Internal Medicine - Small Animal

Diagnostic services commonly provided through internal medicine include:

• Video endoscopy (including: rhinoscopy, gastro-duodenoscopy, bronchoscopy, proctoscopy/ colonoscopy, cystoscopy, vaginoscopy)
• Esophageal and rectal ballooning
• Diagnose and monitor endocrine conditions (including: adrenal disease (hyper and hypo-cortisolemia, hyper-epinephrinism, hyper and hypo-aldosteronism), hyper and hypo thyroidism, hyper and hypo-parathyroidism, diabetes mellitus, insulinoma, and sex hormone evaluations, diabetes insipidus, and growth hormone disturbances.)
• Feeding tube placements (naso-esophageal/gastric, esophageal, and gastric). 
• Radioactive feline hyperthyroid treatment (I-131)
• Bone marrow biopsies and aspirates
• Transtracheal / Endotracheal washes
• Tracheal stenting
• Diagnosis and treatment of immune system diseases
• Diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases
• Diagnostic imaging procedures: abdominal and thoracic ultrasound; advanced imaging procedures, such as Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Nuclear Scintigraphy (i.e.: detection of portosystemic shunts, location of hyperactive thyroid tissue)
• Minimally invasive urological procedures, including: lithotripsy, voiding hydropropulsion, ectopic ureteral ablation, urethral bulking, ureteral and urethral stenting, subcutaneous ureteral bypass (SUB) management.

We ask that all pertinent information about your pet’s health be sent to us prior to your appointment. Relevant records and lab work may be sent via fax or email. If radiographs or other images have been taken, these should also be sent in a format that can be accessed by our DVMs. If your clinic utilizes digital imaging, we would prefer to have the original DICOM images. Please bring all medications your pet is currently receiving with you.

Our cases are managed with a team-based approach. Your pet will be examined by a senior veterinary student and they will listen to your concerns. The students then report their findings and develop a treatment plan to the Internal Medicine resident and/or the Intern that is rotating through our service along with the faculty clinician who is board certified in Small Animal Internal Medicine. Your attending clinician will then meet with you to verify the history and your concerns, perform their own examination of your pet, discuss a diagnostic and therapeutic plan with you, estimate costs, and answer any further questions that you may have. Your pet’s care will be managed through a team approach, in partnership with you and your primary veterinarian.

Appointments are longer than typically seen in private practice, usually two to three hours. This is due to the teaching process involved. However, most of our clients tell us that the quality of care is worth the extra time. We may be collecting blood and urine from your pet for testing at the time of this initial consultation. Please make sure that your pet has fasted 8-12 hours before his/her appointment. Additionally, because we may be collecting urine as well, please do not allow your pet to urinate on the way into the hospital.