Internal Medicine

What is internal medicine?

Internal medicine is the speciality that deals with the diagnosis and medical, as opposed to surgical, treatment of diseases. Internal medicine deals with the entire patient rather than a particular organ system, and includes multiple sub-specialities, such as gastroenterology, endocrinology, respiratory diseases, urology and nephrology, haematology and transfusion medicine, immune-mediated diseases, hepatology and infectious diseases amongst others.

In practice, we will see dogs and cats suffering from vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss, reduced appetite, coughing, sneezing; patients with a fever, drinking and urinating more, having an excessive appetite, having anaemia, bleeding disorders, and many more…

Who are we?

Our team is composed of six senior clinicians, all diplomates of the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in Companion Animals (ECVIM-CA), or the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM), as well as residents and specialist interns.

To become a diploma holder, otherwise known as a European Specialist, our clinicians have to pass several days of exams, which follow three years of an intensive training program in an accredited referral centre.

The clinicians are supported by an amazing team of dedicated and experienced nurses, some of whom are also specialists in internal medicine nursing, having achieved their Veterinary Technician specialist (VTS) diplomas in internal medicine.

What can we do?

In our multidisciplinary hospital, we have state-of-the-art facilities allowing us to perform multiple diagnostic procedures and treatments, often in a minimally invasive fashion.

We have a comprehensive endoscopy suite, allowing us to assess and take samples of the gut, nose, throat, lungs, bladder and urinary tract with a camera. Our endoscopes help us to remove foreign bodies (from the lungs, nose or gastrointestinal tract), and treat strictures (scarring tissue causing an obstruction) with balloon dilation.

We have an automatic bone biopsy system, allowing us to obtain better quality bone marrow samples than are usually achieved with manual techniques, with less pain and a quicker procedure.

We use a validated electronic continuous blood glucose monitoring system to accurately follow-up our diabetic patients and adapt their treatment.

We also work closely with colleagues from anaesthesia, diagnostic imaging, cardiology, oncology, neurology, surgery, dermatology and the pain clinic to offer a holistic approach in treating our feline and canine patients.

What will happen when I come for an appointment?

During the initial 60-minute appointment, you will be able to discuss all your concerns with the consultant.

Following a full physical examination of your dog or cat, we will discuss the possible causes for your pet’s illness, and the diagnostic and treatment options available.

We will go through the pros and cons of the different options and associated costs, so that you can make an informed decision of what you think is best for your animal.

Many tests can be performed on the same day with a discharge in the afternoon; in some cases your pet may need to be hospitalised for 24 hours or more and this will be discussed with you at the time of the initial consultation too. Following the visit, we will keep in touch and provide ongoing support to you and your vet to ensure your pet’s illness is managed appropriately.

We are involved in clinical research

Our clinicians have a strong interest in research to help further understanding and treatment for medical conditions, for the ultimate benefit of our canine and feline patients. We are leading both retrospective and prospective studies, and regularly collaborate with other referral centres and specialists in the United Kingdom and beyond.