Veterinary internal medicine deals with the non-surgical diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the internal organs. Capeway Veterinary Hospital routinely diagnoses and treats a wide variety of internal medicine conditions and maintains a close association with a board-certified internal medicine specialist.
Some of the common internal medicine conditions we address include:
- Cushing’s disease—Cushing’s typically occurs in middle-aged dogs and is caused by adrenal glands that are producing too much of the body’s normal steroids. Common symptoms include:
- Hair loss
- Darkening skin
- Dull, dry coat
- Lethargy
- Increased drinking
- Increased urination
- Addison’s disease—Addison’s is another disease of the adrenal glands but, in this case, the adrenal glands are not producing enough of the body’s normal steroids. Common symptoms of Addison’s include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Shaking
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- Muscle weakness
- Pet diabetes—Similar to humans afflicted with diabetes, pets can experience additional related health problems from the disease, but, with proper treatment and careful monitoring, pets with diabetes can have the same life expectancy as pets without the disease. Common symptoms of pet diabetes include:
- Excessive thirst
- Increased urination
- Increased appetite
- Weight loss
- Lethargy
- Dull, dry coat
- Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism—The thyroid gland is responsible for producing hormones that regulate metabolism. Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid makes too much of its hormones and this typically occurs in cats, while hypothyroidism, or not producing enough hormones, occurs in dogs. Signs of hyperthyroidism in cats include:
- Weight loss
- Increased appetite
- Excessive thirst
- Increased urination
- Hyperactivity
- Signs of hypothyroidism in dogs include:
- Hair loss
- Dry, brittle hair
- Thick, puffy skin
- Weight gain
- Lethargy
- Respiratory illnesses—Capeway Veterinary Hospital regularly diagnoses and treats a number of different illnesses of the respiratory system:
- Pneumonia
- Canine influenza
- Kennel cough
- Feline upper respiratory disease
- Feline asthma
- Digestive illnesses—From viral and bacterial infections to obstructions, nutritional conditions, and cancerous growths, the list of digestive conditions Capeway Veterinary Hospital regularly diagnoses and treats is extensive. Symptoms that suggest a pet has a digestive issue that should be checked by our veterinarian include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Bloated stomach
- Constipation
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal pain
- Cardiac conditions—Capeway Veterinary Hospital maintains an association with a board-certified internal medicine specialist who has a focus on cardiology. The specialist sees patients at our hospital. Some of the more common cardiac conditions treated include:
Capeway Veterinary Hospital’s diagnostic and treatment options, combined with the experienced veterinarians and specialist support, make our hospital the best choice for any pet’s internal medicine needs.