Internal Medicine
Our experienced team of internal medicine specialists utilize advanced imaging, comprehensive laboratory analyses, diagnostic procedures and evaluation of medical history to deliver accurate diagnoses, continuous monitoring and medication management.
Internal Medicine Consultations
Every visit with our specialists involves a comprehensive review and analysis of your pet’s medical condition, including understanding their complicated health history, symptoms being experienced at home, current medications and evaluating the testing that has already been performed by your primary care veterinarian. A full physical examination will be performed by our specialist and they will discuss their findings and concerns with your family. The conditions we manage tend to be complicated, and our doctors will spend time explaining the diagnostic evaluation process and make sure all of your questions and concerns are addressed. All of the doctor’s notes and findings will be communicated to your primary care doctor so that your pet’s entire medical care team are all kept updated.
Digital Radiography
Our hospital is equipped with state-of-the art-technology, including digital radiography, commonly known as x-rays. Whether it is screening for an anesthetic procedure or evaluating the heart and lungs for a serious illness, our specialists will always guide you on the best form of imaging to achieve a rapid and accurate diagnosis. When appropriate, we will partner with board-certified radiologists for a complete report.
Endoscopy for all Body Systems
This includes gastroscopy (stomach), esophagoscopy (esophagus), duodenoscopy (small intestine), colonoscopy (large intestine), rhinoscopy (nose), tracheoscopy (trachea), bronchoscopy (lower airway and lung), vaginoscopy (vagina) and cystoscopy (urinary bladder).
Internal medicine specialists are highly skilled and trained to perform endoscopy, which is a study that utilizes a camera attached to various sized and shaped tools in order to look inside and take biopsy samples of many different body systems. Endoscopy can also be utilized during interventional procedures to obtain access to a certain region of the body in order to treat and deliver precise and accurate instruments that can cure specific conditions.
Computed Tomography (CT) Scan
Commonly known as a CT Scan, this is a highly detailed imaging study that provides pictures in the form of “slices” of the body part being scanned. Our hospital utilizes a Canon Aquilion Prime, which is one of the most modern and technologically advanced systems in use by the medical field. Our internal medicine specialists may order a CT scan to obtain a highly detailed assessment of the nasal passage, lungs, abdominal organs or bones. CT scans are usually paired with endoscopy for further analysis or some form of sampling technique such as an aspirate or biopsy.
Minimally-Invasive Laparoscopy
Laparoscopy is a surgical procedure that utilizes very small incisions in order to gain camera and instrument access into the abdominal cavity for biopsies of specific organs, especially the liver, pancreas, lymph nodes or tumors that may be identified on imaging studies. Our specialists will evaluate your pet and their specific case to determine if this minimally invasive technique is appropriate over traditional surgery. Laparoscopic procedures provide greater post-operative comfort and rapid recovery compared to surgery and your pet will be discharged on the same day of the procedure.
Radioactive Iodine Therapy (I-131)
Hyperthyroidism is a disease very common in older cats, and typically requires life-long medication and frequent blood tests to manage effectively. This treatment involves a one-time injection under the skin of radioactive iodine that effectively and safely eliminates the overactive cells causing this disease, leading to complete remission that eliminates the need for medication and frequent veterinary visits.
Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration and Percutaneous Biopsy
Internal medicine specialists are highly trained in minimally invasive sampling of lesions identified on imaging. In order to obtain a diagnosis prior to deciding the best treatment plan for your pet, the internist may recommend taking a sample with a needle or a specialized biopsy device. These samples can help the doctor gain valuable information for decision making and planning appropriate next steps.
Bone Marrow Aspirates and Core Biopsies
Sampling of bone marrow may be necessary for diagnosis or evaluation of many conditions including autoimmune disease, disorders involving red blood cells, white blood cell, platelets or stem cells, cancer screening or staging and specific infectious diseases. These procedures are performed with your pet’s comfort at the forefront and recovery is rapid with minimal discomfort.
Minimally Invasive Stone Management
(Voiding Urohydropulsion, Laser Lithotripsy, Cystoscopic Basket Retrieval, Percutaneous Cystolithotomy)
Urinary stones are a common recurring disease process in our pets, and managing this condition requires a comprehensive treatment approach. We are proud to be able to offer minimally invasive procedures to remove urinary stones without traditional surgery. Our internal medicine specialists have undergone extensive additional training beyond their core curriculum to be able to learn and offer these techniques. During a stone consultation, your pet will be evaluated and imaged, and based on a number of diagnostic criteria, we will discuss with your family the preferred interventional procedure for removing bladder stones. Following removal, the stones will be submitted for analysis and follow up will include a comprehensive preventative plan to attempt to avoid and prevent future stones from re-growing.
Infectious Disease Screening
Our pets can carry and contract serious diseases from bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic and protozoal agents. An internal medicine specialist may be necessary to help diagnose some of the rarer infections that may cause certain clinical signs. Treatments may vary from a simple course of medication to a lifetime of specialized drugs to help keep them and your family healthy.
Abdominal and Thoracic Ultrasound
Ultrasounds are the most utilized tool for an internal medicine specialist! The start of many diagnostic work ups includes an ultrasound to obtain high-quality images of internal organs. This is one of the best minimally-invasive imaging techniques, and most of our patients lay calmly on the table while getting rubs from our staff and assistants! Internal medicine specialists are unique in that we are not only trained to perform ultrasounds, we are also the primary specialists that can interpret and utilize this technique to make clinical assessment and recommendations. Many veterinarians are trained to utilize ultrasound to some degree, however, a complete study performed by an internal medicine specialist is an in-depth, detailed and important part of most consultations and will help to direct the most immediate next steps in our clinical plan.
Expert Cancer Diagnosis and Staging
We realize the topic of cancer can be emotionally charged and overwhelmingly sad, especially with the pets in our family. Internal medicine specialists are typically the first stop in obtaining an accurate diagnosis and gathering information about the extent to which the disease process is affecting your pet’s body and health. We will guide you through this process, step-by-step, and help make the necessary referrals for ongoing treatment and therapy once a diagnosis and stage are achieved. Internal medicine doctors are also the ones to monitor how well the treatment is working in a process called re-staging. Our team is here to walk you through this process and will provide you with all necessary resources to ensure comfort, understanding and support for your pet and family.
Endoscopic Retrieval of Foreign Bodies
Our internal medicine specialists are highly skilled in endoscopic procedures, and sometimes these can be utilized to remove foreign bodies from the esophagus, stomach or nose. If performed under the right circumstances and at the right time, these procedures can be utilized to avoid complicated, expensive and invasive surgeries! Sometimes the objects removed are non-food items such as toys, clothing or plant material, and other times, certain treats, bones and chew toys that are meant to be eaten can cause a serious complication in our pets. Ask our internists about the most interesting item they have removed from their patients!
Arthrocentesis
Our pets can develop different diseases that affect their joints including infections, autoimmune diseases or degenerative processes that can cause inflammation, pain and discomfort. An internal medicine specialist is trained to accurately and precisely obtain fluid samples from joint spaces in order to obtain a diagnosis and develop a proper treatment plan to get your pet on the path to rapid recovery and alleviate pain.
Palliative Care
Our pets are beloved members of our family, and experiencing declining health or discomfort in their last months to weeks of life can bring immense sadness and emotional stress. Our specialists can help create a plan for comfortable, dignified and pain-free end-of-life medical care. Not only can our doctors assist with personalized medical therapies aimed to help during this difficult time, we can help you connect with wonderful members of the veterinary community that will provide home euthanasia services and after care. If you prefer to maintain the relationship with your specialist for these difficult decisions, our doctors will also support your family and help your beloved pet transition through humane euthanasia in the hospital. We will arrange for after care services so your family can focus on memorializing the love and memories you have shared for so many years.