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Western Veterinary Specialist & Emergency Centre
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Western Veterinary Specialist & Emergency Centre
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Gastroduodenoscopy refers to an examination of the inner surface of the stomach and the initial portion of the small intestine (duodenum) using a flexible, fiberoptic endoscope. In addition to visual inspection, gastroduodenoscopy provides the ability to obtain multiple biopsies from the lining of the small intestine and stomach. Gastroduodenoscopy, therefore, provides an excellent tool in the diagnosis of multiple disorders of the intestinal system. Although general anesthesia is required, gastroduodenoscopy is generally a safe, non-surgical, non-painful procedure. Most patients are discharged the same day that the procedure is performed.
The major symptoms and reasons to perform a gastroduodenoscopy 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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