Internal Medicine

Dogs and cats requiring internal medicine care often have illnesses that can be complex and require advanced diagnostics to determine the cause. Our internal medicine department strives to provide compassionate care for your pet during times of illness. As a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Dr. Totten has advanced training and experience to meet the challenging needs of pets with internal medicine problems. All ages of pets may require internal medicine care with geriatric patients being the most common. The internal medicine team understands that our pets are family and at NIVES this is incorporated into the care that is provided.

Our goal is to support the human-animal bond

Our goal is to support the human-animal bond by improving and providing comfort to the lives of the animals in our care. We strive to educate our clients to make each visit informative and beneficial to both you and your pet. Our clients are empowered to make the most appropriate decisions about their pet’s health care.

Internal medicine problems encompass many areas of your pet’s health including hematological problems, endocrine disorders, gastrointestinal illnesses, respiratory ailments, liver diseases and kidney/urinary problems. The use of advanced diagnostics is often needed to determine the cause of your pet’s problem. We have many diagnostic capabilities that include laboratory testing and equipment that is useful to determining the cause of internal medicine problems. The internal medicine department works together with the surgical, cardiology and emergency departments to address all of your pets needs.

Internal medicine diagnostic capabilities include:

Digital Radiography
Ultrasonography
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Ultrasound guided:
  - needle aspiration
  - tru-cut needle biopsy
  - thoracocentesis
  - abdominocentesis
  - pericardiocentesis
  - cystocentesis
Computed Tomography (CT) imaging
Endoscopy:
- Upper Gastro-intestinal (esophagoscopy / gastroduodenoscopy)
- Lower intestine (colonoscopy)
- Trachea/lungs (tracheoscopy/bronchoscopy)
- Nose (rhinoscopy/nasopharyngoscopy)
- Urinary bladder (cystoscopy)
- Foreign body removal
Bone marrow aspiration/biopsy
Joint taps
Feeding tube placement
In hospital lab equipment
Reference laboratory and University labwork
Doppler blood pressure monitoring
Cerebrospinal fluid collection

Cancer care is provided for common cancers including lymphoma, mast cell tumor, and sarcomas. Also, multiple myeloma and chronic leukemias are treated. The internal medicine team administers intravenous and oral chemotherapy to dogs and cats.