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Justin Heinz

Justin Heinz

DVM, DACVECC

About the Author

Dr. Heinz is a board-certified specialist in veterinary emergency and critical care medicine with a distinguished background in both academic and clinical settings. He earned his doctor of veterinary medicine degree from Purdue University, followed by a small animal rotating internship at Louisiana State University. He then completed a residency in emergency and critical care at Texas A&M University. After a year in private practice, he returned to Texas A&M, where he served as a clinical associate professor in the department of small animal clinical sciences until 2025. He now works for BluePearl Veterinary Partners as a group medical director over the Texas and Oklahoma markets.

Updated April 2026

Written By This Author

Paws for a Moment: Recognizing and Treating Shock in Small Animals

Emergency Medicine/Critical Care

Paws for a Moment: Recognizing and Treating Shock in Small Animals

Shock in small animal patients represents a dynamic and life-threatening failure of tissue perfusion that demands rapid, informed, and adaptable clinical management.
Evaluation and Management of the Hypochloremic Patient

Internal Medicine

Evaluation and Management of the Hypochloremic Patient

Hypochloremia could be drug-induced, a result of chloride loss, or acid–base related.
Evaluation and Management of the Hyperchloremic Patient

Internal Medicine

Evaluation and Management of the Hyperchloremic Patient

Causes of hyperchloremia vary and include acid–base related, drug related, and renal failure.
Evaluation and Management of the Hypokalemic Patient

Internal Medicine

Evaluation and Management of the Hypokalemic Patient

Patients with severe hypokalemia suffer from generalized muscle weakness; in cats, cervical ventroflexion may be noted.
Evaluation and Management of the Hyperkalemic Patient

Internal Medicine

Evaluation and Management of the Hyperkalemic Patient

Resuscitative and/or replacement fluids should be provided to any patient with hyperkalemia and a fluid deficit.
Evaluation and Management of the Hyponatremic Patient

Internal Medicine

Evaluation and Management of the Hyponatremic Patient

Hyponatremia is is defined as an excess of water in relation to serum sodium concentrations in the body. A thorough history is important in assessing hyponatremic patients as the details could impact the preferred treatment option.
Evaluation and Management of the Hypernatremic Patient

Internal Medicine

Evaluation and Management of the Hypernatremic Patient

Hypernatremia reflects the loss of water in excess of sodium or the addition of sodium in excess of water.

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