Veterinary Internal Medicine Specialists: Why Does My Pet Need Them?

Your pet’s body is made up of a complicated network of systems that all work together to keep it running smoothly. Frequently, a problem in one area impacts other physiological systems, and the resulting complicated symptoms might be difficult to understand. While certain ailments may be healed, chronic diseases sometimes need lifetime maintenance to ensure that dogs have a high quality of life. 

For these reasons, internal medicine is one of the most diverse and extensive veterinary medicine disciplines. A veterinary internist may assist when standard diagnostic testing fails to identify a sick pet, typical therapies fail to manage the illness appropriately, or a condition does not respond to therapy.

Pet Advanced Diagnostic Testing

Pets suffer from many of the same complicated medical issues as humans, and identifying these disorders requires the same modern diagnostic instruments and technology used in big human hospitals. 

Although your pet’s primary care veterinarian can conduct many diagnostics, difficult situations sometimes need more modern equipment and testing, as well as the experience of a specialist. vet internal medicine orange county can work with your primary care veterinarian to deliver specialty tests such as:

  • Ultrasound of the abdomen and thorax for diagnostic purposes
  • An echocardiogram is a cardiac ultrasound test.
  • Fine-needle aspiration or biopsy with ultrasound vet diagnostics
  • Abdominocentesis, thoracocentesis, and pericardiocentesis are procedures that collect fluid from bodily cavities.
  • Endoscopic examination of the GI system, urinary tract, and respiratory tract
  • Bone marrow extraction
  • Digital X-ray, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging are examples of advanced imaging techniques (MRI)
  • Contrast studies on radiographs
  • Fluoroscopy

Complex Illness Management for Pets

Some dogs have uncommon or difficult-to-manage illnesses or complications that need more extensive treatment and monitoring. In addition to their competence and knowledge, internal medicine experts may cooperate with other specialists or other facilities, such as veterinary neurologists or oncologists, to design the optimal treatment plan for your pet. Internal medicine vets may treat the following common conditions here:

  • GI disorders: GI illnesses such as pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and liver disease may cause various problems throughout the body that must be carefully managed.
  • Respiratory problems: If not properly handled, asthma, pneumonia, and other respiratory disorders may interfere with a pet’s important oxygen levels. If required, vets can give continuous oxygen treatment or ventilator breathing control.
  • Kidney disease: Kidney failure is a common condition that often affects older dogs, and effective care may provide them with months or years that they would not have had otherwise.
  • Urinary system diseases: Certain urinary ailments, such as bladder stones and proteinuria, may reoccur or create persistent problems if not treated properly.
  • Blood and bone marrow illnesses: Your pet’s bone marrow creates several kinds of blood cells. A marrow issue may lead to severe illnesses such as chronic anemia or leukemia, which need specialized treatment.
  • Infectious illnesses: Because infectious diseases, such as parvo or canine influenza, are contagious and sometimes fatal, vigorous treatments are usually required to treat them.

Conclusion

Veterinary internists are educated to analyze every element of a pet’s history and clinical findings to provide the best diagnosis and treatment options based on the overall clinical picture. Assume your pet has a complicated medical problem. In such a situation, an internal medicine veterinarian will collaborate with your primary care veterinarian to identify and treat the condition, allowing your pet to live its best life.