) 967-9107
📍 146 Resource Center Parkway, Birmingham, AL, 35242

07/28/2025

🐶 Meet sweet RJ! He first presented to VSB in June of 2024 and was referred after he hurt his right rear limb while playing at day care. 🐾

Dr. Vaughn quickly diagnosed him with a cranial cruciate ligament tear (ACL) and a meniscal tear. Dr. Vaughn recommended that RJ undergo a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) surgery. 🥼 🩺

Patients diagnosed with cruciate injury have an excellent prognosis for recovery when treated with TPLO stabilization. While there are numerous cruciate (ACL) surgical options available in veterinary medicine, the TPLO is generally accepted by surgeons as being the best stabilization method. 🐾

RJ’s owners elected to pursue immediate surgery. While not an emergency, the sooner treated, the sooner patients are comfortable again.

RJ had a TPLO and spent the night at VSB under the care of the 24-hour medical staff (Veterinarians and licensed veterinary technicians). This allows close monitoring, so he and his owners can get a peaceful night’s rest. He went home the next day. He recovered smoothly, as most patients do, and was released to full activity in September. 🏡 💙

RJ was loving life again until January 2025, when he injured his right rear limb. He had torn his left cranial cruciate ligament (ACL). 40-60% of dogs that tear 1 ACL will tear their other ACL at some point.

Because of the prior excellent outcome, RJ’s owners elected to have Dr. Vaughn perform a TPLO on his left leg. RJ did wonderfully again. 🤎

Today, RJ is back at daycare, busy being a happy, healthy pup! 🐶 ❤️

07/25/2025

💌 Patient Update!

🐾 Meet our sweet friend Maisy! Maisy is an 11-year-old Maltipoo who was seen last year in VSB's surgery department.

🏥 Maisy was referred after an emergency visit for evaluation of a right perineal fistula which developed following a right a**l sacculectomy (removal of the a**l gland.) A perineal fistula is a serious medical condition characterized by chronic, painful, and often infected tunnels or tracts that develop in the skin and can progress from a very small to a wide and deep area.

Causes of Perineal fistulas range from breed disposition to chronic a**l sac issues. Treatment depends on the individual dog's needs and the severity of the wound and may involve surgical intervention, like in Maisy's case.

We're so thankful to have received an update from Maisy's mom, and we're very happy to hear that she's doing so well! 💗 🥰

☑️ Symptoms of a perineal fistula may include:

• Draining tracts or holes near the a**s
• Redness, oozing, pus, or weeping around the a**s
• Straining during bowel movements
• Blood or mucus in the stool
• F***l incontinence, constipation, or diarrhea
• Reluctance to sit or wag their tail
• Signs of pain or aggression when the hind end is touched

07/24/2025

🚀 🐾 We had a blast last night at Birmingham Barons Bark in the Park with lots of pawprint rookie cards and yummy pup cups! 🐾 🍦 🐶
Thank you, Dr. Lock for throwing out the 1st pitch for VSB!

We loved seeing so many amazing pups enjoying the game with their best friends. 💙

Catch the VSB team at the next one on August 6th! ⚾ 🐕

07/19/2025

The memorial garden is coming along! 🌈🐾 Updates coming soon!

07/15/2025

🎗️🐾 Fighting Together: Sookie’s Story

When Sookie first came to us, she had already been through so much. After her family’s move from Florida in October 2023, her health began to decline. With the help of a dedicated local vet at Stewart’s in Warrior, she was referred to us here at VSB—and we’ve been honored to be part of her journey ever since.

Under the care of Dr. Lock and our incredible team, Sookie began to improve. We were thrilled to see her sweet spirit returning, and even more moved to learn that she’s not fighting alone—her mom is also on her own cancer journey. 💪💕

Sookie’s strength, resilience, and the love she shares with her human inspire us every day. We’re proud to provide her with the compassionate, expert care she deserves—and grateful to be part of her story.

From all of us at VSB: we’re with you, Sookie. Always. 🐶💙

07/14/2025

Thank you, WBRC 6 News, for sharing! We tend to see a lot more snake bites in the summer months. 🐍

If your pet is bitten by a snake, VSB is here for you 24/7. We also carry antivenin to treat venomous snake bites.

Stay safe this summer! ☀️

Dr. Laura Alverson says they tend to get one or two a day; pit viper bites being the most common.

07/14/2025

Thank you, WBRC 6 News, for helping us spread the word about the rise in snake bites for pets during the hot summer months! 🐍🐶

One of our ER vets, Dr. Laura Alverson, shared some tips on how to prevent snake bites and what to do if your pet is bitten. 🚑🐾

✅Check out the story here: https://www.wbrc.com/2025/07/14/birmingham-emergency-vet-care-seeing-dozens-snake-bite-cases-this-summer/

07/11/2025

Meet the most precious little lady, Lily! 💗 🌼

Lily is a 2-year-old Chihuahua who was initially referred to VSB's Emergency Department in March. 🚑 🐾 Lily was evaluated by Dr. Hoff for a series of ongoing health issues, including anemia, vomiting, leukocytosis (high white blood cell count), and Tachycardia (elevated heart rate.)

Dr. Hoff gave Lily a blood transfusion along with a series of stabilizing medications, then Lily was transferred to Dr. Lock in our Internal Medicine Department the following morning. Dr. Lock evaluated Lily and diagnosed her with a condition known as IMHA (Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia.) 🩺 🥼

IMHA is a condition where the body destroys its own red blood cells. This can be an event brought on by no identifiable underlying cause or triggered by an infection, drug, toxin, metabolic derangement, or cancer. 🩸 💉

In dogs, a cause is usually not found, and immune-suppressive agents are used to combat red blood cell destruction. There are serious, potentially life-threatening complications associated with IMHA, including organ failure due to blood clots, continued anemia, hemorrhage, bacterial or fungal infections, and kidney failure.

However, once an animal has responded well to treatment, the long-term prognosis is generally good, provided there are no other complications. 💕 🐶

Lily was treated with IV fluids, GI protectant medications, immune suppressive medications, antibiotics & supportive care provided by our amazing Internal Medicine and ICU staff. ⚕️ 🤍

She received multiple blood transfusions to support her during this time. Lily's red blood cell count began to improve, and she became stronger and more interactive each day. 🙌 🎀 After 3 days, Lily was discharged for continued care at home with her loving mom. 🏡

At his time, Lily continues to improve, and her red blood cell count remains normal. While a recurrence is possible, periodic monitoring will be critical to identify complications early, so Lily will continue to see Dr. Lock over the next few weeks as she begins to wean her off the immunosuppressive medications. 💊

We're hopeful that Lily will continue to improve and maintain her current health status with the ongoing care and guidance of Dr. Lock. ❤️

⏰ Remember, VSB is here 24/7 for pet emergencies. And for any conditions that require advanced diagnostics and treatment, our Internal Medicine department can continue their care without ever needing to leave our hospital. 🏥

📲 Call (205) 967-9107 or visit us at 146 Resource Center Parkway, Birmingham, AL, 35242 for emergency or specialty vet care.