JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Jason Virdi remembers a sense of dread in the backseat of an Uber as he and his wife rushed their dog Ruby to the vet.
The couple was desperate. An aspiration during a surgery had led to a dangerous lung infection. It was the latest crisis in a string of cascading health issues that began with a surgery complication from a routine spay.
Virdi, who worked in finance at the time, said his mind defaulted to problem-solving. He questioned whether the driver was going fast enough or whether they would be delayed by construction. His wife Elizabeth Ruocco was distraught.
At the hospital, a team of veterinary professionals leaped into action, putting Ruby on oxygen and getting her the emergency care she needed.
“Once we got her there, I felt a lot better,” Virdi said.
Ruby Veterinary Urgent Care owner Jason Virdi and his wife Elizabeth Ruocco hold their dog Ruby in 2021. Virdi decided to name his urgent care clinic after Ruby after her death.
Despite the excellent care, Ruby’s condition did not improve. She died about 24 hours later.
The tragedy hit hard but spurred Virdi into action.
In April, he opened Ruby Veterinary Urgent Care with the help of Chief Medical Officer Dr. Melissa Ehrlich.
“I wanted to memorialize Ruby in a way that was more meaningful,” Virdi said.
Ruby Veterinary Urgent Care, 10710 State Bridge Road, specializes in a kind of care that is in short supply, treating cats and dogs suffering from many of the most common ailments.
As an urgent care hospital, the clinic offers top tier expertise and equipment to give owners peace of mind and animals same-day relief for acute issues. It also helps alleviate the burden on veterinary emergency centers, which prioritize life saving care.
Providing care
Owners should think of Ruby Veterinary Urgent Care as they do traditional human urgent care, Ehrlich said.
The hospital can provide life-saving treatment, but its specialty lies in illnesses and injuries that require prompt attention but do not pose an immediate threat to an animal’s life.
Commonly seen ailments include ear, eye and skin infections; gastrointestinal issues, such as diarrhea or vomiting; ingestion of foreign objects; neurological issues including trouble walking and seizures; broken bones; urinary problems; end-of-life care; and more.
Nurse Keri Wheeler points out various medical dyes used at the clinic July 30.
A host of capabilities is available on premises, including an X-ray, ultrasound, anesthesia, blood work lab, endoscope, full in-house pharmacy, point-of-care technology and oxygen.
A team of about 10 nurses assist four veterinary doctors, seeing patients the same day they call.
Together, they prioritize investigating health issues and treating their root causes.
For example, dogs that sometimes present with diarrhea or vomiting may be suffering from an endocrine disorder that prevents their adrenal glands from manufacturing sufficient amounts of the hormone cortisol. By running blood work, the team can successfully identify the issue and get the pet the help it needs.
“You provide them a shot, and they start to feel so much better,” Ehrlich said.
Virdi said he decided to offer every employee of the hospital part ownership.
Sadly, Ehrlich said those working in veterinary medicine have suffered significantly higher rates of mental health issues. That’s in part because they often care so much about their work, she said.
“The way we think about it is, if the hospital does well, we want the entire team to do well,” Virdi said.
Top-notch treatment
Before Ehrlich decided to help found the clinic, she worked on the front lines of animal emergency care.
Ehrlich said she loves a calm home life, but at work, she thrives on “organized chaos.”
Since obtaining her doctorate in veterinary medicine in 2008 from UGA, she has realized her passion lies in serving as a kind of medical detective, doing work that requires constant problem solving and quick thinking.
When she worked in the emergency setting, she recalls being inundated with less severe cases that made saving pets’ lives all the more difficult. That’s because until now urgent care centers for animals have been relatively rare.
Urgent care veterinary practices are on the rise as of late, said the American Veterinary Medical Association in 2023.
Modeled after human walk-in clinics, they provide quick relief for less serious problems, often far sooner than general practitioners.
They are not a fill in for regular vet visits, but they do fill a much needed gap in care, the association said.
Compassionate team
Providing excellent treatment is just one piece of the puzzle, Ehrlich said.
Making their animal patients and human owners feel at ease is just as important.
That starts with professionals who have a deep and real appreciation for every animal who walks through their doors.
As a child, Ehrlich always wanted a pet.
“I had an emotional connection with animals, and I felt like they understood me, and I understood them,” she said.
Nurse Keri Wheeler sits in the X-ray room at Ruby Veterinary Urgent Care in Johns Creek July 30.
After saying no again and again, her parents finally gave in and allowed her to keep a goldfish and then two red-eared slider turtles named Woody and K’tan Tan. When she got older, she adopted her first dog, a golden retriever named Dinah, who was a breeder surrender because of a neurological condition.
“She’s a special little girl,” Ehrlich said. “She loves life, and so I took her home with me because I knew that I could provide her with a home that could care for her.”
That caring mentality extends to the clinic’s design and decor.
Cute wallpapers of happy cats and dogs cover numerous walls. Wide windows allow in ample outdoor light. A special cat-screening room contains comfy beds recessed into nooks for felines to feel safe. Treats of all kinds abound on shelves throughout the clinic.
The team gave special attention to an end of life room where pets can enjoy their last moments with their humans. It features a private exit so grieving owners can leave discreetly. For dogs who are ready to depart, staff have on hand a jar of Hershey’s Kisses.
“Because they can’t have them when they are healthy, we let them enjoy a goodbye kiss,” Ehrlich said.
Clinic owner Jason Virdi and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Melissa Ehrlich stand in the end-of-life room July 30.
The clinic may be a veterinary facility, but staff recognize the importance of making owners feel comfortable, nurse Keri Wheeler said.
“I like to take care of the clients just as much as I like to take care of their pets,” Wheeler said. “Everybody deserves to have an understanding of what’s going on.”
Information can go a long way in alleviating owners’ anxiety, so Wheeler and staff try to explain what they are doing in simple, everyday terms.
“When I’m talking to an owner, I speak with transparency, and I’m very honest with them,” she said. “We do a lot of education and hand holding.”
Looking forward
Just months after opening, Ruby Veterinary Urgent Care has already garnered significant attention from local pet owners.
The clinic has won the hearts of many clients, amassing an impressive collection of 40 Google reviews, all of which are five stars.
“The most caring and compassionate vet we’ve ever been to,” said one client who took their senior dog to the clinic. “We genuinely thought it might be the end, and we were heartbroken and afraid. From the moment we walked in, the entire team … treated Sam like he was part of their own family.”
Virdi said he has found immense satisfaction in the hospital’s achievements, and he is now looking forward to the future.
Since Ruby’s death, he has adopted a second bernedoodle, Rosie, and has had one daughter with his wife. But Ruby’s memory will live on and perhaps be carried forward as he hopes to open future urgent care clinics under her name.
“Our aspirations are big,” he said.
