Its 7 PM and as you are about to leave your practice you see a man carrying a dog rushing in through the front door. While trying to look in control but obviously very shook up the man exclaims that his dog of 10 years has just been hit by a car only minutes ago and knows he has been badly injured… You quickly survey the situation. The Golden Retriever the man is carrying appears motionless and unconscious with blood dripping from his mouth. The man appears in emotional shock and you sense your own pulse quickening. You feel a sense of urgency as you know the Golden Hour of Trauma is ebbing away…The man exclaimed "do all you can to save him, I just lost my wife and he is all I have left!" This pressure scenario is unfortunately not an uncommon occurrence in veterinary practices today. Despite leash laws and many educational campaigns pets are still getting injured and pets are still getting severely ill…requiring veterinarians and paramedical personnel working together effectively and efficiently to provide the best care. The purpose of this address is to provide information that will help the practicing veterinarian make correct decisions concerning the emergency and critical care of the seriously traumatized or ill patient and provide information about how to perform life-saving procedures. Emphasis will be placed on practical procedures involving readiness, assessment, resuscitation, and treatment of emergency respiratory and abdominal conditions. Guidelines on monitoring, nutritional support, and emergency wound and fracture care will also be discussed. Guidelines that can be referred to in the "heat of the battle" when faced with the serious patient are provided. New treatment protocols, based on scientific experimental and clinical investigations will also be discussed.