Internal Medicine
Internal Medicine Services
We are available to assist in the diagnosis and management of dogs and cats with gastrointestinal disorders, hepatic or pancreatic diseases, liver or bladder diseases, upper and lower airway diseases (including nasal disease), endocrine and other metabolic disorders, and infectious diseases. Additional services include:
- Endoscopy Services: Gastrointestinal endoscopy, bronchoscopy, rhinoscopy, and cystoscopy services are available as part of the diagnostic and therapeutic options we can provide. We also offer laparoscopic-assisted liver biopsy, laser lithotripsy, and ectopic ureter laser correction.
- Advanced diagnostic and therapeutic procedures: We offer advanced diagnostic evaluation of patients, including bone marrow aspiration or biopsy, transtracheal washes, and arthrocentesis (joint taps). Feeding tube placement is routinely performed by our clinicians.
- Collaboration with other services for diagnostic evaluation of patients: We work closely with our Diagnostic Imaging service to provide radioactive iodine therapy for treatment of feline hyperthyroidism, and incorporate advanced imaging (CT, MRI, fluoroscopy) and traditional radiography and ultrasonography. We consult with other services (including our Behavior, Cardiology, Dermatology, Emergency and Critical Care, Neurology, Oncology, and Soft Tissue Surgery services) to offer optimal care for those patients with multi-systemic illnesses.
Nutrition Services
We will review your pet's medical and diet history, evaluate his or her current diet, discuss appropriate feeding strategies for your pet, answer your nutrition questions and provide written recommendations to you and your veterinarian for commercial diets, treats and supplements (if applicable) to meet your pet's individual nutritional needs.
Examples of services provided include:
- Optimized commercial diet selection
- Customized home-cooked diet formulations
- Nutritional plans for pets with medical conditions such as gastrointestinal disease, heart disease, kidney disease, cancer or multi-systemic illnesses
- Assistance with feeding tubes
A completed diet history form must be received prior to your scheduled nutrition appointment.
Your Visit
Each patient is cared for by a team, which typically includes a faculty member in internal medicine (a board-certified specialist with many years of clinical experience), a resident (a graduate veterinarian who has completed an internship and is training to become a specialist in internal medicine) or intern (a graduate veterinarian in an earlier phase of post-graduate training than a resident), a fourth-year veterinary student (a veterinarian-in-training in his or her final year of veterinary school), and an experienced registered veterinary technician (nurse).
In order to facilitate same-day diagnostic testing, we request that all patients be fasted prior to their appointment (water is ok) except those with specific nutritional needs such as diabetic patients and juvenile small breed dogs. In order to reduce duplication of previous testing, please bring copies of all medical records, diagnostic test results, and any radiographs/other imaging to their pet's appointment. Please be aware that most procedures involving anesthesia will not be performed the day of the first appointment.
Clinical Trials
The Small Animal Internal Medicine Service is often recruiting patients for a number of studies for which your pet may be eligible. If you have any questions regarding your pet's eligibility, please contact the Clinical Trials Office. Current trials include:
Improving outcome in dogs with glomerular disease via pharmacodynamic-based dosing of enalapril
The purpose of this study is to determine if higher doses of enalapril than those currently recommended will further reduce urine protein excretion in dogs with glomerular disease, will survival time, slow rate of decline in kidney function, and delay onset of azotemia as compared to the standard enalapril dose.
Appointments & Office Hours
- Office hours: 8am – 5pm Monday - Friday
- Patient visits are by appointment only or emergencies by referral through your veterinarian (our referral secretary is Stephanie Yochem).
- Internal Medicine patients are seen as follows:
Monday through Friday morning - For an appointment: (614) 292-3551
- After hours/weekend emergencies: (614)-292-3551
Clinicians
Internal Medicine faculty
- Susan Johnson, DVM, DACVIM, Service Chief: gastroenterology/internal medicine
- Julie Byron, DVM, MS, DACVIM, Assistant Professor: urology/internal medicine
- Barrak Pressler, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, Assistant Professor: nephrology/internal medicine
- Chen Gilor, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, Assistant Professor: endocrinology/internal medicine
- Valerie Parker, DVM, DACVIM: Assistant Professor: nutrition/internal medicine
- Karen Tefft, DVM, MVSc, DACVIM, Clinical Assistant Professor: feline medicine/internal medicine
Internal Medicine residents
- Alicia Dudley, DVM
- Melanie Hall, DVM
- Adam Rudinsky, DVM
- Daniela Vrabelova, DVM
Internal Medicine technicians
- Pam Pugh, RVT (special procedures room supervisor and service coordinator)
- Joy Quang, RVT
- Robin Richardson, RVT
Payment
Payment is expected at the time of your visit. Please read our payment policy for complete information.
