Veterinary Internal Medicine is a specialty field that addresses a broad scope of complex health problems in dogs and cats. We are proud to have the only two board-certified internal medicine specialists in private practice working in the Madison area. Diseases treated by an internist include:
In many cases, patients have more than one problem. The goal of the internal medicine service is to provide comprehensive care for pets, and to maximize quality of life for our patients and owners.
Your pet's visit to an internist will begin with a thorough review of his or her history and pre-existing medical problems. A physical exam and review of completed diagnostic tests will generate a working problem list and a diagnostic or treatment plan. Labwork evaluations are then done to help determine the functionality of various organs and systems to look for signs of inflammation or infection. Because diseases can progress, some tests may be repeated over time.
In addition, we are able to offer high quality minimally-invasive endoscopic exams. Some tests require general anesthesia, and an overnight hospitalization may be recommended to prepare the patient for his or her procedure.
Finally, you will have the opportunity to discuss various treatment strategies, taking into consideration your pet's lifestyle, his or her quality of life, and your goals.
Internal medicine cases often require ongoing monitoring and follow-up tests. This care may be given by our internist, or by your veterinarian with assistance as needed by our internal medicine service. Our goal is to be available to you and your veterinarian for questions or concerns.
Many of the medical conditions treated by veterinarians in general practice are considered internal medicine problems. When disease has progressed despite treatment, or there are multiple medical problems present, a consultation with a veterinary internist maybe recommended.
A board certified veterinary internal medicine specialist is a licensed veterinarian who has obtained intensive, additional training in understanding how your pet's internal body systems function and in diagnosing and treating the many serious diseases that can affect the health of those systems. An internal medicine specialist has advanced training in the following disciplines:
While your general practitioner veterinarian can diagnose and treat many health problems, certain diseases and conditions require the care of a doctor who has had specialized, intensive training in internal medicine in order to provide the very best outcome for your pet.
*Within the discipline of veterinary internal medicine, there are also veterinarians who specialize further in Small Animal Medicine, Cardiology, Neurology, and Oncology.
Just as your own primary care physician may feel the need to refer you to the care of a specialist from time to time, your general practitioner veterinarian may feel your pet needs a specialist to help diagnose or treat a particularly complicated medical problem. While your general practitioner veterinarian can handle many aspects of your pet's care, just as in human medicine, there is sometimes a need for the attention of a specialist. You can be assured that a veterinarian who knows when to refer you and your pet for more specialized diagnostic work or treatment is one that is caring and committed to ensuring that your pet receives the highest standard of medical care for his or her problem.
While in some cases, your veterinarian may be able to simply consult with a specialist about your pet's care, in other cases it is necessary to actually refer you and your pet to the specialist for more advanced diagnostics and treatment. Board certified veterinary internists may also have access to specialized diagnostic or treatment tools that a general practitioner veterinarian may not have.
Board certified internal medicine specialists are trained to treat the most serious diseases and health problems that affect pets. They are also especially prepared to care for pets that may be facing multiple health problems. Thanks to better health care, more and more pets are living longer lives. As a result, an increasing number of older pets, just like older people, are coping with multiple disease states that can be very difficult to manage. For example, a cat with diabetes may also be suffering from kidney failure, or a dog in heart failure may also be diagnosed with cancer. Internal medicine specialists are uniquely prepared to oversee the care of these complicated cases. In other situations, a younger animal may develop a problem that used to be considered untreatable but is now manageable and perhaps even curable.
Here are some common diseases that frequently lead general practitioner veterinarians and concerned pet owners to seek the expertise of a specialist:
In some cases you can. In many practices, the 'general practitioner' veterinarian at a practice is also a boarded internal medicine specialist. General practice veterinarians, however, are also highly educated medical professionals who must meet ongoing continuing education requirements throughout their professional careers in order to maintain their licensure. When a specialist is needed, he or she is only a phone call or a visit away.
In many cases, your regular veterinarian will still supervise your pet's veterinary care, especially if your pet is coping with multiple disease states or conditions. In other cases, your referral doctor will take over the majority of your pet's medical care. It depends on your pet's particular disease and health problem.
There are approximately 1400 board certified veterinary internal medicine specialists in the United States, and the number is growing.
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.
