Internal Medicine Referral
What is a veterinary internal medicine specialist?
To be certified as a veterinary specialist, a veterinarian has to undertake a 3-year supervised specialist training program and pass a rigorous examination in the chosen disciplines. An internal medicine specialist has advanced training and expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in the following disciplines:
- Endocrinology
- Gastroenterology
- Hematology (study of the blood)
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Nephrology/Urology
- Respiratory Diseases
While your general practitioner veterinarian can diagnose and treat many health problems, diseases and conditions which are more difficult to diagnose and manage will require the expertise of an internal medicine specialist to provide the best possible outcome for your pet.
When does my pet need to see an internal medicine specialist?
Diagnosis and treatment of certain disease conditions will require the expertise of an internal medicine specialist. If such an occasion arises, your GP veterinarian will discuss with you about being referred to the specialist.
Here are some common diseases that are frequently referred to an internal medicine specialist for management and treatment:
- Cardiorespiratory diseases
- Gastrointestinal diseases
- Endocrine disorders such as diabetes mellitus
- Autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus
- Kidney dysfunction
Typically, after an initial consultation with a specialist, your pet will be admitted for further investigation which may include additional blood tests, radiographs, an ultrasound, or endoscopy. Unless immediate in-hospital treatment is required, the patients are usually discharged for home care while awaiting the results. If a patient is found to have a non-internal medicine-related disease, the patient may be transferred to another team within the hospital for further treatment.
In many cases, your regular veterinarian will still supervise your pet's veterinary care, especially if your pet has multiple concurrent disease conditions. In other cases, the specialist will assume total responsibility of your pet's ongoing medical care. It depends on your pet's particular disease and health problem.