Internal Medicine

Internal Medicine

Because their life is precious.

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.

Wellness Visits

Pets who develop an internal medicine problem can display a variety of changes you may notice at home, including:

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

Common internal medicine conditions treated in our hospital include:

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

Wellness and Preventive Care

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.