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Internal Medicine

A board-certified veterinary internal medicine specialist is a veterinarian who completed an internship and residency (an additional 3-5 years of training after graduation from veterinary school) and passed a rigorous examination to achieve board certification in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM). These doctors have a deeper understanding of a pet’s internal body systems, as well as greater knowledge of unusual or uncommon conditions in pets.

Often called the “puzzle solvers of veterinary medicine”, board-certified veterinary internal medicine specialists have advanced training in disorders affecting the kidneys, liver, gastrointestinal tract, lungs, blood & bone marrow, and hormone-producing organs. Common diseases that affect these organs include:

Chronic kidney disease
Canine hypothyroidism
Pneumonia
Inflammatory bowel disease
Canine chronic bronchitis
Chronic cholangitis in cats
Diabetes mellitus
Cushing’s disease
Liver shunting disorders
Feline asthma
Addison’s disease
Chronic-active hepatitis
Feline hyperthyroidism
Infectious diseases (i.e.: tick-borne infections; fungal ailments)
Immune-mediated diseases

Our board-certified veterinary internal medicine specialists and their team of experienced licensed veterinary technicians use state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment and employ therapeutic interventions not generally used by family veterinarians, including:

Ultrasonography (abdominal, thoracic, and cervical)
Fine needle aspiration
Upper & lower gastroenteroscopy
Laparoscopy for liver biopsies
Cystoscopy
Feeding tube placement
Arthrocentesis (joint fluid sampling)
Bone marrow sampling
Computed tomography (CT/CAT scan)

To help ensure pets receive the best possible healthcare, our internal medicine team collaborates with family veterinarians by providing second opinions, complex diagnostic procedures, around-the-clock nursing care, and specialized therapies.

What Do I Bring to my Referral Appointment?

Be sure to bring any relevant medical records or information to your first appointment. Ask your veterinarian for copies of any relevant medical tests, imaging studies, x-rays, or laboratory panels.

Remember, you also can do your part to maximize your pet's recovery by keeping your pet's traveling medical records organized and by strictly adhering to the recommendations of your veterinary team for the scheduling of follow up appointments, etc. At every appointment, be sure to write down any important recommendations, or ask the veterinarian or a staff member to write them down for you.