Pet Emergency & Specialty Center (PESC) opened 17 years ago in East County to provide overnight veterinary emergency and urgent care in the San Diego area.

Over the years, PESC has grown into two multiple specialty veterinary hospitals providing advanced care in internal medicine, surgery, exotic animal medicine, critical/intensive care, emergency medicine and urgent care. “We have grown into the hospital we are today because of the desire of our community and their family veterinarians to provide the best medical care possible to their pets,” said PESC Emergency Clinician Trevor Garb. PESC also provides dermatology and ophthalmology specialty consultations in its South County facility by independent specialists in their fields.

Both hospitals are open and staffed with doctors and technicians 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. “We strive to provide the best and most compassionate care and service for our patients and clients,” said Garb.

PESC’s emergency service is staffed by doctors and technicians 24 hours a day 365 days a year. PESC staff are equipped and trained to handle everything from minor emergencies to advanced intensive care. The staff have advanced training in emergency medicine and are led by medical directors Dr. Monika Kaelble and Dr. Elena Vassilev, both board certified specialists in emergency and critical care.

“We see a wide variety of cases through our emergency service and are committed to providing the best level of care while offering options that meet our clients’ medical, financial and emotional needs,” Garb said.

PESC has a fully equipped veterinary ambulance that it uses to transport patients between facilities and from referring veterinary hospitals. It offers advanced imaging, radiology and nuclear medicine in association with off-site facilities.

PESC’s veterinary specialists see cases referred by outside veterinarians. They have completed rigorous training and board certification in specific areas such as surgery, cardiology, internal medicine, critical care or avian/exotic animal medicine.

PESC’s specialists work with each other, their clients, their pets and their family veterinarians to develop a treatment protocol or to offer advanced diagnostics and therapeutic procedures. Examples of some of PESC’s procedures are ultrasound, endoscopy, bronchoscopy, surgical fracture repair, and complicated soft-tissue surgeries.

Besides providing exceptional veterinary service to the San Diego area, Pet Emergency & Specialty Center provides financial support to various local community organizations, including San Diego AIDS Walk, Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS), Friends of County Animals Shelters (FOCAS), The Helen Woodward Foundation, FACE, Hurricane Katrina Relief, the La Mesa Dog Park and the Baja Animal Sanctuary.

“We believe that through our participation in local events and fundraisers we can make a difference and help San Diego continue to be a great place to live for both our two- and four-legged friends,” Garb said.