Primary Care Internal Medicine
Caring for the Internal Health of Dogs & Cats
Internal medicine is a branch of veterinary medicine that focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease.
Our goal is to provide the best care possible for your beloved pets. Diagnosing and treating internal conditions is a regular part of what we do.
We are also connected with a network of veterinary specialists. If your pet does not respond to standard procedures or needs specialized expertise, we may be able to refer you to one of these specialists.
Internal Medicine
Veterinary internal medicine involves the following areas of focus. Procedures that fall under these categories may be performed at our veterinary clinic in Halifax or referred to a board-certified specialist:
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Oncology (tumours and cancer)
Veterinary oncology is the area of veterinary medicine responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer in pets and other animals. The goal is to extend and enhance the quality of life of dogs and cats with cancer.
Cancer treatment for pets involves similar methods to those used for people, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, surgery, and more.
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Cardiology (heart-related disorders)
Veterinary cardiology involves the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the heart and lungs.
Dogs and cats, like people, can suffer from a range of heart diseases and disorders such as congestive heart failure (CHF), congenital heart defects, cardiac arrhythmias, tumours and more. Even if your dog or cat is free of disease, they can still suffer from age-related changes to the valves of the heart.
With the technology in our in-house veterinary lab, our veterinarians can examine your pet for signs of heart disease and then provide you with a diagnosis, along with treatment recommendations.
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Reproduction
This is a branch of veterinary medicine that plays an important role in protecting reproductive health, preventing and controlling reproductive diseases, and promoting animal husbandry.
At Lady Hammond Animal Hospital, we understand the financial investment and personal commitment that go into breeding cats and dogs. If your pet is experiencing reproductive difficulties, our veterinarians will use the diagnostic tools at our hospital to pinpoint the specific issue. Once we have uncovered the problem with your pet's reproductive system, we can provide a treatment plan aimed to help resolve the issue.
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Immunology (immune-mediated disorders)
Immunology is the branch of veterinary science that studies cells, tissues and organs responsible for detecting foreign agents (antigens) and triggering the defensive action of the immune system.
The immune system doesn't always work as it should, leading to immune-mediated disorders. Some common immune-mediated disorders in dogs and cats include anemia, arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, allergies and skin diseases.
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Pulmonary Disorders (diseases of the lungs)
Pulmonary disorders affect the respiratory system, which is responsible for delivering oxygen to the body and eliminating waste gases such as carbon dioxide. Since dogs and cats are unable to sweat the way people do, your pet's respiratory system is also essential for regulating their body temperature.
Pulmonary issues can lead to a number of disorders in dogs and cats.
In dogs, common pulmonary disorders include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), canine distemper virus, pneumonia, and lung tumours.
In cats, asthma, bronchitis, parasitic worms, bacterial infections, and viruses are some of the most common pulmonary issues our veterinarians see.
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Gastroenterology (digestive organs)
Gastroenterology focuses on disorders of your pet’s stomach and intestines, known as gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. These conditions interfere with your dog or cat's ability to digest food and absorb nutrients properly.
GI problems in cats and dogs often lead to symptoms such as blood in the stool, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, gas, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and weight loss.
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Urology (urinary tract disorders)
Urology deals with the diagnosis and treatment of disorders that affect the urinary tract. The urinary tract consists of the kidneys, tubes that carry urine to the bladder, and the urethra, which removes urine from the body.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) in dogs and feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) in cats are two common urology disorders that our veterinaries diagnose and treat.
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Endocrinology (glands and their functions)
Endocrinology is the study of the glands and hormones of the body and the disorders that can result from these not functioning effectively.
When a dog or cat's endocrine system isn't functioning as it should, symptoms such as skin problems, hypothyroidism, and poor coat condition can become evident.
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Neurology (brain and nervous system disorders)
Veterinary neurology is a branch of internal medicine that covers conditions of the brain and spinal cord as well as neuromuscular dysfunction.
Common neurological disorders our veterinarians see in dogs and cats include seizures, intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), and tumours.
In-House Lab & Diagnostics
Diagnostic testing, imaging and other procedures play a key role in providing pet parents with an accurate diagnosis of their companion's condition.
Our in-house veterinary lab is equipped with a range of diagnostic imaging technologies and other equipment that allows our team to diagnose your pet's condition as quickly as possible so that treatment can begin right away.
New Patients Welcome
Lady Hammond Animal Hospital is accepting new patients from across the Halifax Regional Municipality! We'd love to welcome you and your cat or dog into our veterinary family. Get in touch to book your companion's first appointment.