Veterinary Internal Medicine

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

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.

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.