Five Rivers Pet Emergency Hospital

06/01/2026

🐾 Summertime is here, but the heat can be tough on our four-legged family members! 🐾

As the temperatures climb, the team at Five Rivers Pet Emergency wants to remind you that warm weather brings a few hidden dangers for our pets. Here’s what you need to know to keep them safe, happy, and healthy this season.

Watch the Pavement!
Did you know that when it’s 77°F outside, asphalt can heat up to a staggering 125°F? If it’s too hot for the back of your hand, it’s too hot for their paws!

The 7-Second Rule: Press the back of your hand firmly against the pavement for 7 seconds. If it’s uncomfortable for you, it will burn their paw pads.

Tip: Stick to shady grass walks, or head out during the cooler early morning and late evening hours.

Know the Signs of Heatstroke
Dogs and cats can’t sweat like we do, making them highly susceptible to heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Watch your pet closely for these warning signs:
Excessive, heavy panting or drooling
Bright red, blue, or pale gums
Lethargy, weakness, or collapsing
Vomiting or diarrhea
Disorientation or stumbling

As a reminder, brachycephalic breeds (those with short noses) like frenchies, bulldogs, pugs, and other similar breeds are at higher risk of heat stroke!

⏱️ Minutes Matter: Don’t Delay Care!
Heatstroke is a fast-moving medical emergency that can quickly cause organ damage or worse. If you suspect your pet is overheating, do not wait to see if they "cool down" on their own.

We are here for you when your primary vet is closed. Keep our number saved just in case!

05/28/2026

🐾 Emergency Care, 24/7/365🐾

Whether you’re a born-and-raised local or just visiting our beautiful East Tennessee mountains, unexpected pet emergencies can happen. If they do, you don’t have to face them alone.

At Five Rivers Pet Emergency, we are fully equipped and ready to care for your four-legged family members when your regular vet is closed or unavailable.

Why Choose Us?
Always Open: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Expert Care: A dedicated team trained specifically for high-stakes emergency and critical care.

Peace of Mind: No matter the hour, we are here to provide the compassionate, urgent treatment your pet needs.

Save our info just in case! Accidents don't keep business hours, and neither do we.

Walk-ins are always welcome, but if possible, please call us on your way so our team can prepare for your arrival.

Photo is AI Generated 😊

05/14/2026

A "Great" Big Message from Magnum!

Hi friends, Magnum here! I might be a giant, but even us big guys have some small secrets we need to share. Today, I’m putting down my favorite squeaky toy to talk about something super important called GDV (or 'Bloat'). It’s a scary-sounding name, but knowing the signs can help keep all my fellow four-legged besties safe and wagging! Grab a treat and listen close—this post is a real lifesaver

GDV (Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus), commonly known as Bloat, is a life-threatening condition where a dog’s stomach fills with gas (dilatation) and then flips or twists on itself (volvulus). This twist traps gas and cuts off blood supply to the stomach and other organs.

Without immediate intervention, GDV is fatal.

🛡️ Prevention: The Gastropexy Surgery

The good news? GDV can often be prevented!

Like I, Magnum, had performed, a procedure called a Gastropexy (often called a "tummy tack") involves surgically securing the stomach to the abdominal wall so it cannot twist.

Proactive Care: Most primary care veterinarians can perform this during a routine spay or neuter.

Expert Advice: We highly recommend you chat with your primary DVM to see if a gastropexy is the right choice to keep your fur baby safe. It is the most effective way to protect high-risk breeds from a future emergency.

🩺 Who Is at Risk?

While any dog can experience bloat, it is most common in large, deep-chested breeds. If you own one of the following, please be extra vigilant:

Great Danes (The highest risk breed)
German Shepherds
Standard Poodles
Irish Setters / Weimaraners
Saint Bernards
Labradors

⏱️ Minutes Matter: The Race to Surgery

If the stomach has already twisted, the clock is your enemy. This is a surgical emergency.

The Rule of Thumb: The quicker a patient gets into the operating room to untwist the stomach, the better the prognosis. Delaying treatment even by an hour can lead to irreversible tissue death or shock.

🚩 Watch for These Symptoms:

An enlarged or "tight" abdomen (feels like a drum).
Unsuccessful attempts to vomit (retching but nothing comes up).
Excessive drooling, pacing, and restlessness.

🚨 IF YOU SEE THESE SIGNS, DO NOT WAIT.

Reach out to us at Five Rivers Pet Emergency immediately. We are here 24/7 to provide the life-saving surgery and intensive care your pet needs.

📞 423-581-9492

05/13/2026

Check out this hilarious TikTok from the team!

While we love the hustle,to clarify : Our clinic does not accept tips from clients or peers. Your trust (and maybe a high-five) is the only "bonus" we need! 🐾

But if you look closely behind the jokes, you’ll catch some exclusive sneak peeks of our brand-new ICU! 🏥✨

We are so proud of this new space and the level of care it allows us to provide for your furry family members.

Watch this TikTok to see:
• Our team’s (questionable) acting skills 🎭
• The sleek new layout of our intensive care unit 🔬
• A whole lot of heart (and zero tips!) ❤️

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8pAn4NM/

Check out 5 River Emergency Pet Hospital’s video.

05/09/2026

To Our Valued Clients & Community ❤️

We know that when you come to us with a pet in crisis, you are often carrying a heavy burden of stress, fear, and exhaustion. We understand that emergency visits are incredibly emotional—we feel that intensity right along with you.

Our team chooses this work because they care deeply about animals and the families who love them. To continue providing the best care possible, we want to share a few important reminders regarding our clinic policies.

Kindness Matters

While we will always lead with empathy, we have a zero-tolerance policy regarding the treatment of our staff. We will not tolerate:
• Yelling or raised voices.
• Profanity or personal insults.
• Verbal abuse or intimidation.
• Disrespectful behavior toward any team member.

Financial Conversations

We understand that unexpected medical expenses can be a significant source of stress. However, payment is due at the time of service.
We know this can be a struggle, and our team is more than happy to discuss third-party payment options (such as CareCredit or Scratchpay) to help make your pet’s care more manageable.

Our doctors, technicians, and receptionists are here to help, often working under high-pressure conditions to save lives. We kindly ask that you treat them with the same kindness and respect you expect for your beloved pets.

Thank you for your cooperation, your patience, and for helping us keep this a safe, healing space for everyone.

05/01/2026

𝑩𝒊𝒈 𝑼𝒑𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒕 𝑭𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑹𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝑷𝒆𝒕 𝑬𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒚 𝑯𝒐𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒍!🐾
We are thrilled to share that our brand-new ICU is one step closer to completion! Our team has been working hard behind the scenes to upgrade our facility so we can provide the highest level of care for your furry family members.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐂𝐔?
We’ve officially integrated several key pieces of equipment and technology to streamline our emergency response:

Advanced Medical Gear: Our new additional wet sink and new state-of-the-art anesthesia machine are installed and ready for use.

Enhanced Workstations: We’ve set up dedicated ICU stations featuring new mobile desks and laptops, allowing our staff to stay right by a patient's side while managing records and treatment plans. (TV screens blurred intentionally to protect patient information)

𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 & 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗯𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲
While the medical wing is humming, our lobby and public restrooms are still under construction. As many of you know, renovations are a "step-by-step" journey, and we appreciate your patience as we navigate the dust and the timelines!

𝑵𝒐𝒕𝒆: 𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒃𝒃𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒂 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔, 𝒘𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒂 𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒃𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒔.

We know it’s a bit of an inconvenience, but please bear with us! These upgrades are all about ensuring your pets have the best technology and the most focused care possible during an emergency.

Thank you for your continued support and for trusting us with your pets! 🐶🐱✨

04/29/2026

🐾 Team Appreciation Post 🐾
We have some absolute rockstars working at Five Rivers Pet Emergency! 🌟

Lately, our dedicated staff has been going above and beyond every single shift. Not only are they providing top-tier care for our patients, but they’ve also been pitching in during every spare moment to help us move into the new side of our building! 🏗️📦

To show our gratitude for all that heavy lifting and hard work, Dr. Treece treated the team to some delicious sweet treats from Jeremiah’s Italian Ice! 🍦🍧

Of course, the move is being managed by the best in the business—Chispa is officially on supervisor duty today, making sure everyone gets their orders and stays on task! 🐶📋

Thank you to our incredible team for your resilience, your passion, and for making this transition so smooth. We couldn't do it without you!

04/24/2026

🐾 A Story of Resilience: Millie Pookey’s Journey to Healing 🐾

Sometimes, the smallest things can cause the biggest problems! We are so excited to share an incredible update on one of our favorite patients, the sweet Millie Pookey.

For over a year, Millie and her dedicated owners have been battling chronic wounds and infections on her face. Despite visiting several veterinarians and trying countless medications, those stubborn wounds just wouldn’t heal.

✨ The Turning Point
Determined to find answers, Millie’s family opted for a CT scan—a highly specialized, advanced imaging modality that allows us to see what the naked eye (and even traditional X-rays) often misses.

🔍 An Unbelievable Discovery
While Millie was resting and recovering from her CT, the medical team made a shocking discovery. Deeply embedded in her face was a toothpick! This hidden foreign object had created a persistent pocket of infection that no antibiotic could ever reach.

❤️ Recovery & Happy Endings
Since the toothpick was successfully removed, the change has been night and day!
• The abscess is finally healing.
• The chronic infection is gone.
• Millie is recovering beautifully at home!
Millie is such a gentle, brave girl, and her story is a powerful reminder of how advanced diagnostics can change a pet's life. We are so grateful to her family for trusting us with her care and allowing us to be part of her journey back to health.

Join us in sending Millie some love in the comments! 👇

04/15/2026

🐾 Patient Spotlight: The Brave and Sweet Bruce! 🐾

We are so incredibly excited to share a very special update on one of our favorite fighters, Bruce!

Bruce’s journey with us started under scary circumstances after he was hit by a car. When he arrived, he was very "dumpy" and struggling. Our team jumped into immediate action, diagnosing him with a severe pneumothorax (a collapsed lung) and internal bleeding. Time was of the essence, and Bruce was rushed into emergency surgery.

While he rocked his initial recovery and headed home, the road to healing took a difficult turn. Bruce had to be re-hospitalized due to serious complications from his trauma, which led to sepsis.

It was "all hands on deck" in our ICU for nearly two weeks. Bruce fought through every hurdle with the sweetest temperament you can imagine. This resilient Pitty stole the hearts of every single staff member here with his gentle soul and wagging tail and all the kisses, even when he didn't feel his best. 🐶❤️

The best news? Bruce has officially been back home with his family for over a week now! He is continuing to heal and is doing wonderfully.
We are so deeply thankful to Bruce’s family for trusting us with his care during such a critical time. Seeing him make it back to his couch and his loved ones is exactly why we do what we do.
Please join us in the comments by sending some love and "good boy" cheers to Bruce! 🦴✨

04/02/2026

🐾 BIG NEWS: Our New Digital Home is LIVE! 🐾

We are thrilled to announce that our brand-new website is officially up and running! Whether you’re looking for emergency resources or want to learn more about our team, you can find it all at: www.fiveriverspetemergency.com

🏥 Construction Update: We’re on the Move!

Things are buzzing over here at Five Rivers! We have officially started moving our ICU and Surgery equipment into the brand-new wing of our hospital. This move allows us to provide even better, more advanced care for your furry family members during their most critical moments.

🛋️ What’s Next for Our Clients?

We know you’ve been patient while we expand, and we have some exciting things in the works:
• Public Restroom: We expect to have a restroom available for client use very soon!
• The Future Lobby: Once we are fully settled into the new side, our next big project is transforming our space to create a dedicated, comfortable lobby area for you.

Thank you for trusting us with your pets and for sticking with us through our "growing pains." We can't wait to show you the finished results!