Internal Medicine

The puzzle solvers of veterinary medicine

Similar to working on a jigsaw puzzle, in order to create a complete picture of a pet’s health issues, internists collect and match the many pieces of information they can glean from the patient’s history, clinical signs, lab results and imaging studies, and special testing.

Veterinary internists are trained to diagnose severe, chronic illnesses and complicated conditions in which several different disease processes may be involved. They treat conditions involving the blood and circulatory system; endocrine system; gastrointestinal tract; the heart; kidneys and bladder; lungs; reproductive organs; respiratory tract; and urogenital system.

BluePearl’s internists have advanced diagnostic and imaging technology at their fingertips and often use the following:

  • Ultrasound allows many body organs and systems to be visualized, including the liver, gall bladder, spleen, kidney, pancreas and bladder.
  • Endoscopy allows the veterinarian to examine and collect biopsy specimens from the lungs, stomach, small intestine, colon and nose. In addition, foreign objects your pet has swallowed frequently can be retrieved by endoscopy, making surgery unnecessary.
  • CT (computerized tomography) scans reveal great detail in and around the bony structures of the body. It is especially useful in aiding in the diagnosis of diseases affecting the nasal cavity and the middle/inner ear, the nervous system and joints, as well as identifying problems located in the chest and abdomen.

Conditions and illnesses internists often diagnose and treat:

  • Blood abnormalities such as anemia
  • Cancers
    • Feline asthma and canine bronchitis
    • Fevers and weight loss
    • Gastrointestinal problems and conditions that may produce diarrhea and vomiting, including inflammatory bowel disease and protein-losing enteropathy
    • Hormonal abnormalities such as diabetes, thyroid conditions, Addison’s disease, Cushing’s disease
    • Immune system problems
    • Infections and infectious diseases
    • Internal organ dysfunctions involving the liver, spleen or pancreas
    • Kidney failure and urinary problems
    • Lung and respiratory difficulties
    • Problems associated with aging
    • Toxicities
    • Trauma and injuries