Internal Medicine

To understand how far small animal internal medicine for pets has advanced in the past quarter century, consider your own health and the health of those you know and love. People and animals share about 50 of the same diseases — everything from allergies, arthritis, asthma, diabetes, and kidney disease to high blood pressure, Lyme disease, urinary tract disorders, thyroid diseases, and ulcers.

Small animal and pet internists discover, diagnose, treat, and prevent some of the most common (and not so common) diseases in dogs and cats. For example, the discovery of feline hyperthyroidism — the single most common endocrine disorder of cats — has been followed by a wealth of work on diagnosing and treating this disease. On another front, research has improved our understanding of the intricacies of liver disease and led to striking changes in the way these diseases are treated — notably bile acid testing to assess liver function and the introduction of such drugs as Ursodial and SAM-e.

We here at CVC, as well as those in the veterinary world in general, are continually looking for answers to diseases included among the leading causes of illness and death in dogs and cats — from chronic renal disease and hypertension to tick—borne diseases and chronic bronchitis. We are seeking solutions in more precise diagnostic tools such as ultrasound, CAT Scan (no pun intended), and MRI evaluations of Cushing's and liver disease patients. From nutritional management that improves the prognosis for diseases like diabetes, kidney disorders, and chronic diarrhea to largely eliminating rabies, feline leukemia, heartworm, and canine parvovirus, veterinary internists are making veterinary history every day.

(adapted from a page from a document from The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Foundation)