Internal Medicine

Hyperadrenocorticism, commonly referred to as “Cushing’s Disease”, is a disease caused by an overproduction of cortisol from the adrenal glands and can occur in two different forms: pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism or an adrenal gland tumor. The pituitary gland (a small structure located at the base of the brain) secretes a hormone called ACTH which causes the adrenal glands (located next to the kidneys) to secrete cortisol and other hormones. In normal dogs, the cortisol ‘feeds back’…

The abdominal cavity is a space containing many different organs, such as the spleen, liver, intestines, and bladder. A hemoabdomen is diagnosed when there is blood in this cavity. This is abnormal since blood does not normally exist in the abdominal cavity freely. This is often called “internal bleeding” and can lead to severe anemia (a low blood count) and eventual death if not treated. Where Does the Blood in the Abdomen Come From?…

Frequently Asked Questions About Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Pseudintermedius (MRSP) in Dogs & Cats What is Staphylococcus Pseudintermedius (S. Pseudintermedius)? S. pseudintermedius is a bacterium commonly found on the skin, mouth, nose, or in the gastrointestinal tract of ~50% of dogs and cats. It typically causes no problems at all but it can cause opportunistic infections. This means that if your pet becomes sick or injured, S. pseudintermedius can take advantage of their weakened defenses and cause…

Adequate nutrition can be an important aspect in the management of any disease process.  There is an ever-growing body of evidence that supports the use of nutrition early on in many diseases.  Early and appropriate nutrition can hasten recovery, shorten hospitalization, and even decrease the level of pain or discomfort in patients.  The fact that in some cases our patients will not eat willingly on their own can present a challenge in the process of…

  Endoscopy is a minimally invasive way to evaluate the inside of organs such as the esophagus, stomach, intestines, urinary system, trachea, lungs, and nasal cavity. Additionally, endoscopy can be performed to evaluate the inside of body cavities including the abdomen (laparoscopy) or chest (thoracoscopy). During endoscopy, an endoscope is inserted directly into an organ through a natural opening in the body or into a body cavity through one or more small incisions.  An…