When it comes to the health and well-being of your pet, you want to make sure that you have access to the best possible care. If your pet is suffering from a complex or serious medical issue, a veterinary internal medicine specialist may be able to help. Understanding the role of these specialists will help you make an informed decision about the care your pet needs.
What is Veterinary Internal Medicine?
Veterinary internal medicine is a specialty practice within veterinary medicine that focuses on diagnosing and treating diseases and conditions that affect the internal organs and systems of animals. Veterinarians who specialize in this area are called veterinary internal medicine specialists or internists for short. Internists focus on issues related to the gastrointestinal system, urinary tract, endocrine system (which includes hormones), heart and blood vessels, immune system, skin, eyes, ears, nose and throat. They are also experts in diagnosing diseases caused by parasites or infections such as bacterial or viral infections.
How Do Internists Differ from Primary Care Veterinarians?
Primary care veterinarians are trained to diagnose general medical issues in pets such as allergies and skin problems. While they often have some knowledge in areas like cardiology (heart disease) and endocrinology (hormone disorders), they may not always be able to diagnose more serious internal organ issues like cancer or kidney failure without advanced training. This is where an internist can play an important role in providing more specialized treatments for illnesses that require expert attention.
Internists receive additional years of specialized training beyond their primary veterinarian degree so they can provide advanced medical services such as ultrasounds, endoscopies (internal examinations using flexible tubes with cameras on them) and other diagnostic tests which allow them to accurately identify diseases affecting pets’ organs at a much deeper level than primary care veterinarians could do alone. They can also develop more effective treatment plans for complex cases involving multiple organ systems or diseases than what could be done by primary care veterinarians alone due to their expertise in managing complicated cases involving multiple organ systems or diseases.
When Should I See an Internist?
If your pet has been diagnosed with a more serious illness like cancer or kidney disease, it’s important to seek out specialist care from an internist right away for the best chances of successful treatment outcomes. An internist will be able to accurately identify the underlying problem(s) causing your pet’s illness using advanced technology that primary care veterinarians may not possess in their facility as well as develop an effective treatment plan based on their expertise with complex cases involving multiple organ systems or diseases. In addition, if your pet has any symptoms which indicate potential problems with its internal organs such as vomiting/diarrhea/lethargy/loss of appetite/weight loss/increased thirst/difficulty breathing/coughing/straining during urination then it’s highly recommended that you visit an internist right away so they can perform further testing and determine if there is something going on inside your pet’s body which needs attention before it becomes worse over time leading to further complications down the line if left untreated too long!
At Golden Gate Veterinary Specialists we understand how important it is for you get accurate information about what type of specialty services might be necessary for optimal health outcomes for your beloved companion animal friend(s). Our team of experienced board certified veterinary internists specialize in providing comprehensive diagnosis & treatments including ultrasound exams & endoscopy procedures when needed so if you think that consulting with one might benefit your furry family member please don’t hesitate reach out today!