When a 3-year-old Maltese named Ginger almost drowned in a Bridgehampton swimming pool last month, critical care was nearby.
Had this been any other summer, Ginger’s owner would have had to drive an hour to the nearest pet hospital in Riverhead, and in all probability the pup wouldn’t have survived. But this year, a new 24/7 animal ER, hospital and wellness center, Wave, has opened in Water Mill, in the heart of the Hamptons.
At Wave, Ginger was immediately given CPR and placed in a room — with oxygen, music and gentle lighting — where she was able to recover from asphyxia and hypothermia.
Whether an animal has a life-threatening condition or simply needs a little pampering, the entire hospital is designed to de-stress. “Everyone is compassionate and gentle,’’ says co-owner, co-CEO and medical director Dr. Cindy Bressler, who has tended to the furry charges of Howard Stern, Jennifer Lopez, Donna Karan and Kate Hudson, among many others. “I tell my staff to treat dogs as if they are their own — look them in the eyes, talk to them.’’
The entrance of Wave looks and sounds like a spa, with soothing ocean music piped in and beach photos on display. Dog patients get massages four times daily and stay in temperature-controlled glass habitats rather than cages. Medical tools are hidden from sight. But the clinical services are serious and include ultrasounds, CT scans, surgery and a full ICU.
Dr. Bressler’s partner is world-renowned Dr. Jason Berg, owner of Guardian Veterinary Specialists, so Wave has a rotating staff of veterinary cardiologists, neurologists, ophthalmologists and dermatologists. Pets can be screened for cancer and inflammation, and the turnaround time for radiology readings and specialty consults is just one hour. An underwater treadmill is used for arthritis treatment and physical therapy.
There’s even a car service for those who can’t leave home or don’t have immediate access to a vehicle. Grooming and pet-care company Dog Beach teamed up with the hospital and will speed to any Hamptons location to pick up an endangered animal. (Call the hospital at 631-825-9283 to schedule a pickup.)
Apart from pool mishaps, there are lots of potential hazards in the Hamptons, from insect bites and stings to ingestion of random items. “The No. 1 thing is edibles — they find them on the beach or in parks,’’ Dr. Bressler says with a sigh.
Pets that spend the night at the hospital are even given tablet computers so they can watch TV and FaceTime with their owners.
Talk about a paw-sitive healing environment.
