Veterinary Internal Medicine in Granger, IN
Dogs and cats are, like humans, no strangers to disease and chronic illness. At Lakeland Animal Care, we know your pet’s health and comfort mean everything to you, and they are just as important to us. Our hospital and our team are equipped to provide veterinary internal medicine to help diagnose and manage a multitude of conditions. We’ll partner with you to discuss possible treatment solutions and support you every step of the way in the care of your pet.
Schedule an Appointment
If your pet seems ill or isn’t acting like they normally do, call us to set up an appointment so we can assess their condition.
What Conditions Can We Treat with Internal Medicine?
Veterinary internal medicine involves diagnosing, treating, and managing a wide range of chronic health problems in pets. This includes:
- Heart disease
- Endocrine disorders
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Hyperthyroidism/hypothyroidism
- Autoimmune disorders
- Cushing’s disease
Veterinary Cardiology
Cardiology is an important branch of internal medicine that concerns diagnosing, treating, and monitoring heart conditions in pets.
Symptoms of a Possible Heart Condition in Pets
Treatment for a heart condition typically begins by identifying clinical signs in your pet at home.
These clinical signs may include:
- A dry, chronic cough
- Difficulty breathing (wheezing, panting, heaving sides)
- Swollen abdomen
- Lethargy and weakness
- Collapse
- Restlessness (pacing, laying down and getting back up repeatedly)
While the above signs may not necessarily be due to a heart condition, it’s essential that we examine your pet to determine the cause of their symptoms.
Diagnosing a Heart Condition
If you suspect a heart condition in your pet, we will need to see them for a thorough physical examination. Following the exam, we typically keep pets at our hospital for part of the day to do a full cardiac work-up, which includes:
- Blood work
- Cardiac-specific blood tests
- Chest X-rays
- EKG
- Oxygen measurement
Treating and Managing Your Pet’s Heart Condition
A cardiologist will review your pet’s cardiac test results, and our team will provide the necessary medications if a heart condition is diagnosed. We recommend frequent follow-ups during this period to make sure your pet’s condition has stabilized, and we will do routine blood work to evaluate your pet’s condition and monitor the effects of their medication over time.