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Internal Veterinary Medicine
It
has often been said that veterinary medicine is harder than
human medicine as our patients can't tell us what is wrong
or where it hurts!
Internal medicine
covers a wide range of body systems - brain, heart, lungs,
liver, gut, lymphatics (to name only some) - in fact
anything that we can't fully access in a consultation.
Obviously we can get a very good idea of what is going on
with a full physical examination, but we often need to use
more complex medical diagnostic equipment to build up the
entire picture. The exact nature of any further testing and
the necessary treatment depends on the body system
involved...
Gastroenterology
(dealing with problems of the gut and associated
organs):
The patient may be presented to us with vomiting and/or
diarrhoea. The cause of the illness will obviously determine
the treatment. For example, vomiting due to simple gastritis
(inflammation of the stomach) can be treated with fluids and
then bland foods, while a pet that is vomiting due to
pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas - a far more
serious disorder) should be admitted to Hospital for fluids
and antibiotics. Not all gastrointestinal problems are
necessarily easy to diagnose or easy to treat - the
diagnostics we use can sometimes involve X-rays,
BIPS (barium impregnated spheres which show blockages on
X-rays), blood
tests and
biopsies.
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Thoracic
medicine:
This deals with any problems of the heart and
lungs, and more broadly speaking the blood stream.
Signs of heart and lung problems can include
coughing, weakness and lethargy, but these are not
always present. Sometimes serious problems may only
have vague clinical signs, so in addition to
thorough auscultation of (listening to) the heart
sounds and lung fields, X-rays
may be necessary to determine what is happening in
the chest. We also utilise cardiac ultrasound to
see into the heart, and electrocardiology (ECGs) to
map the electrical activity of the heart. Once an
accurate diagnosis is reached, the most appropriate
treatment options are decided upon in conjunction
with the pet's owners.
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Oncology
(Cancer
treatment):
Animals, like humans, can develop both benign and malignant
(cancerous) tumours. Depending upon the type of tumour, the
patient may be be treated using chemotherapy, radiation
therapy, cryosurgery, surgical removal of the tumour, or a
combination of these. While we are able to diagnose
each type of cancergiven the appropriate tests and specimens, not all of the treatments are able to be given at the Box Hill Veterinary Hospital. This is where we utilise our colleagues at specialist referral practices for assistance in this regard.
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Endocrinology
(hormonal problems):
Sometimes seemingly unconnected problems may be due
to imbalances in the body's hormones - diseases
such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism and Cushing's
disease. Some of these diseases can be diagnosed
with a single blood
test,
while others need more rigorous testing. Clinical
signs associated with disease (such as blood
pressure) are also monitored. The treatments
(broadly speaking) involve replacing or removing
the offending hormone in the patient. This may
involve tablets, injections, surgery
or even radiation therapy.
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Neurology
(Dealing with
nervous system problems):
One of the nervous disorders we routinely treat is epilepsy
in dogs. After ruling out other causes of seizuring, we
concentrate on reducing the number, duration and severity of
fitting episodes. Daily medication and regular blood checks
form the basis of this treatment.
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Urogenital Tract Medicine:
This encompasses both the reproductive tract and
the urinary system. Commonly experienced problems
include urinary tract infections, kidney disease,
bladder stones and uterine infections. We often use
urinalysis
as the first step in diagnosing urogenital tract
disease. This procedure includes a range of
biochemical tests, establishing the concentration
of the urine, and inspecting of the urinary
sediment. Once this information is gathered, other
appropriate testing or treatment is
started.
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Haematology (The
study of blood):
A blood sample can tell us a great deal about specific
organs by the enzymes it carries. However, measurement and
visualisation of the actual blood cells themselves can give
us a better understanding of disease processes in general.
We commonly look for changes in red blood cell numbers (for
example anaemia), white blood cells (which change during
many processes, including infection), and the components of
the blood clotting mechanism - platelets and coagulation
factors. Treatments depend upon the cause of the condition,
and may include blood transfusions, antibiotics and
chemotherapeutic agents. Further information about
blood
testing can be
found on the diagnostics pages.
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Ophthalmology
(the
study of eyes):
We commonly examine the external eye and the
tissues surrounding the globe in physical
examinations. However, sometimes study of the inner
workings of the eye is required. If this case, the
consultation room would be darkened and a light
would be shined into your pet's eyes to allow the
veterinarian to visualise the important structures
at the back of the eye. Tonometry may also be used
to check the pressure within your pet's eyes to
determine if they have glaucoma. This is done only
after a local anaesthetic solution is placed onto
the surface of your pet's eyes and allowed to work,
so that the patient is not in discomfort during the
procedure.
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