HONOLULU (HI Now) - Abby is a playful, affectionate Goldendoodle known for her love of fetch and her signature blue rubber ball—but when she suddenly developed severe breathing difficulty, her family was faced with a frightening emergency. What began as a sudden onset of breathing difficulty quickly became a life-threatening condition requiring immediate intervention at VERC (Veterinary Emergency + Referral Center of Hawaii), where emergency and specialty teams worked seamlessly under one roof.
After being stabilized in the ER, Abby underwent a CT that revealed a ruptured pulmonary bulla and collapsed lung lobe—a critical condition requiring urgent surgery. Board-certified veterinary surgeon Dr. Chen performed a complex procedure to remove the affected lung tissue and restore normal breathing, giving Abby the second chance her family feared she might not have.
Through compassionate communication, advanced imaging, and expert surgical care, Abby made a remarkable recovery and is now back home living her joyful, playful life. Her story is a powerful reminder of how fast emergencies can happen—and how important it is to have immediate access to life-saving emergency and specialty care.
When your pet needs emergency or specialty care, trust the hospital that treats every pet like family. Visit verchawaii.com or call us anytime at (808) 735-7735. Follow us on Instagram @verc.hawaii and Facebook @VERCHawaii for tips, updates, and behind-the-scenes looks at how we keep pets safe 24/7. Because when it matters most, VERC is the place to go.
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