Speciality Services

Internal medicine

Internal medicine is a facet of veterinary medicine that diagnoses and treats many conditions ranging from intestinal disorders, cancer treatment, cardiac ailments and metabolic disorders. Many of the cases seen by the service are seen at the request of the referring veterinarian. The patient benefits in that more advanced testing can be done to diagnose the problem such as ultrasonography, advanced blood testing, or endoscopy.

The ultrasound can be used to diagnose illnesses such as portosystemic shunts, abdominal masses, abdominal foreign bodies, pancreatitis, and enlarged adrenal glands. Ultrasound allows for tissue collection for biopsy by allowing the doctor to visualize an area within the abdomen without the need for surgery. This sample can then be submitted to a laboratory for evaluation. The diagnosis will then dictate the course of medical treatment recommended. Sometimes, however, surgery is recommended based on the ultrasound findings. The use of ultrasound coupled with surgery or medical intervention ensures your pet receives the best care.

Endoscopy allows for internal examination of the patient through minimally invasive means. A flexible endoscope is used to look inside the body and obtain biopsy samples if needed. Diseases such as IBD (Inflammatory Bowel disease), gastric ulcerations, esophageal problems, tracheal collapse and nasal tumors can be seen and future treatment plans established once final diagnosis is made. The use of the endoscope can also be used to remove objects that have been ingested by patients such as fishhooks, socks or toys. This prevents the patient from having to have invasive surgery to remove the items.

Internal Medicine also specializes in the treatment of metabolic disorders such as Cushing’s disease and diabetes. These diseases can have a complex host of symptoms that make medical management difficult. These cases are closely managed to ensure their medication protocol is appropriate.

Cats with hyperthyroidism suffer from an overact thyroid gland usually caused by a tumor. These cats can exhibit many symptoms including change in appetite, weight loss, lethargy or hyper-excitability, hair loss and cardiac changes. Treatment options include surgery or medical management with radioactive iodine, also known as I-131 therapy. This treatment incorporates an injection of radioactive iodine that only targets the thyroid tumor and does not cause harm to healthy tissue. Most cats treated have complete remission and will not require additional therapy.