NVA General Practice

After a kitten was thrown from a moving car, the NVA Heroes at Riverview Animal Hospital came together to save his life.

Bleeding badly from his face and head, the kitten was alert but clearly in pain. Dr. Natasha Medici performed a thorough exam, and the team got to work.

Word of the kitten's story spread fast on social media. By the end of the day, at least five individuals and one local nonprofit had donated toward his treatment.

"The community was astonished and angry that someone could be so cruel as to throw any animal, let alone a small kitten, from a moving vehicle," Elise Riley, Assistant Hospital Manager, shared. "But the generosity of our donors and the general response from our community was a reminder that there is good in the world."

Since then, he's found his forever home and has been back for routine kitten wellness visits. Now he spends his days snuggling with his new family, dogs included.

📸: NVA GP's Riverview Animal Hospital in Durango, CO

Big cat. Bigger personality. 😹 Today is International Cat Day, and we couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than showing off Grady, the majestic Maine C**n (and world's biggest lap cat). 🐾

Here's to all the whiskered companions who fill our homes (and our hearts) with love.

📸: NVA GP's Gilbertsville Veterinary Hospital in Gilbertsville, PA

Every great veterinarian started somewhere. Dr. Lanier started as a new grad and in just five years became medical director. 🩺

She’s proof that with the right mentorship and support system, there’s no ceiling on how far you can go at NVA. 🐾

At NVA, your career grows up. Read more about Dr. Lanier's journey: https://gp.nva.com/newsroom/dr-jane-lanier?utm_source=facebook

The NVA Heroes at Seven Hills Pet Clinic came together for one of their own.

When Hospital Manager Kerri Adkins' newborn foal took a turn for the worse, there was no time to waste.

Flame had been born to a first-time mother after a difficult delivery. A urinary catheter had been placed shortly after birth as a precaution, but by day four, everything changed. The foal went down, breathing heavily with a distended abdomen.

It was 9 p.m. Kerri quickly loaded Flame into the back of her SUV, then called Dr. Orin Ashley and texted their work group chat. Within minutes, Dr. Ashley and five techs and assistants were on their way to the clinic, ready to help.

Veterinary Assistant Olivia Hatter, who grew up on her family's horse farm, said Flame was calm and unbothered as he walked through the unfamiliar hospital. "He was so brave and truly could not have been any better behaved," she said.

An ultrasound at Seven Hills Pet Clinic in Ohio confirmed a complete tear in his bladder, an injury that most commonly happens in colts (male foals) and is usually caused by trauma as the foal passes through the birth canal.

With specialty equine hospitals stretched thin and only one facility within 100 miles willing to attempt surgery, Dr. Ashley agreed to take on the case, understanding the risks involved.

The team worked on Flame as they would a large-breed dog, adjusting for his long legs and sharp hooves, and moved quickly against the dangerously high potassium levels caused by his ruptured bladder. Within an hour and a half, labs were back, fluids and medications were on board, and Flame was sedated and prepped for surgery.

"I witnessed my team come together after hours with open arms, willing to put all their skills to use to save this innocent life," said Dr. Orin Ashley. The surgery was a success, and Flame has since made a full recovery. Today, he's nine weeks old, strong and healthy.

For our vets, learning doesn't stop at graduation. 🎓 Dr. Leverett and Dr. Rosen spent two days in Chicago at a hands-on ultrasound course at our PetOne Veterinary Training Center.

"The training solidified how important ultrasound is as a diagnostic tool to better evaluate patients,” shared Dr. Rosen. “I'm excited to continue practicing the critical skills the ultrasound training taught me." 🩺

🔗 Learn more about our Training Center, where skills grow through personalized learning at gp.nva.com/training-center.