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Veterinary Internal Medicine

Overview |  What to Expect  |  Team  |  Contact
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The expertise of our board-certified veterinary internists is focused on the function, diagnosis, pathology, and treatment of internal body systems.

We specialize in patients with multiple disease processes, including autoimmune, chronic, or difficult-to-diagnose diseases. Working with your family veterinarian, we will develop a treatment plan that is best for you and your pet.

VRCCO Internal Medicine
62889 NE Oxford Ct.
Bend, Oregon 97701
541-209-6960
Directions

Common Diseases We Address

Diabetes mellitus affects both cats and dogs. It is caused by either a lack of insulin (Type I Diabetes), or an inappropriate response to insulin (Type II Diabetes). Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas, which serves to carry glucose into blood cells. When insulin is not being produced or not being utilized correctly, blood sugar begins to rise. Elevated blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia), when left untreated, can be life threatening. Patients can become very ill if diabetes is left undiagnosed or is poorly managed. Diabetes can be treated with insulin therapy, proper diet, and regular exercise. Regular blood glucose checks are important to ensure your pet’s diabetes is being managed properly.

Anemia occurs when the number of blood cells circulating throughout the body falls below the normal level. It can range from mild to severe and can be fatal. There are many causes for anemia, one of which is IMHA. There are two types of IMHA: primary and secondary.

Primary IMHA occurs when your pet’s immune system mistakenly produces antibodies that attack its own red blood cells. This is the most common cause of IMHA in dogs.

Secondary IMHA is caused when the immune system is stimulated by another process and subsequently sees the red blood cell as a foreign object and destroys it. Secondary IMHA can be caused by cancer, infection, blood parasites, drug reactions, snake bites, exposure to certain chemicals or toxins, or allergic reactions. If your pet is diagnosed with IMHA, they may require a blood transfusion. With our 24-hour care, we are able to perform blood transfusions at any hour of the day.

IBD is a gastrointestinal disease that causes inflammation in the stomach or intestines, typically marked by chronic vomiting and/or diarrhea. Many patients with IBD will also experience appetite changes and weight loss. Because the symptoms associated with IBD can be vague and correlate with a multitude of disease processes, accurately diagnosing and managing IBD can be difficult. Oftentimes, the diagnosis involves blood work, abdominal ultrasound, endoscopy, and biopsies of the gastrointestinal tract. This disease can be successfully managed with medications, dietary changes, and nutritional supplementation.

• Esophageal, stomach and intestinal
• Liver, gallbladder, and pancreatic
• Hormonal
• Infectious
• Lower urinary tract
• Kidney
• Nose, airway, and lung
• Immune Mediated
• Cardiovascular and blood

Procedures We Offer

Minimally invasive procedures include laser lithotripsy for urinary stones, laser ablation of ectopic ureters, tracheal stents for tracheal collapse, urethral stents for urinary tumors, balloon dilation of strictures, endoscopic polyp (gastric, rectal, urinary) removal and laparoscopic liver biopsy.

Our 64-slice CT (Computerized Tomography) scanner is a non-invasive technology that allows us to see what’s going on inside your pet’s body. A CT captures a series of x-ray images to produce 3D pictures of bones, vital organs, and even blood vessels.

 An endoscopic procedure can be used to retrieve foreign objects from the stomach, airways, or nose.


These can include bone, bone marrow and soft tissue biopsies.

Abdominal ultrasonography is a noninvasive technique that provides cross-sectional anatomy of the organs of the abdomen based on differences in acoustic impedance.

Diagnostics

Endoscopy is an incredibly valuable diagnostic procedure used to examine a hollow organ or cavity of the body. An endoscope is a thin, rigid or flexible tube with a light and attached camera that can be inserted into the body. This allows for live visualization of body parts like the esophagus, stomach, colon, bladder, nose, or airways. Biopsies are often taken at the time of endoscopic procedures through the use of other specialized instruments. An endoscopic procedure can also be used to retrieve foreign objects from the stomach, airways, or nose.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Internal Medicine Care

Watch: About Internal Medicine

We recommend your pet arrive to the consultation on an empty stomach. We request your pet have no food after 10PM the night before the consultation. This allows for testing or procedures which require fasting to be performed on the same day of the consultation. Please continue to offer fresh drinking water at all times.

We will reach out to your referring veterinarian to request medical records. Please bring copies of any medical records, x-rays and current medications. Please bring the bottles with the prescription label.

Please plan to arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled appointment time to allow for check-in and to give your pet extra time to become more comfortable at our hospital.

After your pet is checked in, the technician will take your pet to the exam room where their weight and vital signs (temperature, pulse, and respiratory rate) will be checked and a history will be obtained. The doctor will then review any medical records provided by your family veterinarian and complete an examination of your pet.

The doctor will then review any medical records provided by your family veterinarian and complete his/her exam of your pet. The doctor will discuss his/her findings and any recommended diagnostics or treatments.

Please help yourself to a complimentary beverage and snack while waiting in our lobby. We also have complimentary WIFI available for our clients.

A treatment plan will be provided for any recommended diagnostics and/or treatments. An initial payment will be required for any procedure, surgery, or diagnostic work-up over $600. We gladly partner with CareCredit and Scratchpay to offer financing services to our clients. Please ask our team for more details. We are also happy to assist with submission of pet insurance claims to your pet’s insurance provider. We provide a 10% discount for pet parents in military service.

We accept cash, VISA, Mastercard, Discover, CareCredit and Scratchpay. Personal checks and American Express are not accepted.

Internal Medicine Team

At VRCCO we have multiple board-certified Veterinary Internists which allows for collaboration on difficult cases as well as 24/7 coverage. We also work with numerous other specialists all under one roof allowing for further collaboration and unparalleled care.

Dr. Matt Vaughan

DVM, DACVIM INTERNAL MEDICINE

Dr. Alice Morassi

DVM, MS, DACVIM INTERNAL MEDICINE

Dr. Jeremy Evans

DVM, DACVIM INTERNAL MEDICINE

from Our Clients

VRCCO Internal Medicine is located at our Emergency & Specialty Veterinary Hospital. To learn more or schedule an appointment call 541-209-6960  or email us at info@vrcvet.com

VRCCO Internal Medicine
62889 NE Oxford Ct.
Bend, Oregon 97701
541-209-6960