Internal Medicine
Internal medicine deals with conditions that involve internal organs, including the kidneys and urinary tract, liver, pancreas, endocrine system, heart, and digestive system. Diagnosing an internal medicine problem is often complex, because signs can overlap, so we will likely recommend several different tests for confirmation. Treatment varies depending on the body system involved, and may involve life-long care or monitoring. Internal medicine patients can be acutely sick, but most have chronic, ongoing disease that can wax and wane over time.
- Appetite or drinking changes
- More or less urine production
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- High or low energy level
- Weight loss or gain
- Coughing or increased breathing rate
- Kidney or liver disease
- Diabetes, Cushing’s, or Addison’s disease
- Bladder stones, crystals, inflammation, or infection
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Pancreatitis
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Asthma or chronic bronchitis
Diagnostic Testing
At Cedarwood Veterinary & Animal Emergency Hospital, we may recommend diagnostic testing, such as blood testing, urine testing, blood pressure testing, or imaging (i.e., X-ray or ultrasound) to diagnose your pet’s internal health problem. Some tests may need repeating to provide a conclusive answer, and special imaging, such as endoscopy, may be required for a diagnosis. An endoscope is a flexible tube outfitted with a camera and tiny instruments that can be used to examine and take samples from your pet’s digestive system, bladder, lungs, nose, or ears. During endoscopy, our team places your pet under general anesthesia while they collect data and samples that they send to a laboratory for testing.
