Desert Hills Animal Clinic is now be offering a mobile Internal Medicine Consulting Service for Large Animals (horses, llamas, goats and pot-bellied pigs. Dr. Cheryl Rahal, a specialist in large animal internal medicine, provides this Equine Service. 
 
So just what is a Specialist in Internal Medicine and how are they different from your regular farm veterinarian? 
After completing undergraduate training and four years of veterinary school, Board-certified Veterinary Specialists complete an internship and residency in their specialized field (an additional 3-5 years training) - similar to their human medical counterparts. In addition to this extensive training, a Board-certified Veterinary Specialist must pass rigorous examinations to achieve Board certification from the ACVIM (American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine).
 
Specialists bring a greater understanding in the area of internal medicine, cardiology, oncology, or neurology, and have greater knowledge of the unusual, the uncommon, or rare in both large and small animals. Also, a Specialist may have diagnostic equipment not generally used by your family veterinarian.
 

When Do You Request A Referral?
You should request a referral to an ACVIM Board-certified Veterinary Specialist when: 
    • Your animal's disease is uncommon, complicated, or undiagnosed after standard testing.
    • The outcomes of the current treatments are not going well or as expected.
    • Your animal requires a sophisticated procedure that is offered by the trained specialist.
    • Your animal can benefit from 24-hour monitoring provided by a specialty hospital.
 
Examples of conditions for which your veterinarian might refer your horse to an Internist include:
    • Acute or chronic diarrhea
    • Anemia or bleeding disorders
    • Coughing and other breathing problems
    • Diseases of the nervous system
    • Heart or circulatory disease
    • Kidney or bladder disease
    • Liver disease (Hepatitis)
    • Perinatology (monitoring high risk pregnancy)
    • Neonatology (newborn foal medicine)
    • Poor performance, loss of speed or stamina
    • Serious infectious disease
    • Thyroid or other endocrine disorders
 
Consulting Service
Dr. Rahal is now offering a mobile Internal Medicine Consulting Service.  If you feel your animal friend has a specialized need, please consult with your regular farm veterinarian about a referral.  You may also contact her directly through Desert Hills Animal Clinic, 623-581-1558.
 
For more information about Dr. Rahal, click here.
  
 
More Equine Information - Articles written by Dr. Cheryl Rahal
    • When should you request a referral to an ACVIM Board-certified Veterinary Specialist?
    • Perinatal Care
    • Your Foal - Protecting Your Investment
    • Spring Grass in Arizona
    • Spring Vaccines
  
 
Questions & Answers
    • Do horses ever give birth to twins or triplets?
    • Is it true that horses can't throw up?  Why not?
    • Can you neuter or spay horses like you would a dog or cat?
    • Do horses sleep standing up?
    • When a horse has strangles, is something choking off its air?
    • Do horses' teeth really continually grow?
 
To ask Dr. Rahal a question, email her at DesertHillsAnimalClinic@hotmail.com.