Ocean State Veterinary Specialists

15/07/2025

This past week, we had the pleasure of welcoming Dr. Bill Saxon, DACVIM, DACVECC from IDEXX Laboratories to Ocean State Veterinary Specialists for a continuing education lecture focused on Cystatin B and other renal biomarkers. Dr. Saxon also reviewed electrolyte disorder treatments and provided an update on Lyme C6 testing offering valuable insights for our veterinary community, clinicians and support staff.

At OSVS, we’re proud to be part of a small but mighty state that thrives on collaboration and growth. Continuing education is a cornerstone of our mission. As veterinary medicine evolves, we remain committed to staying at the forefront through innovation, advanced training, and teamwork.

Thank you, Dr. Saxon and IDEXX, for supporting our pursuit of excellence in patient care!

11/07/2025

Rosie came to Ocean State Veterinary Specialists for an unrelated surgery, but what was expected to be a standard procedure quickly became a life-threatening emergency. Upon entering her abdomen, Dr. Chris Ralphs DVM, MS, DACVS, Dr. Mark Vardanega BVSc, and the surgical team discovered a shocking surprise, a foreign body, presumed to be a wooden skewer, embedded within the omentum and extending toward the diaphragm. The skewer had penetrated the vena cava, a major blood vessel, in two places and was actively causing internal bleeding.

Rosie’s spay was completed without issue, but due to the extensive adhesions and inflammation caused by the foreign object, a partial diaphragmatic resection was required. This led to a thoracotomy (an incision into the chest), where the surgical team worked meticulously to remove the damaged tissue. During this critical phase, the vena cava was punctured, resulting in significant hemorrhage. Emergency packed red blood cell transfusion was administered, and the bleeding was successfully controlled.

Rosie spent the next five days in our ICU with the Emergency and Critical Care team, led by Dr. Terry Hallowell DVM, DACVECC, and Dr. Marisa Stone DVM, DACVECC, where her vitals, bloodwork, respiratory status, and chest tube were closely monitored around the clock. Thanks to the quick thinking and skilled intervention of our surgical and critical care teams, Rosie is now stable and recovering well.

Her case is a powerful reminder that pets can carry hidden injuries or objects without showing obvious signs and also of the importance of having a team trained to act fast when the unexpected happens.

We’re so proud of Rosie and her incredible resilience!

09/07/2025

Every day, pets face life-threatening injuries and illnesses that need emergency and specialty veterinary care to save their lives, treatments that many families cannot afford. You can be their hero this summer by making a gift and helping keep them afloat. From July 1 - July 31, you can help save the lives of local pets in need by making a donation to Frankie’s Friends Paw It Forward Fund! All gifts up to $175,000 will be matched in honor of Sharon Goldblatt. Double your impact and help us raise money for pets in need.

Drs. Block and Johnson, the founders of OSVS and BSVESS, say, “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.”

Donate to Paws For A Cause: https://frankiesfriends.kindful.com/?campaign=1290932

We have raised $302,963 help us get to our goal of $350,000!

Together, we can help bridge the gap between what’s medically possible and financially feasible for pets in need. 💙

08/07/2025

Meet Rex!

Rex mainly lives in Puerto Rico except in the summers, when he resides in Rhode Island. Rex had foreign body surgery in Puerto Rico at the beginning of April, and lesions were noted in the hospital, which have been worsening since. Dr. George Coronado Jr., DVM, MS, DACVS, and Dr. Justin Mergl, DVM, MSc, BSc, performed an escharectomy, wound debridement, and tie-over bandage placement. Rex stayed overnight with us for close monitoring and a sedated bandage change. Over the following weeks, Rex returned for multiple sedated bandage changes to support healing. Eventually, he underwent a second surgery, chronic wound debridement and primary closure, performed by Dr. Mark Vardanega, BVSc.

This photo was taken during his final recheck and suture removal. We're thrilled to report Rex is healing beautifully and is finally ready to get back to his happy, active life!

Way to go, Rex! 🧡

07/07/2025

Our sister hospital, Bay State Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Services (BSVESS), is growing and looking for a skilled Veterinary Surgeon to join their talented team!

This is an exciting opportunity to work in a newly renovated facility alongside dedicated specialists and support staff, all committed to delivering top-tier care.

📍 Located in Swansea, Massachusetts
🔬 Collaborative, multi-specialty hospital
⚙️ Advanced surgical tools and diagnostics
🌟 Supportive environment focused on learning and excellence

Interested or know someone who might be?
👉 Visit www.bsvess.com/careers to learn more and apply!

Bay State Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Services is seeking an Experienced Veterinary Surgeon to join our team in a newly renovated, fast-paced, multi-specialty hospital. With a robust surgical caseload and exciting future expansion into sports medicine and rehab, this is an opportunity to grow, lead, and make a lasting impact.

🔹Scrub into brand new state-of-the-art surgical suites
🔹Train the next generation of veterinary professionals
📍 Located in Swansea, Massachusetts

Apply today: www.bsvess.com/careers

04/07/2025

Happy 4th of July!

We hope all of our clients, patients, families, and friends enjoy a safe and joyful holiday celebration!

If your pet experiences an emergency, Ocean State Veterinary Specialists is open 24/7 to help. Call us anytime at 401-886-6787

Stay safe, and keep your pets calm and comfortable this holiday! ❤️💙

03/07/2025

We are honored to have cared for K-9 Hugo and are thrilled to see him healthy and heading back to duty! 🐾

Thank you to the Rhode Island State Police and the Rhode Island Troopers Association for your trust and partnership. It was a privilege to support Hugo and Trooper Fraser through this journey.

Welcome home, Hugo, you’re a true hero! ❤

03/07/2025

We want everyone to have a happy, healthy, and safe 4th of July! Here are some tips to keep your pets calm and safe during the holiday. 🎆

We are open 24/7 if an emergency arises. Please call us at 401-886-6787

We're here to help!

Please note: Holidays are historically very busy in the ER. We kindly ask for your patience and compassion as our team works hard to provide critical care to pets in need.

01/07/2025

Congratulations, Liam's Hope!

Thank you for trusting Dr. Alexander, Dr. Coronado, Dr. Newell, and the entire OSVS team with Liam’s care. It means the world to us that you recognized the dedication and expertise of every part of our hospital, from our reception team to our anesthesia, surgery, and oncology nurses, to our interns and residents.

We will definitely miss seeing Liam’s sweet face around the hospital, but we’re so happy knowing he’s exactly where he belongs—floating peacefully in the pool and living life to the fullest.

We love you, Liam! 💙

I had my last chemotherapy treatment today! I am so happy to be done, but will miss my friends at Ocean State Veterinary Specialists .

Thank you Dr. Alexander and your team for all of the love, support, and care that you gave me during these treatments.

Thank you again Dr. Coronado and team for removing my large lung tumor in the first place!

My Mom and Dad are so grateful for the knowledge and expertise of everyone at Ocean State. From the front desk workers to the anesthesia, surgical, and oncology nurses to the interns and residents to Dr. Newell for reading all of my radiograohs- you all worked together to save my life.

We are all so blessed.

I intend to spend the rest of the summer floating in the pool.

01/07/2025

Every day, pets face life-threatening injuries and illnesses that need emergency and specialty veterinary care to save their lives, treatments that many families cannot afford. You can be their hero this summer by making a gift and helping keep them afloat. From July 1 - July 31, you can help save the lives of local pets in need by making a donation to Frankie’s Friends Paw It Forward Fund! All gifts up to $175,000 will be matched in honor of Sharon Goldblatt. Double your impact and help us raise money for pets in need.

Drs. Block and Johnson, the founders of OSVS and BSVESS, say, “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.”

Learn more at: www.frankiesfriends.org/pawsforacause

Together, we can help bridge the gap between what’s medically possible and financially feasible for pets in need. 💙

30/06/2025

Teaching the next generation of leaders in veterinary medicine! 🩺

We are thrilled to welcome the newest members of the OSVS 2025-2026 class of veterinary interns! These exceptional doctors are joining us from veterinary schools across the country, and we are honored that they’ve chosen to begin their professional journeys at OSVS. Pursuing an internship is a bold and admirable decision, one that reflects a deep commitment to growth, excellence, and clinical mastery. We know the year ahead will be fast-paced, intense, and challenging, but also incredibly transformative.

Through hands-on training, mentorship from board-certified specialists, and exposure to a wide range of complex and meaningful cases, our interns will gain the experience and confidence needed to become the next generation of outstanding veterinary professionals. As they rotate through emergency, critical care, surgery, internal medicine, and more, these doctors will become an integral part of our patient care teams. Their curiosity, compassion, and determination inspire us every day, and we are proud to support them on this journey.

Please join us in giving a warm welcome to the OSVS Intern Class of 2025 and cheer them on as they embark on a year of learning, service, and growth!

26/06/2025

This is us Thursday! Meet one of our hardworking overnight Emergency Technicians, Cody Oliviera. A full-time ER technician and CCRI nursing student, Cody brings energy, compassion, and dedication to every shift. Though new to emergency when he joined OSVS just over a year ago, Cody’s background includes nine years in general practice, and he’s quickly become a strong and reliable presence in our ER.
Cody thrives in the fast pace of emergency medicine, handling everything from triage to discharges, outpatient treatments to procedures. He loves the unpredictability of not knowing what will come through the doors next and the sense of purpose that comes with rising to each challenge. Procedures are a favorite part of his role, and he’s especially excited when he gets to work with exotics like snakes, lizards, and big birds.

Working mostly overnights, Cody is a key part of our smaller, tight-knit overnight crew. “Everyone knows when to step in and help,” he says. “We’re a well-oiled machine.” He values the strong friendships he’s built at OSVS and the sense of community that makes working here feel like more than just a job. Cody is pursuing a career in human nursing, with a focus on pediatric, emergency, or hospice care, and hopes to one day become a travel nurse. With two more years until graduation, he’s balancing full-time school with full-time work, fueled by self-discipline and a passion for helping others. He’s also hoping to gain ICU experience while continuing to grow in the ER.

Outside of work and school, Cody was born and raised in Rhode Island with his very full house of pets, including five dogs, two cats, a cockatoo, and three foster kittens (with a possible foster failure in the mix). When he’s not studying or working, he loves to travel. his most recent adventure took him to the Virgin Islands.

Thank you, Cody, for everything you do for your team, your patients, and your future profession. We’re so lucky to have you at OSVS!