Internal medicine
The internal medicine clinicians are deemed the detectives of the veterinary world. They deal with conditions that are not corrected surgically.
How we work with you
Your pet’s medical history is reviewed before our consultation to identify the clinical problems and the diagnostic testing that has been performed.
Consultation and examination
At the time of consultation, detailed questioning regarding this problem is asked to get a deeper understanding of the condition. Following a clinical examination, the internal medicine clinician will discuss the most appropriate diagnostic testing that can be undertaken to obtain a diagnosis of the condition. This may need to be undertaken in a step-wise manner.
Diagnostic testing
Some of the diagnostic testing that may be recommended can include blood testing, diagnostic imaging, bone marrow sampling, joint fluid sampling or endoscopy to look at the internal structure of organs such as the stomach, intestine, nose and bladder.
Diagnosis results
Unless additional treatment is required at the time, your pet may return home to await the results of these diagnostic tests.
After a diagnosis is obtained, management of the condition and a prognosis will be discussed.
Follow up care
Follow-up care can be undertaken at the primary care veterinary clinic or continued at Geelong Animal Referral Services, depending on which is the most appropriate.
Other internal medicine services
Medical Oncology
This is the use of chemotherapy to manage cancer, this may be used initially as a first line of treatment or following surgery.
They type of chemotherapy treatment offered will be discussed at the initial consultation. Included in the discussion will be your expectation for your pet’s treatment after this difficult diagnosis is made.
Treatments recommended may need to be administered at the hospital or at home.
Interventional Radiology
This is an emerging area in veterinary medicine where minimally invasive techniques are being used to treat conditions that require surgery or could not previously be treated.
This is where the both the specialist surgery and internal medicine departments collaborate for the procedure. Fluoroscopy and endoscopy are used to assist these procedures.
Some of the services offered are subcutaneous ureteral bypass placement, gastric or colonic polyp removal, stenting of the urethra or trachea, minimally invasive treatment of intrahepatic portosystemic shunts.