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Veterinary Internal Medicine at Upstate Veterinary Specialties

Veterinary Internal Medicine is the treatment and management of complex conditions affecting internal organs. It encompasses illnesses involving the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidneys, pancreas, spleen, endocrine organs, blood, immune system, and infectious diseases.

What to Expect

New visits to the internal medicine service consist of a 60-minute consultation. Clients are asked to complete a comprehensive questionnaire before their consultation to help our team understand each patient’s unique history. During a consultation, clients should be prepared to review their completed questionnaire and medication list with the internist in detail. We ask most patients to fast for their consultation since many laboratory tests, ultrasound evaluations, and sedated procedures require fasting. The patient’s follow-up care, recheck appointments and recommended treatment options will be discussed.

Common Conditions, Management, and Treatment of Internal Diseases in Pets

Common internal medicine conditions include diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, inflammatory bowel disease, Lyme disease, chronic hepatitis, Cushing’s syndrome, asthma, or chronic kidney disease.

Internal medicine specialists use advanced testing procedures to obtain an accurate diagnosis for the pet and formulate the best treatment plan. Diagnostic procedures available at UVS include:

Novel blood and urine tests
Blood pressure measurement
Radiographs
Fluoroscopy
Ultrasound
CT
Contrast studies
Ultrasound-guided aspirates or biopsies
Endoscopy in a variety of areas of the body (e.g., nasal cavities, trachea, lungs, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, reproductive tract, and urinary tract)

Once a diagnosis is made, our internists provide state-of-the-art therapies to fight the disease, aiming to maintain or improve your pet’s quality of life.

These treatments could include novel medications, intravenous nutrition, feeding tube placement, 24-hour hospitalization, transfusions, oxygen supplementation, and central venous pressure monitoring.

Board Certified Veterinary Internists

A board-certified internist has undertaken several years of specialty training beyond veterinary school in the discipline of internal medicine, encompassing a three-year residency, a series of examinations, and case reports. After completing this training, the individual becomes certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

The goal of the internal medicine service is to support clients through complex medical decisions and make a difference in the lives of our patients. If your pet is diagnosed with an internal medicine disease, speak with your primary care veterinarian about a referral to Upstate Veterinary Specialties. Our Veterinary Internist, Dr. Sara Arnold, and her team can work with you and your primary care veterinarian to diagnose and manage your pet’s disease or condition.