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, lymphatic (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,
barium contrast studies, 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 electro cardiology (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 cancer given the appropriate tests
and specimens, not all of the treatments are able
to be given at the Barrier Animal Care Clinic. 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.
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