Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care

The emergency and critical care service is dedicated to supporting the referral veterinary community and treating your pet with compassion and care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – no matter what the ailment. As emergencies can occur at any time, we provide overnight observation and 24 hour medical management for any condition. Our veterinarians and nurses have received advanced training and continuing education to ensure that the most innovative and high-quality emergency and critical care medicine is being practiced.

Annie Chih, DVM, DACVECC, CHPV

Annie Chih, DVM, DACVECC, CHPV

Dr. Chih is a Board Certified Emergency and Critical Care Specialist. Born and raised in Queens, New York, her first job was as a veterinary assistant.

She received her veterinary degree from the University of Missouri in 2011 and saw the diversity of emergency/critical cases as personal challenges. Her inspiration comes from her mother who taught her to have a strong work ethic and to have compassion for all beings.

In 2012, Dr. Chih completed a small animal medicine and surgery internship at Michigan Veterinary Specialists. She then completed an emergency/critical care internship and a residency in emergency/critical care, both at Lakeshore Veterinary Specialists in Glendale, Wisconsin.

Her specialty interests include fluid therapy, CPR, transfusion medicine, polytrauma, nutrition, ultrasonography, and the value of the human-animal bond. Dr. Chih is a certified CPR rescuer in basic life support and advanced life support through the RECOVER (Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation) initiative, which is endorsed by the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care and the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society. Dr. Chih is also a certified hospice and palliative care (CHPV) veterinarian through the IAAHPC (International Association of Animal Hospice and Palliative Care) program. This extra training/certification helps to increase awareness and promote the education of animal hospice, palliative, and end-of-life care to better support pets and their families during their end-of-life journey. She incorporates this knowledge into her everyday practice when managing critical cases.

Dr. Chih enjoys being outdoors and going to music, food and film festivals. She lives with her husband and their tabby cat and beagle mix, both of which have taught them “to be the type of person my dog (or cat) thinks I am” and to “wag more and bark less.”

Shane Turner, DVM

Shane Turner, DVM

Assistant Medical Director

Dr. Shane Turner graduated from Colorado State University in 2004. After graduation he moved to Washington State and began working for a private day practice. After several years of day practice he followed his interests into emergency medicine. He joined the Animal Medical Center of Seattle in 2012. Dr. Turner has special interests in soft tissue surgery, pain management and anesthesia, endocrine diseases and hematologic diseases. He has completed extensive training in surgery and pain management. Dr. Turner is a native of Utah but has lived in Washington for 9 years. He has a wife and three children and enjoys spending time with them as well as traveling, camping, running, biking and skiing. He also volunteers for the Doney Clinic, a service that provides care for pets of homeless and people in need in Seattle.
Adam J. Reiss, DVM, DACVECC

Adam J. Reiss, DVM, DACVECC

Medical Director

Dr. Adam Reiss is a Board Certified Emergency and Critical Care Specialist and the Medical Director at Animal Medical Center of Seattle. His team of doctors and nurses are on duty during those times when your family veterinarian may not be available – nights, weekends and major holidays. AMCS is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The staff works closely with your family veterinarian, sharing information as a team of professionals caring for your pet. Together, they develop a comprehensive treatment plan for your pet that assures the best continuity of care and success.

Dr. Reiss was born and raised in the suburbs of New York City. He graduated from New York State College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell in 1993. Following graduation he completed a small-animal Internship at Alameda East Veterinary Hospital and Residency in emergency and critical care at Denver Veterinary Specialists. Dr. Reiss obtained board certification in emergency and critical care in October 2002.

Dr Reiss has been involved in the growth and development of four large 24-hour emergency and referral centers in Denver, Seattle, Medford and Portland. He has published a paper on traumatic cardiac injuries, as well as book chapters on subjects such as dystocia and pneumonia.

Dr. Reiss has special interests in trauma, transfusion medicine, critical care nutrition, pulmonary diseases and oncology. He has a broad based skill set and can perform echocardiographs, abdominal ultrasound, diagnostic and emergency endoscopic procedures, as well as emergency surgery.

 

Emergency Clinicians

 

Our Staff Veterinarians are committed to the study of emergency medicine and keep current on the latest emerging treatments within this specialty. They enjoy the intellectual challenge of managing diverse and complex medical conditions in a constantly changing, fast-paced environment. These compassionate and skilled doctors are able to provide top quality care at a moment’s notice—regardless of the emergency.

Jennifer Kissinger, DVM

Jennifer Kissinger, DVM

Dr. Jennifer Kissinger graduated from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1992. She practiced emergency veterinary medicine for several years in the Seattle area before moving to Lenox, Massachusetts where she owned a feline veterinary hospital for six years. She missed the beautiful Pacific Northwest though and moved back to practice here ever since. Dr. Kissinger now has over 20 years of experience as a practicing veterinarian, 10 of which are exclusively in emergency medicine and surgery.

Dr. Kissinger has special interests in emergency care and surgery, feline medicine and geriatric care. She is passionate about providing top quality emergency veterinary care in an informative and compassionate environment.

Dr. Kissinger has a cat named Coconut and a small dog named CC. Outside of work, she is a true soccer mom, shuttling her young son to his competitive soccer and basketball games much of the time. They also enjoy camping, hiking, gardening and occasional road trips.

Nicole White, DVM

Nicole White, DVM

Dr. Nicole White graduated from Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon, where she received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine as well as her Bachelor of Animal Science. After earning her DVM in 2018, Dr. White pursued a one-year small animal medicine and surgery internship at Seattle Veterinary Specialists in Kirkland to gain additional training in emergency medicine and critical care.

Dr. White also has a broad range of experience working with exotic animal species. Between her undergraduate and graduate studies, she worked at a private zoo in Queensland, Australia, where she spent a year interacting with many native Australian species and primarily working in the reptile department. She has also spent time in Bangladesh, working with a local conservation group, radio tracking Burmese pythons and performing endangered species survey work.

While working with exotic animal species has broadened her general knowledge and passion for all types of veterinary medicine, Dr. White has special interests in sepsis, polytrauma, immune-mediated diseases and the comprehensive management of critically-ill patients.

Dr. White is a Pacific Northwest native and currently lives in Seattle with her partner Noah and their two Pitbulls and two orange tabby cats. In her spare time, Dr. White enjoys hiking, kayaking, international travel, and cooking.

Sharada Mahalingam, BVSc, MS

Sharada Mahalingam, BVSc, MS

Dr. Sharada Mahalingam graduated from the Bombay Veterinary College in India and moved to the United States in 2013. In 2016 she completed her Master’s Degree in toxicology at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. The same year, she completed her licensing requirements for foreign veterinary graduates. After graduation, she began a one-year internship in small animal medicine and surgery at BluePearl Veterinary Partners in Michigan, followed by a one-year internship in emergency and critical care at Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital.

Dr. Mahalingam made the decision to move to Washington State in the summer of 2019 to continue practicing emergency medicine. In the spring of 2021, Dr. Mahalingam joined the Animal Medical Center of Seattle’s ER/ICU team.

Dr. Mahalingam loves all aspects of emergency and critical care medicine, but especially likes managing toxicities, sepsis, electrolyte and cardiac emergencies. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking with her dog Fia, traveling, camping, reading, biking and swimming.

Tonia Rushing, DVM

Tonia Rushing, DVM

Dr. Tonia Rushing graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2016. After graduation, she started an internship in emergency medicine in Kansas. Once she completed her internship, she worked at an emergency and specialty hospital in Missouri for two years before she relocated to Washington State at the beginning of 2020. Dr. Rushing joined the Animal Medical Center of Seattle in May of 2021.

Dr. Rushing has a special interest in toxicology, nutrition, and polytraumas. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her two dogs, whether it’s hanging out at home, reading, or doing outdoor activities.

Melissa Ackley, BVM&S, MRCVS

Melissa Ackley, BVM&S, MRCVS

Dr. Ackley is originally from San Diego, CA, but after living in Seattle for her undergraduate degree at the University of Washington (Go DAWGS!), she has been eager to get back up to the Pacific Northwest. She graduated from the Royal School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland in 2015 and then completed a rotating small animal internship at VCA California Veterinary Specialists in Murrieta, CA. After getting her fill of the California sun, Dr. Ackley is ecstatic to be back in the Seattle area with her husband, Jesse, and their two dogs, Zeke and Rogue.

While enjoying many aspects of emergency medicine, Dr. Ackley has a special interest in trauma, auto-immune disease, toxicities, and emergency surgery. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, snowboarding, traveling, and nerdy board games. She also enjoys reading snuggled up with her cat, One Eyed Willamina.

Danielle Hopping, DVM

Danielle Hopping, DVM

Dr. Danielle Hopping graduated from The Ohio State University in 2013, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Anthropology. She spent a year collaborating on archaeological digs through Portugal and Spain in addition to teaching archaeological techniques in Scotland. She returned stateside to finish her research and ultimately decided to change careers. After moving back to Columbus, Ohio, Dr. Hopping graduated from The Ohio State University and obtained her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2020. 

After earning her DVM, Dr. Hopping pursued a year-long small animal medicine and surgery internship at MedVet, a large specialty and emergency hospital in Chicago, Illinois. There she developed a passion for emergency medicine with special interests in toxicology, atypical endocrine emergencies, anaphylactic hemoabdomens and emergency surgery.

Dr. Hopping decided to leave the Midwest and join the Animal Medical Center of Seattle emergency and critical care team. In her free time, she has thoroughly enjoyed exploring hiking, camping and cycling around the Pacific Northwest.

Nicole Blevins, DVM

Nicole Blevins, DVM

Originally from the Central Coast of California, Dr. Nicole Blevins obtained her undergraduate degree in Animal Science at the California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, CA. She then went on to attend the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 2016 with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). Following graduation, she went on to complete a one-year rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery with Georgia Veterinary Specialists in Atlanta, GA. Since then, she has pursued a career in emergency medicine, continuing to work in the Atlanta area for a few years and most recently in Florida’s Space Coast region. She and her husband recently relocated to the Pacific Northwest and she joined the Animal Medical Center of Seattle in November 2021.

Dr. Blevins’ special interests include toxicities, transfusion medicine, coagulopathies, sepsis and emergency surgery. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest outdoors, hiking with her two Siberian Huskies, traveling, and reading.

 

Types of Cases

 

Cardiovascular Emergencies
• Arrhythmias
• Heart Failure
• Pericardial Effusion
• Thromboembolism
Gastrointestinal Emergencies
• Bloat/GDV
• Foreign Body Removal
• Pancreatitis
• Vomiting/Diarrhea
Liver and Gallbladder Emergencies
• Liver Failure
• Fatty Liver Disease
• Gallbladder Mucocele
Neurologic Emergencies
• Head Trauma
• Seizures
Urinary Emergencies
• Kidney Failure
• Urethral Obstruction

Endocrine Emergencies
Hematologic Emergencies
Ocular Emergencies
Oncologic Emergencies
Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes Insipidus
Fractures
Infectious Diseases
Internal Bleeding
Sepsis
Toxicities
Trauma
Wounds

 

 

Compassionate Care For Your Pet 24/7

 

 

 

Online Forms

 

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Here for your pet - 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Address

17518 15th Ave NE
Shoreline, WA 98155
Click here for directions.

Contact Us

Call: 206-204-3366
Fax: 206-204-3858
Email: [email protected]