When You Need an Answer and a Plan for Your Pets

Veterinary internal medicine doctors (also known as internists), specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of congenital and acquired diseases of the respiratory tract, liver and gall bladder, kidneys and urinary tract, gastrointestinal tract, endocrine system (for example, thyroid and adrenal gland diseases and diabetes), spleen, lymph nodes, and blood and bone marrow. 

They also deal with infections, autoimmune, and other diseases that may affect multiple organs and are frequently called upon to give a second opinion on cases that are complex or difficult to diagnose or treat. Internists often coordinate and collaborate with other specialists and they use a variety of common and specialized tools and techniques in their practice, including the following…

• • Ultrasound examination of the chest, abdomen, and other areas.
  • Endoscopy – this includes insertion of rigid and flexible cameras into organs such as the respiratory tract (nose, throat, and lungs), gastrointestinal tract (upper GI endoscopy and colonoscopy), and urinary tract for the purpose of examination, tissue and other sample collection, and for various therapeutic procedures (for example, removal of foreign material from the stomach).
  • Biopsy of various superficial and internal areas and organs.
  • Outside laboratory testing – often for specialized hormonal, infectious, and other diseases.
  • Transfusion medicine.
  • Feeding tube insertion.
  • Intensive care.