Ocean State Veterinary Specialists

08/06/2026

Saving lives one pint at a time! 🩸

We're teaming up with the Rhode Island Blood Center at Ocean State Veterinary Specialists on Wednesday, August 19th, from 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM for a community blood drive!

By donating blood, you'll be helping save human lives while honoring the incredible dog and cat blood donors who make our veterinary blood bank possible. Together, we can make a lifesaving difference for both people and pets.

As a thank you, all blood donors will receive:
🍺 A voucher for a free pint at participating local breweries

Every donation has the power to save lives.

Sign up today: https://donate.ribc.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/81324

08/04/2026

Meet one of our incredible blood donors, Lola! 🩸

Lola was adopted from Mississippi at just four months old in April 2025. From the moment she came home, she has been the sweetest, most loving, and gentle pup.

She absolutely adores her family's three grandsons, ages 10, 5, and 22 months, and is always so patient and affectionate with them. Lola is full of energy, too! She's an incredibly fast runner, can jump surprisingly high, and loves nothing more than playing fetch. Tennis balls are her favorite toys, and every evening, she happily plays ball while her owners relax and watch TV. She's so determined that she'll bring the ball back and forth between them for the entire evening! She even watches television herself, and whenever an animal appears on the screen, she races around the room with excitement.

Lola is also discovering that swimming can be fun, though she's taking it one step at a time. Her family's previous dog, Maggie, was quite the water lover, so they're curious to see if Lola follows in her pawprints. When it comes to treats, frozen peanut butter on her lick mat and homemade frozen yogurt snacks are at the top of her list.

Her best friend is the family's grand-pup, Max. The two spend nearly every weekend together playing, and they have the best time. At the end of the day, Lola curls up in bed with her owners—a daily reminder of how much joy she's brought into their lives.

What makes Lola's story especially meaningful is that she became a blood donor in memory of Maggie. Maggie battled immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) and received several lifesaving blood transfusions at Ocean State Veterinary Specialists during her 13 wonderful years. She passed away on January 24, 2025, and while her family misses her every day, knowing that Lola can now help save the lives of other dogs is an incredible way to honor Maggie's legacy.

Lola's family feels truly blessed that she chose them, and they couldn't be prouder of her for giving back and helping other pets when they need it most.

Thank you, Lola, for being a hero to pets in need! We can't wait to see you at our Rhode Island Blood Center Blood Drive at Ocean State Veterinary Specialists on August 19. ❤️🐶🩸🐾

08/03/2026

Every day, beloved pets face life-threatening emergencies and serious illnesses that require specialized veterinary care. For many families, the cost of that care can be overwhelming.

This July, the Paw it Forward Fund Frankie's Friends raised $1,918.46. Thank you so much to our wonderful donors for helping families in need, and thanks to a generous matching gift, every donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar!

Drs. Block and Johnson, founders of Ocean State Veterinary Specialists and Bay State Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Services, share: "The Paw It Forward Fund is our attempt to keep pets alive, healthy, and in homes when unforeseen or unexpected veterinary bills are suddenly encountered."

Your generosity helps bridge the gap between what's medically possible and what's financially feasible, giving pets the care they need when they need it most.

💙 Please consider making a donation today:
🌐 www.frankiesfriends.org/pawsforacause

Together, we can keep families together and give more pets a second chance.

07/31/2026

We're here for pets and the people who love them on some of life's most difficult days. 💙

When families come through our doors, they're often experiencing fear, uncertainty, or heartbreak. While not every story has the ending we all hope for, our goal is always the same: to provide exceptional medical care, compassionate support, and comfort every step of the way.

Behind every patient is a collaborative team of emergency veterinarians, board-certified specialists, veterinary technicians, and client care professionals working together to deliver advanced, compassionate medicine. Through expertise, teamwork, and a shared commitment to excellence, we are proud to support the human-animal bond and serve pets and their families throughout Southern New England when they need us most.

Our Emergency Service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If your pet is experiencing an emergency, please call us at 401-886-6787

07/31/2026

A huge thank you to Rhode Island Kitten Kits for restocking our emergency kitten kits! 🐱

These kits are an invaluable resource for our team when neonatal kittens arrive needing urgent care. Having essential supplies immediately available allows us to focus on providing lifesaving care during those critical first moments.

We're honored to partner with organizations like Rhode Island Kitten Kits that share our commitment to giving the most vulnerable patients the best possible chance. It truly takes a community working together to make a difference, and we're grateful for everyone who supports this incredible mission.

Thank you for helping us be ready when these tiny patients need us most! 🐾

On Tuesday, we dropped off four emergency kitten kits to Ocean State Veterinary Specialists after they let us know they had given their last one to the Cranston Animal Shelter.

These kits are there for the unexpected moments, when a tiny kitten comes through the door needing immediate care and every minute counts. Having supplies ready can make all the difference while a plan is being put into place.

We’re so grateful to the team at OSVS for always being willing to help these little ones, and we’re happy we could restock them so they’re prepared for the next neonatal emergency.

It really does take a community. Every donated supply, every foster home, every veterinary professional, and every act of kindness helps give these vulnerable kittens a better chance.

Thank you to everyone who supports our mission!

07/30/2026

Today, we're celebrating our incredible veterinary interns! 🩺

Veterinary interns are graduates of veterinary school and fully licensed veterinarians who have chosen to pursue an additional year of advanced clinical training. Unlike in human medicine, internships are not required for veterinarians. While many graduates begin practicing immediately, our interns have chosen to deepen their knowledge by caring for patients with complex acute and chronic illnesses under the guidance of our board-certified specialists and experienced emergency clinicians.

Because of the outstanding reputation of our internship program, Ocean State Veterinary Specialists receives applications from across the country. Through a highly competitive national matching process, interns are selected based on their academic achievements, clinical performance, and dedication to advancing veterinary medicine.

We're proud to invest in the future of our profession by mentoring and supporting the next generation of veterinary leaders. Thank you to our interns for your hard work, compassion, and commitment to exceptional patient care. We're so grateful to have you on our team!

Every great veterinarian starts somewhere. 💙🐾

At UVC, our interns show up each day ready to learn, grow, and provide exceptional care under the guidance of experienced mentors. With every case, every question, and every new challenge, they're building the confidence and clinical skills that will shape the future of veterinary medicine.

That transformation is one of the most rewarding parts of mentorship. Dr. Shale Bushnell, who mentors interns at Ocean State Veterinary Specialists, perfectly captures why this journey is so meaningful:

"It's amazing what one year can do. New interns start out questioning themselves and every decision they make. By the end of the year, they are confident, capable doctors who trust themselves when it matters most. They haven't seen everything, but they have learned the tools they need to figure it out. Watching that transition is one of the greatest privileges of being an intern mentor."

Today, on National Intern Day, we celebrate every UVC intern for your curiosity, resilience, and commitment to learning. Thank you for all you bring to our hospitals. We're proud to be part of your journey and can't wait to see where your careers take you.

07/29/2026

The Ocean State Veterinary Specialists Wellbeing Committee had a fantastic night out at Topgolf! We loved getting together outside of the hospital to connect with coworkers, enjoy some delicious food, share plenty of laughs, and show off our golf skills. ⛳️

Every day, our team comes to work ready to care for patients in need of emergency and specialty veterinary care, support their families, and save lives. Our team cares for some of the most critically ill and medically complex patients 24/7, 365 days a year. That’s why taking time to step away, recharge, and enjoy one another’s company is so important.

We’re so grateful for the incredible team that shows up every day for our patients, their families, and one another. Events like this give us a chance to celebrate the people behind the care and the amazing community we’ve built together.

We work hard, we care deeply, and we’re always stronger together. 💙

07/27/2026

Every day, beloved pets face life-threatening emergencies or serious illnesses that require specialized veterinary care that many families simply can’t afford. For July, you can help save local pets by donating to Frankie’s Friends Paw It Forward Fund. This year, all gifts up to $150,000 will be matched dollar-for-dollar. This year's goal is $300,000.00.

Drs. Block and Johnson, founders of OSVS and BSVESS, share:
“The Paw It Forward Fund is our attempt to keep pets alive, healthy, and in homes when unforeseen or unexpected veterinary bills are suddenly encountered.”

🌐 www.frankiesfriends.org/pawsforacause

Together, we can bridge the gap between what’s medically possible and financially feasible.

07/24/2026

Amanita mushrooms are popping up in Southern New England, and they are among the deadliest mushrooms that grow in the wild. At Ocean State Veterinary Specialists, we've treated multiple cases of mushroom toxicity over the past few years, and we want to help keep your pets safe. 🍄

Common signs of mushroom poisoning in dogs include:
• Drooling
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Weakness or lethargy
• Abnormal heartbeat
• Difficulty breathing
• Uncoordinated movements or stumbling
• Disorientation
• Increased drinking and urination
• Yellowing of the gums or eyes
• Tremors or seizures

While there are more than 10,000 species of mushrooms in the United States, only about 100 are known to be toxic. Unfortunately, it can be nearly impossible to tell the difference between a harmless mushroom and a poisonous one.

⚠️ Clinical signs can appear within 15–30 minutes after ingestion, but in some cases may not develop for up to 24 hours. Damage to the liver and kidneys may not become apparent for 2–3 days. ⚠️

If you suspect your pet has eaten any wild mushroom, treat it as an emergency, even if they seem completely normal. Early veterinary care can make all the difference, and waiting for symptoms to appear could be life-threatening. If possible, take a photo of the mushroom or bring a sample (while avoiding direct contact) to help with identification, but don't delay seeking veterinary care.

Stay vigilant on walks and in your yard, especially after periods of rain. Your pet's curiosity could put them at serious risk.

07/23/2026

At Ocean State Veterinary Specialists, we are proud to recognize the technicians who continue to advance their knowledge, strengthen their skills, and pursue excellence in specialty veterinary medicine. OSVS currently has one Veterinary Technician Specialist, or VTS, in Diagnostic Imaging and three Credentialed Veterinary Technicians pursuing VTS certification in Cardiology, Oncology, and Emergency and Critical Care.

Becoming a VTS is an extraordinary accomplishment. The process requires years of specialty experience, thousands of clinical hours, advanced continuing education, detailed case logs and reports, skills assessments, letters of recommendation, and a rigorous examination. Each specialty has its own requirements, making every technician’s journey unique.

Our technicians complete this work with the support and guidance of our board-certified specialists, who play an important role in their continued education and mentorship.

Amy Cardwell, VTS in Diagnostic Imaging:

Amy helped pave the way for technicians across the country to become specialized in Diagnostic Imaging. The field was not officially recognized as a VTS specialty until 2018, following years of advocacy and collaboration with NAVTA and the American College of Veterinary Radiology. Amy played an important leadership role in helping develop the pathway technicians now follow to earn this distinction.

Amy has more than 30 years of experience in Diagnostic Imaging and has worked at OSVS for 25 years alongside our Radiologist, Dr. Susan Newell. She takes tremendous pride in our Diagnostic Imaging department and in the work, she has done throughout her career.

Christine Ogden, pursuing VTS in Cardiology:

Christine is pursuing her VTS in Cardiology through the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and is currently completing Part 2, the most advanced and complex portion of the certification process.

Her work includes extensive case logs, advanced skills assessments, detailed case reports, and specialty continuing education. She is passionate about expanding her knowledge to better serve patients and clients throughout Southern New England.

This July marks Christine’s 25th anniversary at OSVS. With experience in management and many years working alongside our Cardiologist, Dr. Kane, Christine is deeply committed to patient comfort and compassionate care. She can often be found making the coziest beds possible to help her patients feel safe and comfortable during their stay.

Lynne Asselin, pursuing VTS in Oncology:

Lynne is pursuing her VTS in Oncology through the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and has officially been approved for Part 1 of the process.

Her journey includes thousands of specialty hours, advanced oncology continuing education, extensive writing and case work, and mastering essential specialty skills under the mentorship of a board-certified specialist.

Lynne is passionate about using her growing expertise to better educate clients and support fellow technicians. She has worked alongside our board-certified Oncologist, Dr. Caleb Alexander, since 2017 and previously worked in our Internal Medicine department beginning in 2014.

Christine Rockwell, pursuing VTS in Emergency and Critical Care:

Christine is pursuing her VTS in Emergency and Critical Care through the Academy of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Technicians and Nurses (AVECCTN) and is eligible to sit for her examination this year.

Through ICU training, specialty mentorship, professional conferences, and hands-on critical care experience, Christine has continued to grow her knowledge, strengthen her skills, and become a trusted resource throughout the hospital.

Christine started as a Technician Assistant and has been part of OSVS for eight and a half years. She went through our training program to become a technician and passed her CVT exam in 2020. She continues to support our ICU, Emergency, and Diagnostic Imaging departments, stepping in wherever she is needed most. Her dedication reflects the level of care and commitment required in emergency and critical care medicine.

We are incredibly proud of Amy, Christine, Lynne, and Christine for their dedication to lifelong learning and specialty veterinary medicine. The time and effort they have put into advancing their skills directly benefits our patients, clients, and fellow team members.