Veterinary Internal Medicine is a specialized branch of animal healthcare that focuses on diagnosing and treating non-surgical diseases in domestic and exotic animals. It extends to a multitude of fields including cardiology, neurology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, respiratory medicine, oncology, and more. 

Veterinary Internists are often faced with complex cases requiring advanced medical understanding, including diseases that affect multiple systems within an animal’s body. Here are some common diseases and conditions treated by veterinary internal medicine specialists:

1. Endocrine Disorders

• Vet internal medicine specialists diagnose and manage endocrine disorders such as diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing’s disease), hypoadrenocorticism (Addison’s disease), and disorders of the parathyroid and pituitary glands. 

• These conditions involve hormone production, regulation, or function abnormalities, requiring specialized diagnostic testing, hormonal therapy, dietary management, and long-term monitoring to achieve optimal control and management.

2. Gastrointestinal Diseases

• Gastrointestinal diseases are common in animals and can encompass a wide range of conditions affecting the digestive system, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), gastroenteritis, pancreatitis, gastrointestinal ulcers, gastritis, intestinal parasites, gastrointestinal obstructions, motility disorders, and malabsorption syndromes. 

• Veterinary internal medicine specialists utilize diagnostic imaging, endoscopy, biopsy, dietary management, medications, and supportive care to diagnose and manage gastrointestinal diseases and promote animal gastrointestinal health in a puppy hospital in Brentwood, TN.

3. Renal (Kidney) and Urinary Tract Disorders:

• Veterinary internal medicine specialists diagnose and manage renal (kidney) and urinary tract disorders such as chronic kidney disease (renal failure), urinary tract infections, urinary stones (urolithiasis), urinary incontinence, feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), glomerulonephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and congenital renal abnormalities. 

• They perform diagnostic tests, including blood work, urinalysis, urine culture, imaging studies, and renal biopsy. They develop treatment plans tailored to each patient’s needs, focusing on preserving renal function, managing symptoms, and preventing disease progression.

4. Respiratory Disorders

• Veterinary internal medicine specialists diagnose and manage respiratory disorders such as bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), tracheal collapse, pleural effusion, pulmonary fibrosis, and respiratory infections (viral, bacterial, fungal). 

• They perform diagnostic procedures, including thoracic imaging (X-rays, CT scans), bronchoscopy, pulmonary function testing, and respiratory fluid analysis. They develop treatment plans incorporating medications, oxygen therapy, environmental management, and supportive care to alleviate respiratory symptoms and improve animal respiratory function.

5. Hematological (Blood) Disorders:

• Veterinary internal medicine specialists diagnose and manage hematological disorders affecting the blood and blood-forming organs, including anemia, thrombocytopenia, immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA), immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (ITP), coagulation disorders, hemophilia, polycythemia, and blood cancers (leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma). 

• They perform diagnostic tests such as complete blood counts (CBC), blood smears, bone marrow aspirates, coagulation profiles, and immunological assays and develop treatment plans incorporating medications, blood transfusions, immunosuppressive therapy, and supportive care to address hematological abnormalities and optimize blood health in animals.

6. Infectious Diseases

• Veterinary internal medicine specialists diagnose and manage infectious diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and other pathogens in animals. Common infectious diseases include bacterial infections (such as urinary tract infections, respiratory infections, and skin infections), viral infections (such as feline leukemia virus, feline immunodeficiency virus, canine parvovirus, and canine distemper virus), fungal infections (such as cryptococcosis, blastomycosis, and histoplasmosis), parasitic infections (such as heartworm disease, tick-borne diseases, and gastrointestinal parasites), and zoonotic diseases (infectious diseases transmissible between animals and humans). 

• Veterinary internal medicine specialists perform diagnostic tests, including serology, PCR testing, culture and sensitivity testing, antigen testing, and microscopic examination, and develop treatment plans incorporating antimicrobial therapy, antiviral therapy, antifungal therapy, parasiticides, supportive care, and infection control measures to manage infectious diseases and prevent transmission.

7. Immune-Mediated Disorders

• Veterinary internal medicine specialists diagnose and manage immune-mediated disorders characterized by abnormal immune system function and autoimmune reactions against the body’s tissues. These disorders include immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA), immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (ITP), immune-mediated polyarthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), autoimmune skin diseases (such as pemphigus and lupus erythematosus), and other autoimmune conditions affecting multiple organ systems. 

• They perform diagnostic tests, including serology, autoantibody testing, immunological assays, and tissue biopsies, and develop treatment plans incorporating immunosuppressive therapy, corticosteroids, immunomodulatory drugs, and supportive care to manage immune-mediated disorders and suppress aberrant immune responses in animals.

8. Cardiovascular Disorders

• Veterinary internal medicine specialists diagnose and manage cardiovascular disorders affecting the heart and circulatory system, including congestive heart failure, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, hypertension, heartworm disease, congenital heart defects, and pericardial diseases. 

• They perform a pet checkup for diagnostic tests, including electrocardiography (ECG), echocardiography (cardiac ultrasound), thoracic imaging, blood pressure monitoring, and cardiac biomarker testing, and develop treatment plans incorporating medications, dietary management, exercise restriction, fluid therapy, and supportive care to manage cardiovascular conditions and improve cardiac function in animals.

Wrapping Up

Veterinary Internal Medicine plays a critical role in maintaining animal health and welfare. It addresses a wide array of complex and multi-systemic diseases, ranging from diabetes kidney or liver disease to cancer, lung diseases, and more. With their in-depth training and sophisticated diagnostic tools, Veterinary Internists have the expertise to diagnose and comprehensively manage these challenging cases, providing a lifeline for many afflicted animals.