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(808) 671-4896
Compassionate Specialty Care for Pets with Complex Medical Needs
Our Internal Medicine (IM) service, led by Dr. Amanda Root, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), provides advanced diagnostic and treatment options for dogs and cats with complicated or chronic medical conditions. We partner with your family veterinarian to ensure your pet receives the highest standard of care.
What Is a Veterinary Internal Medicine Specialist?
Veterinary internists are specialists trained to diagnose and manage complex medical conditions in pets. In addition to internal medicine expertise, they provide the initial evaluation and then collaborate closely with other specialists to deliver targeted, comprehensive care when needed in cardiology, neurology, oncology, and nutrition.
Internal medicine uses advanced diagnostics such as:
- Ultrasound
- Endoscopy
- Cytology & Biopsy Sampling
- Bone Marrow Evaluation
- Specialized Laboratory Testing
- Arthrocentesis (Joint Tapping)
Think of internists as the medical detectives of veterinary medicine — helping pets with challenging conditions that require complex care and access to the hospital’s unique resources.
When Is Internal Medicine Recommended?
Your primary care veterinarian may refer your pet to an internal medicine specialist when dealing with:
- Complex, chronic, or multisystem conditions
- Diseases that don’t respond to standard treatment
- The need for specialized diagnostics or imaging
- Long-term management of multiple coexisting illnesses
Conditions We Commonly Treat:
- Gastrointestinal disease (vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, chronic enteropathy)
- Kidney and urinary tract disease (chronic kidney disease, urinary stones, infections)
- Endocrine disorders (diabetes, Cushing’s, Addison’s, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism)
- Liver and pancreatic disease (hepatitis, pancreatitis, gallbladder disease)
- Infectious diseases (viral, bacterial, fungal, protozoal)
- Immune-mediated disease (anemia, thrombocytopenia, polyarthritis)
- Dermatologic diseases (immune-mediated, allergies, infectious)
- Respiratory and nasal disease (chronic sneezing, nasal discharge, coughing, asthma)
- Cancer affecting internal organs
- Nutrition advice and recommendations
- Complicated or unexplained chronic illness
What Diagnostic Testing & Advanced Procedures Do We Offer?
Why Is a Referral Required?
Just as in human medicine, specialty care often begins with a referral. Your general veterinarian helps identify when advanced expertise or diagnostics are needed, and they remain an important partner throughout your pet’s treatment journey.
Sharing medical history, diagnostics, and prior treatments ensures continuity of care and allows our team to make timely, informed decisions.
Will My Regular Veterinarian Stay Involved?
We work by referral from your family veterinarian to provide specialized diagnostics and treatment. Results and recommendations are shared with your primary care vet to ensure seamless communication.
After diagnostics, ongoing management may continue with your family veterinarian or with our team, depending on the case.
Contact & Appointments
Great news, we are now accepting appointments! Reach out to to see availability and speak with our receptionist.
Hours of operation are Monday – Thursday, 8:00am – 6:00pm (closed statutory holidays)
Our goal is to improve your pet’s quality of life through advanced medicine, clear communication, and compassionate care.
