Internal Medicine

Intradermal Skin Testing Diseases of the internal systems may include airway, heart, intestines, liver, kidneys and circulatory system. Your horse might be coughing, seem dull, have a poor appetite, girthing pain or have lost weight. Any disease affecting these internal systems fall under the umbrella of internal medicine which could include bacterial or viral infections, through to heart failure, colic or allergic respiratory disease.

Internal medicine focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of body system disease (e.g. gastrointestinal tract, central nervous system, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, skin, and immune system). Common complaints include gastric ulceration, spinal ataxia, chronic colic, Cushing's disease and diarrhoea, as well as weight loss, poor performance and behavioural change.

Our internal medicine team oversees:

The intensive care of severely ill adults (e.g. diarrhoea, pleuropneumonia, acute neurological disease)
Post-surgical care for our colic cases with metabolic issues (e.g.dehydration, electrolyte disturbance, ileus)
Provision of more intensive pain control (e.g. continuous infusions, epidural catheters)
Clinical nutrition (both enteral and parenteral)

We provide specialised diagnostic expertise including videoendoscopy, ultrasound, ECG (exercise and holter), radiography (including myelography), CT, intradermal skin testing and laboratory analysis. Most treatments are medical, but we also work closely with surgical colleagues in devising the most effective therapeutic plan. We have a dedicated adult and foal intensive care suite with temperature control, piped oxygen and the ability to mechanically ventilate neonates. Many of the conditions we deal with are infectious and so we have a separate isolation facility, designed and equipped to provide an optimal level of care, along with specific isolation procedures to ensure the safety of all our patients.

Does your horse seem unwell or is under performing?

Diseases of the internal systems may include airway, heart, intestines, liver, kidneys and circulatory system. Your horse might be coughing, seem dull, have a poor appetite, girthing pain or have lost weight.

Any disease affecting these internal systems fall under the umbrella of internal medicine, this could include bacterial or viral infections, through to heart failure, colic or allergic respiratory disease.