Internal Medicine vet services in Raleigh, NC.
At BluePearl Pet Hospital, we take a collaborative approach to veterinary medicine. We partner closely with your pet’s primary veterinarian to understand your pet’s history and create a comprehensive care plan. We also communicate closely with you and provide the education you need to make an informed decision for your pet.
Our specialty and emergency pet hospital features many services under one roof, so we offer cross-departmental care for pets who can benefit from the expertise of multiple specialty clinicians. Learn more about our advanced specialty services.
We offer advanced endoscopic procedures as a minimally invasive diagnostic tool for a variety of diseases. Using a small fiber-optic tube called an endoscope, we can directly visualize organs within the body, allowing us to determine the extent of a disease process, take samples from specific areas, remove foreign objects and examine areas of the body like the nose, lower airways, gastrointestinal tract and the bladder.
The approach requires general anesthesia and is generally a safe, non-surgical procedure performed on an outpatient basis.
We offer the following types of endoscopy:
- Upper GI Endoscopy – examination of the esophagus, stomach and upper small intestine
- Lower GI Endoscopy (Colonoscopy) – examination of the colon and the lower part of the small intestine
- Rhinoscopy – examination of the nasal passages, nasal cavity and nasal sinuses
- Bronchoscopy – examination of the trachea and lower airways within the lungs
- Cystoscopy – examination of the urethra and urinary bladder
Providing nutrition to a patient with a decreased appetite and weight loss is often a critical part of the treatment plan. Placement of a feeding tube may be used to provide nutrition, as well as hydration and medications. Feeding tubes may be placed in the esophagus or stomach during a short anesthetic procedure. Placement is generally safe and may be performed on an outpatient basis. They may be placed for temporary use or long-term nutritional support.
Some medical conditions in which a feeding tube may be of benefit include:
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Esophagitis or stricture
- Chronic kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Cancer
Endocrine diseases are very common in both the dog and cat. Some of the more common endocrine diseases that we diagnose and treat include:
- Thyroid disease
- Diabetes mellitus
- Adrenal disease
- Parathyroid disease
Diagnostics
During your appointment, we will review your pet’s medical history and perform a thorough physical exam.
Following a discussion of the medical history and exam findings, a combination of diagnostics will be recommended and may include:
- Blood and urine analysis
- Imaging – abdominal ultrasound, digital radiographs
- Endocrine diagnostic tests
Treatment
A comprehensive and individualized treatment plan will be developed for your pet based on your pet’s medical history and the results of the tests performed during this visit. Treatment recommendations typically include oral or injectable medications, dietary modifications or possibly surgery.
Aftercare
A plan for follow-up rechecks and treatments will be determined based on the diagnosis and treatment plan elected during your pet’s visit. We will collaborate with your primary veterinarian to design the best plan for your pet, which may include follow-up rechecks with our team or your primary veterinarian.
Infectious diseases may occur in both the dog and cat. Both indoor and outdoor pets are at risk. Some infections are more common in warmer months, while others may occur any time of the year. Some of the infectious diseases that we diagnose and treat include:
- Cytauxzoonosis
- Bartonellosis
- Toxoplasmosis
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
- Ehrlichiosis
- Babesia
- Mycoplasma
- Leptospirosis
- Fungal infections
- Feline Leukemia Virus
- Feline Infectious Peritonitis
- Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
Diagnostics
During your appointment, we will review your pet’s medical history and perform a thorough physical exam. Following a discussion of the medical history and exam findings, a combination of diagnostics will be recommended and may include:
- Blood tests
- Infectious disease testing (e.g., cultures, PCR and/or serology)
- Imaging – abdominal ultrasound, digital radiographs
Treatment
A comprehensive and individualized treatment plan will be developed for your pet based on your pet’s medical history and the results of the tests performed during this visit. Treatment recommendations typically include oral or infused medications.
Aftercare
A plan for follow-up rechecks and treatments will be determined based on the diagnosis and treatment plan elected during your pet’s visit. We will collaborate with your primary veterinarian to design the best plan for your pet, which may include follow-up rechecks with our team or your primary veterinarian.
Immune-mediated diseases may occur in both the dog and cat. They can be difficult to diagnose and may be life-threatening. Some immune-mediated diseases progress over long periods of time, while others develop quickly.
Some of the immune-mediated diseases that we diagnose and treat include:
- Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia
- Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia
- Immune-mediated polyarthritis
- Meningoencephalitis
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
Diagnostics
During your appointment, we will review your pet’s medical history and perform a thorough physical exam. Following a discussion of the medical history and exam findings, a combination of diagnostics will be recommended and may include:
- Blood tests
- Infectious disease testing (e.g., cultures, PCR and/or serology)
- Imaging – abdominal ultrasound, digital radiographs
- Microscopic evaluation of spinal or joint fluid
Treatment
A comprehensive and individualized treatment plan will be developed for your pet based on your pet’s medical history and the results of the tests performed during this visit. Treatment recommendations typically include oral or infused medications.
Aftercare
A plan for follow-up rechecks and treatments will be determined based on the diagnosis and treatment plan elected during your pet’s visit. We will collaborate with your primary veterinarian to design the best plan for your pet, which may include follow-up rechecks with our team or your primary veterinarian.
Both dogs and cats may be affected by liver disease. Liver disease may be diagnosed in young or senior patients and symptoms may vary widely. Liver diseases that we diagnose and treat include:
- Chronic hepatitis and inflammatory liver conditions
- Hepatic lipidosis – “fatty liver disease”
- Biliary infections and obstruction
- Portosystemic shunt
- Biliary mucocele
Diagnostics
During your appointment, we will review your pet’s medical history and perform a thorough physical exam. Following a discussion of the medical history and exam findings, a combination of diagnostics will be recommended and may include:
- Blood tests, including liver function testing
- Abdominal ultrasound or CT with contrast
- Ultrasound-guided aspiration for microscopic evaluation +/- bile culture
- Laparoscopic evaluation of the liver and gall bladder
- Histopathologic evaluation of samples collected from the liver
Treatment
A comprehensive and individualized treatment plan will be developed for your pet based on your pet’s medical history and the results of the tests performed during this visit. Treatment recommendations may include oral medications, vitamin supplementation, dietary modifications and occasionally surgery.
Aftercare
A plan for follow-up rechecks and treatments will be determined based on the diagnosis and treatment plan elected during your pet’s visit. We will collaborate with your primary veterinarian to design the best plan for your pet, which may include follow-up rechecks with our team or your primary veterinarian.
Both dogs and cats may be affected by gastrointestinal disease. Unexplained weight loss, chronic vomiting, chronic diarrhea and/or decreased appetite are common symptoms. Gastrointestinal diseases that we diagnose and treat include:
- Esophagitis, esophageal strictures and megaesophagus
- Stomach ulceration
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Chronic colitis and ulcerative colitis
Diagnostics
During your appointment, we will review your pet’s medical history and perform a thorough physical exam. Following a discussion of the medical history and exam findings, a combination of diagnostics will be recommended and may include:
- Blood tests
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Ultrasound-guided aspiration for microscopic evaluation
- Endoscopic evaluation of the gastrointestinal tract (upper GI endoscopy +/- colonoscopy)
- Histopathologic evaluation of samples collected from the GI tract via endoscopy
Treatment
A comprehensive and individualized treatment plan will be developed for your pet based on your pet’s medical history and the results of the tests performed during this visit. Treatment recommendations may include oral medications, vitamin supplementation, feeding tube placement, esophageal “ballooning” and/or dietary modifications.
Aftercare
A plan for follow-up rechecks and treatments will be determined based on the diagnosis and treatment plan elected during your pet’s visit. We will collaborate with your primary veterinarian to design the best plan for your pet, which may include follow-up rechecks with our team or your primary veterinarian.
Urinary diseases that we diagnose and treat include recurrent UTI, urinary incontinence, bladder stones, proteinuria, kidney infections, acute and chronic kidney disease and renal failure.
Diagnostics
During your appointment, we will review your pet’s medical history and perform a thorough physical exam. Following a discussion of the medical history and exam findings, a combination of diagnostics will be recommended and may include:
- Blood and urine analysis
- Imaging – abdominal ultrasound, voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG), CT of the abdomen
- Ultrasound-guided aspiration for microscopic evaluation
- Endoscopic evaluation of the urinary tract (cystoscopy)
- Histopathologic evaluation of samples collected from the urinary tract via endoscopy
- Kidney function test
Treatment
A comprehensive and individualized treatment plan will be developed for your pet based on your pet’s medical history and the results of the tests performed during this visit. Treatment recommendations may include oral medications, fluid administration, cystoscopic retrieval of bladder stones and/or dietary modifications.
Aftercare
A plan for follow-up rechecks and treatments will be determined based on the diagnosis and treatment plan elected during your pet’s visit. We will collaborate with your primary veterinarian to design the best plan for your pet, which may include follow-up rechecks with our team or your primary veterinarian.
Respiratory diseases that we diagnose and treat include rhinitis, nasopharyngeal disorders, laryngeal disease (e.g., laryngeal paralysis), tracheal collapse, chronic bronchitis and asthma, bacterial pneumonia and pulmonary hypertension.
Diagnostics
During your appointment, we will review your pet’s medical history and perform a thorough physical exam. Following a discussion of the medical history and exam findings, a combination of diagnostics will be recommended and may include:
- Blood tests
- Imaging – digital radiographs, ultrasound or CT
- Endoscopic evaluation of the nasal passages or lower airways (rhinoscopy or bronchoscopy)
- Microscopic evaluation of samples collected from the airways via endoscopy
Treatment
A comprehensive and individualized treatment plan will be developed for your pet based on your pet’s medical history and the results of the tests performed during this visit. Treatment recommendations may include oral medications, locally infused or inhaled medications, endoscopic retrieval of foreign material or even surgery.
Aftercare
A plan for follow-up rechecks and treatments will be determined based on the diagnosis and treatment plan elected during your pet’s visit. We will collaborate with your primary veterinarian to design the best plan for your pet, which may include follow-up rechecks with our team or your primary veterinarian.