Ocean State Veterinary Specialists

09/05/2025

Liam's Hope

You are such a brave pup! We’re so glad Dr. Block, Sarah, and the rest of our team could help you feel a little more comfortable. We’ll be cheering you on as you rest, heal, and (of course!) get all the extra cuddles and treats this weekend. Please give Mom, Dad, and your baby brother some love from all of us here at OSVS—you’re in wonderful hands and paws.

Thank you for sharing your kind words about the care you’ve received from our team. Dr. Coronado, Dr. Alexander, Dr. Hallowell, Dr. Senft, Dr. Block, and Dr. Kessler are all here to support you and your family. This is exactly why OSVS exists—bringing together emergency clinicians, specialists, and highly trained veterinary technicians under one roof to collaborate and ensure pets like you receive the very best, gold-standard care. 💙

Mom and Dad brought me back to Ocean State Veterinary Specialists this morning. I met another doctor, who I really liked. Dr. Block and his technician, Sarah, were really nice to me. They drew more blood and checked things under the microscope.

The medicine that is helping my platelets may be hurting my stomach. They came up with a plan to help soothe my stomach and run some more tests to make sure we aren't missing anything.

Mom and Dad felt a bit better after talking to Dr. Block. Mom is going to keep a close eye on me this weekend and check some bloodwork each day. I'm just hoping that I can get more treats and that my belly feels better.

I am so grateful for all of the love and care I have gotten from all of the doctors and technicians at Ocean State. Big woofs and licks to Dr. Coronado, Dr. Alexander, Dr. Hallowell, Dr. Senft, and Dr. Block for your amazing care. Special thank you to Dr. Kessler for checking in on Mom today. She needed it!

For now, I'm going to rest up and hope the medicines work. I'm going to cuddle with Mom and hope my baby brother dog won't bug me too much. Maybe I can use my puppydog eyes to get even more spoiled 😊

09/05/2025

🍄🌿 The Critical Role of Accurate Plant & Mushroom Identification in Veterinary Care 🌿🍄

We’ve seen multiple cases of pets ingesting poisonous mushrooms—and the truth is, most veterinarians aren’t trained in botany or mycology. Even those who can spot common hazards like lilies or Amanitas may find themselves stumped when faced with unusual plants or rare mushroom species.

That’s why Poisons Help, a Facebook-based volunteer network, has become such an invaluable resource for veterinary professionals (and pet parents!) around the world.

We’re proud to share that our very own Emergency Clinician, Dr. Marina Kviker, VMD, and her two dogs, Lily and Elko, were recently featured in the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) article:
“Poisons Help: A global Facebook network supporting veterinarians with toxic mushroom and plant ID”

📖 Read the full story here: AAHA Trends article: https://www.aaha.org/trends-magazine/publications/poisons-help-toxic-mushroom-and-plant-id/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAMm8ntjbGNrAybxtGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEeTgH8_LaJ4rdNqCfDqxiF4bwn44J13dSw77LqYaqUbYOgqe3r211y8IYTN4g_aem_FTHuooKXz7Pth4QQeM4xbQ

Poisons Help: Emergency Identification for Mushrooms & Plants is an invaluable resource for veterinary professionals (and pet parents, too).

09/03/2025

Future Cardiologist in the making!

Callia, age 12, recently spent time shadowing our Cardiologist, Dr. Adam Kane, DVM, DACVIM, as he performed an echocardiogram. Callia absolutely loves science and math—and she already has her heart set on becoming a cardiologist! She even has her very own EKG textbook, which she proudly reads and carries everywhere (yes, even to summer camp).

We are so grateful to Dr. Kane and his technician, Christine, CVT, for inspiring the next generation and helping make Callia’s dreams feel within reach. The future of veterinary medicine looks bright! ✨

09/01/2025

Today we’re celebrating the incredible hard work and dedication of our team. Every day, their compassion and commitment make a difference in the lives of pets and the people who love them. 💙

“All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

Wishing everyone a safe and restful Labor Day!

Ocean State Veterinary Specialists is open if your pet is experiencing an emergency. Please call us at (401) 886-6787

08/29/2025

✨ Check out this recent Google review from Jahphina A.! ✨

Thank you, Jahphina, for your kind words. We know how stressful emergencies can be, and we’re so glad we could be there for you and your pup when you needed us most. Our team is dedicated to providing compassionate care for pets and supportive communication for their families.

We’re so grateful to all of our clients who take the time to share their experiences. Your feedback not only means the world to us, but also helps other pet owners feel confident and comfortable bringing their pets to OSVS in times of need.

Remember, our team is here 24/7, including nights, weekends, and holidays, whenever an emergency arises.

08/26/2025

To say we love dogs is an understatement… WE LOVE DOGS!! 💕

From the tiniest pups to the biggest gentle giants, and from playful puppies to wise seniors—we love them all. Happy National Dog Day from all of us at Ocean State Veterinary Specialists! We hope your dogs are extra spoiled today (and every day!), because in our hearts, every day is National Dog Day.

If your pet ever needs us, remember—we’re here for you 24/7 in case of an emergency.

08/25/2025

Frank is home!

Frank came to our ER twice in just two days, first for fever and abdominal pain, then again when he became weak, dehydrated, and developed sepsis from a severe prostate infection. Our ICU and emergency teams immediately stabilized him with fluids, antibiotics, pain control, and close monitoring before he was taken to emergency surgery.

During surgery, our doctors discovered large abscesses around his prostate and severe peritonitis. With advanced surgical techniques, intensive anesthesia support, plasma transfusions, and round-the-clock ICU nursing care, Frank pulled through a very critical situation. Over the next few days, he regained his strength, his infection cleared, and his biopsy confirmed no cancer!

We are thrilled to share that Frank is now stable, eating on his own, and has gone home to continue his recovery with his loving family. None of this would have been possible without the collaboration of our emergency clinicians, surgeons, and highly skilled veterinary technicians who cared for him every step of the way.

Way to go, Frank—you’re a true fighter, and we’re so proud of you! 💟

08/20/2025

Sweet Pea came to the Ocean State Veterinary Specialists (OSVS) Exotics specialty service with difficulty swimming. Her owner was concerned about swim bladder disease. She could swim down but would float right back up, and the issue had been ongoing for months. Radiographs revealed free air in the coelom at the caudal and ventral aspect. Dr. Elizabeth St. Germaine, DVM, CertAqV, performed a Coelomocentesis, removing ~8mL of air and 0.5mL of yellow-tinged fluid from the coelomic cavity.

Just one week later, Sweet Pea’s owner reported she is FINTASTIC— no tilting or rolling, just smooth swimming again! 🐠

Check out these radiographs to see the before and after of her procedure!

08/18/2025

We are thrilled that Liam's Hope is now home! This is why we exist to care for our patients when they need us the most. The collaboration between our specialists and emergency doctors is truly what sets us apart. We love that Liam's Hope shares his journey through Liam's eyes 💙

Our whole team is rooting for you Liam's Hope! Time to rest and recoup!

I. Am. Home.

I'm also really tired. I didn't realize how much goes on in the hospital.

I was at Ocean State Veterinary Specialists from Friday morning until early this evening. Mom took me home tonight, with the blessing from my doctors. Because I didn't need oxygen anymore, they felt OK to let me go home.

I met so many nice people during my stay!

All of the nurses were very kind to me. They gave me pats on the head and stroked my fur anytime they had to do treatments on me. They were all very gentle.

I apologize to the assistants who had to clean up my vomit. I drank too fast on accident and made a big mess. I'm so sorry! Thank you for making my bed clean again!

My doctors were all really nice. Dr. Campbell admitted me to ICU the first day. She gave me lots of attention and came up with a plan. She also introduced me to Dr. Senft, who did a lot of my care.

Dr. Senft was so sweet to me. She worked a lot and kept texting my Mom to make sure everything I was doing was normal for me. She had Mom and Dad come visit me during the night last night because I was acting up. I didn't mean to, but I was just a little anxious. Once I saw Mom, I settled down. Dr. Senft gave me medicine so I didn't have to worry so much.

Dr. Hallowell is so smart with critical care! She and my parents discussed how to treat me best. They were really worried I wouldn't make it through the first night. I showed them! Thank you for giving me a chance!

Dr. Alexander, my oncologist, wasn't even supposed to work this weekend. He was in constant contact with the ICU doctors, helping guide some of my care. I can't believe he would do that for me! What a great person!

Mom said the front desk people were really nice to her. Everyone gave Mom hugs, including the doctors. They knew how much she was hurting because I was sick.

Because my Mom is a vet, she's going to try to do my testing over the next few days. She's going to talk to the doctors at Ocean State to keep them updated on my progress. I still have a long way to go.

Until then, I'm so happy that I'm going to sleep at home tonight. I missed my family so much.

08/18/2025

We know that a trip to the emergency room can feel overwhelming, filled with fear, uncertainty, and so much emotion. When you walk through our doors, it’s often on one of the hardest days for you and your pet. It can be scary handing your pet over to a technician, not knowing what’s happening behind the scenes in the emergency room. That’s why we want you to know: your pet is always in the best hands here at Ocean State Veterinary Specialists.

Patient care is at the heart of everything we do. No matter how critical the situation, our team of doctors, technicians, and support staff provides skilled, compassionate care 24/7. We work tirelessly to ensure that every patient feels safe, comforted, and loved while receiving the expert medical attention they need.

Pictured here is sweet Beau, relaxing with an episode of Bluey while recovering in our ICU. We know it's not home, but we try our hardest to make it as comfortable as can be!

At OSVS, you’re never alone. Because when it comes to your pet, every minute matters — and so does every moment of kindness. 💙

08/15/2025

Saving lives one pint at a time! 🩸

The Rhode Island Blood Center bloodmobile will be at Ocean State Veterinary Specialists today, Friday, August 15th, from 11 AM – 5 PM. Join our team in giving back to the community and honoring our amazing dog and cat blood donors who donate to our blood bank by donating human blood!

Perks for blood donors:
🍺 Voucher for a free pint at participating local breweries
🎟️ Entry into Rhode Island Blood Center's raffle for a $400 Ticketmaster eGift card

Donate blood today. Sign up here: https://donate.ribc.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/79055