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Western Veterinary Specialist & Emergency Centre
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Western Veterinary Specialist & Emergency Centre
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Colonoscopy is performed after a complete diagnostic work-up and therapeutic plan have failed to resolve problems linked to the lower intestine. To perform colonoscopy, the patient is anesthetized and a flexible fiberoptic endoscope is passed into the colon. Air, passed through the scope, increases the view within the colon. Biopsies can be obtained by passing an instrument through an opening in the scope. Colonoscopy provides a valuable, non-surgical means to diagnose large bowel disorders. To perform colonoscopy, it is important that the colon be clean of fecal matter so that the surface of the colon can be visualized. This often requires withholding food for 24 to 48 hours and giving your pet a solution to drink which "cleanses" the colon. Warm-water enemas may also be used to clear the colon. Most patients are discharged the same day of the procedure.
The major symptoms and reasons to perform a colonoscopy are:
The Internal Medicine Service has the expertise and specialized technology to diagnose and treat your pet while providing you with compassionate care and the best client service possible.
What Is A Veterinary Internal Medicine Specialist?
A board-certified veterinary internal medicine specialist is a licensed veterinarian who has completed an internship, 3 year residency program, passed board examination and met the credentials to become a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. An internal medicine specialist has advanced training in the following disciplines:
Specialists perform a variety of state-of-the-art minimally-invasive procedures, including gastrointestinal endoscopy, rhinoscopy, bronchoscopy and bladder stone removal. Additional special procedures include radioactive iodine therapy, laser lithotripsy, ectopic ureter correction and feeding tube placement (see descriptions below).
Why Does My Pet Need A Veterinary Internal Medicine Specialist?
Just as your own primary care physician may feel the need to refer you to the care of a specialist, your general practitioner veterinarian may feel that your pet needs a specialist with more intensive training to help diagnose or treat a particularly complicated problem. Veterinary Specialists work in concert with primary care physicians to ensure the very best outcome for your pet.
What Health Problems Does A Veterinary Internal Medicine Specialist Treat?
Board-certified internal medicine specialists are trained to treat some of the most complicated diseases and health problems that affect pets. Thanks to better health care, more and more pets are living longer lives. As a result, an increasing number of older pets are coping with multiple concurrent disease states that can be very difficult to manage. For example, a cat with diabetes may also be suffering from kidney failure, or a dog in heart failure may also be diagnosed with cancer. Internal medicine specialists are uniquely prepared to oversee the care of these complicated cases.
Common diseases that frequently lead primary care veterinarians and concerned pet owners to seek the expertise of a specialist include:
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