Clinic center: Oregon State University opens veterinary teaching hospital ER, and more

Red Bank Veterinary Hospital PET/CT launch

Red Bank Veterinary Hospital (RBVH) recently announced it is adding positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) to its advanced diagnostic services. The technology offers insight into the presence, location, and severity of cancer. The service is able to detect metabolic activity at the cellular level, allowing veterinary professionals to diagnose the disease earlier and with better accuracy than conventional imaging options, RBVH said in a news release announcing the addition of the technology to their services.¹ Currently, PET/CT is only available to a few veterinary hospitals throughout the United States.

“Offering PET/CT at RBVH places us among a very select group of veterinary hospitals nationwide,” Peter Chapman, BVetMed (Hons), DECVIM-SA, DACVIM, MRCVS, medical director of RBVH, said in the announcement.¹ “This technology empowers our team to diagnose cancer earlier, tailor treatment plans more precisely, and ultimately improve outcomes for our patients.”

Shenandoah Veterinary Associates Hospital (Roanoke, Virginia)

An independently owned veterinary emergency hospital, Shenandoah Veterinary Associates, has opened its doors in Roanoke, Virginia. The modern hospital features 16,000 sq ft, advanced diagnostic and imaging capabilities, and an in-house laboratory. The facility was also built using a layout that incorporates separate areas for cats and dogs. The location is currently only open Monday through Friday from 6:00 pm to midnight, and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, although the hospital has plans to expand to 24/7 hours, according to Shenandoah Veterinary Associates.² The hospital said it also plans to include board-certified veterinary specialists in surgery, internal medicine, radiology, cardiology, and more in the future.

“Our model of emergency and specialty care is built on compassion, connection, and continuity—where pets stay close to their people, and referring veterinarians remain connected to the care of their patients and clients,” said Keena Van Horn, DVM, CVA, who founded the hospital alongside her husband, Mike Van Horn, DVM.²

Oregon State University Lois Bates Acheson Veterinary Teaching Hospital (Corvallis, Oregon)

Oregon State University (OSU) has opened a new emergency care veterinary teaching hospital in Corvallis, Oregon. The Lois Bates Acheson Veterinary Teaching Hospital, providing small animal service to cats and dogs only, will give OSU veterinary students more hands-on opportunities to develop their emergency care skills while streamlining patient transitions to other OSU veterinary specialists as needed, Pia Martiny, DVM, DACVECC, head of the small animal emergency service, said in an OSU news report.³

According to OSU, staffing varies by shift, with 1 to 2 receiving veterinarians, up to 4 final-year veterinary students, and as many as 3 certified veterinary nurses on duty each day. Fourth-year veterinary students on their emergency rotation handle the first triage, take patient histories, and perform initial exams. Then, while the veterinarian is examining the patient, the students step back to review the case on their own before meeting with the veterinarian to map out a treatment plan together.

“Emergency cases historically are very scary cases for students,” Martiny said, noting that student demand has helped drive the expansion of the small animal ER service.³ “It’s all well and good to have a couple of days or weeks to research your case, but in emergency cases, sometimes you have minutes to make life-changing decisions. And that’s really hard to do if you don’t have training and mentorship in it.”

References

1. Red Bank Veterinary Hospital introduces PET/CT imaging for early cancer detection in pets. News release. Red Bank Veterinary Hospital. January 6, 2026.
2. Shenandoah Veterinary Associates Hospital opens as a local pet emergency room serving. News release. Shenandoah Veterinary Associates Hospital. December 18, 2025.
3. Rosbach M. OSU opens veterinary ER for cats and dogs. Oregon State University. December 12, 2025. Accessed January 8, 2026. https://today.oregonstate.edu/all-stories/osu-opens-veterinary-er-cats-and-dogs