Ultimate Guide to Veterinary Internal Medicine Specialist
Usually, we have a physician that our kids and we go on a regular visit to take care of the family’s health; the family physician takes care of our family members from “womb to tomb,” as they say. It’s no different for our pets; we bring them to the primary care veterinarian to monitor their wellness.
Why the Need for A Specialist
When our pet becomes seriously ill, the primary care vets suggest bringing them to veterinarian internal medicine specialists.
Board-certified internal medicine specialists have the training and skills to address treating conditions beyond the scope of primary care vets. Your pet may be referred to the specialists defending what type of illness they suffer from.
Veterinary Internal Medicine Specializations:
- Endocrinology
- Endoscopy
- Gastroenterology
- Hematology
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Lung Diseases
- Nephrology
- Oncology
- Urology
Commonly Referred Health Conditions
Examples of diseases your pet may have that need to be referred to specialists for treatment:
- Cushing’s disease – is a severe medical condition in dogs when the adrenal glands overproduce cortisol. It could lead to diabetes mellitus or kidney failure, and it’s a life-threatening disease for your dog. Your primary care vet may give referrals to a veterinary internal medicine specialist to address the problem.
- Renal Failure – also known as kidney failure, functions to remove toxins in the body, regulate hormones to produce healthy red blood cells, maintain a balance of electrolytes; so a damaged kidney will jeopardize your pet’s health. A nephrologist or urologist will manage your pet’s health and may require some diagnostics to better plan treatment. Check vet radiology for laboratory services.
- Diabetes Mellitus – is a disease of the pancreas. The pancreas can no longer regulate sugar in the blood, starving the body of its primary energy source, which is glucose. Although we cannot cure diabetes, your endocrinologist can manage and control this disease.
- Infectious Diseases – a multi-disciplinary approach is needed to address pathogens (the organism that causes disease). Knowing the relationships between the animals and human hosts, diseases in the community like rabies from rabid animals, the presence of bacteria or viruses through foods are some of the things to be considered. A specialist in infectious disease would be able to diagnose and give the proper treatment for your pets.
Internal medicine specialists are prepared to manage these complicated cases. Although most of these diseases are often associated with senior years, some conditions are not listed here, affecting the juvenile animal. Check veterinarian Greensboro NC to learn more.
Conclusion:
While your primary care vet handles many aspects of your pet’s wellness, there is sometimes a need for the help of a specialist, especially when dealing with comorbidities or multiple health problems.
Your veterinarian may feel that your pet’s condition can be better cared for by a specialist. Some illnesses often need the help of different specialists to help diagnose or control a particularly advanced medical issue that requires specialized diagnostic procedures and long-term treatment.
Some diseases considered untreatable before can be managed or even curable today with the advancement of veterinary internal medicine.
