The Internal Medicine Service is run by Dr Victoria Hare DACVIM.
Qualifications
University of Bristol; Bachelors degree, Animal behavior & Ethology, 2010 - 2011 (intercalated degree)
University of Glasgow; Veterinary Medicine, 2008 - 2014
2014 - 2022; General and emergency practice in Scotland and California (including time at Oakdale Veterinary Group).
Louisiana State University; Internal Medicine Resident 2022 - 2024. DACVIM.
VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital; Internal Medicine Consultant; Starting July 2024
Oakdale Veterinary Group; Internal Medicine Consultant; Starting July 2024
While having to see an internal medicine specialist can be stressful, we are here to make your visit and your pet's stay as comfortable as possible. Our Internal Medicine Department has specialized technology as well as the expertise to help diagnose and treat your pet, but our mission is also providing you and your pet with compassionate care and the best client service possible.
What Is A Veterinary Internal Medicine Specialist?
A board certified veterinary internal medicine specialist is a licensed veterinarian who has completed a one-year internship program followed by a three-year residency in internal medicine. Following successful completion of a comprehensive examination and acceptance of a publication in a peer-reviewed journal, the doctor becomes board certified and a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. An internal medicine specialist has advanced training in the following disciplines:
- Endocrinology
- Cardiology
- Gastroenterology
- Hematology (study of the blood)
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Nephrology/Urology
- Neurology
- Respiratory Diseases
- Oncology
Within the discipline of veterinary internal medicine, there are also veterinarians who specialize further in Small Animal Medicine, Cardiology, Neurology, and Oncology.
Why Does My Pet Need A Veterinary Internal Medicine Specialist?
Just as your own primary care physician may feel the need to refer you to the care of a specialist from time to time, your general practitioner veterinarian may feel your pet needs a specialist with intensive training and advanced diagnostics and therapies to help diagnose or treat a particularly complicated medical problem. Veterinary Specialists work in concert with primary care physicians to ensure the very best outcome for your pet.
What Health Problems Does A Veterinary Internal Medicine Specialist Treat?
Board certified internal medicine specialists are trained to treat the most serious diseases and health problems that affect pets. They are also especially prepared to care for pets that may be facing multiple health problems. Thanks to better health care, more and more pets are living longer lives. As a result, an increasing number of older pets, just like older people, are coping with multiple disease states that can be very difficult to manage. For example, a cat with diabetes may also be suffering from kidney failure, or a dog in heart failure may also be diagnosed with cancer. Internal medicine specialists are uniquely prepared to oversee the care of these complicated cases. In other situations, a younger animal may develop a problem that used to be considered untreatable but is now manageable and perhaps even curable.
Here are some common diseases that frequently lead general practitioner veterinarians and concerned pet owners to seek the expertise of a specialist:
- Cancer
- Heart Disease
- Gastrointestinal Diseases
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Immune Related Disorders
- Kidney Dysfunction
To schedule a consultation for your pet or for a pet belonging to a client of yours, please call us on 209 847 2257
Our Internal Medicine team are pleased to offer advice to colleagues in primary care practice; this can be done through our online advice form or by calling us at 209 847 2257
Estimates for common complaints:
| Chronic cough $3,000-4,000 | Consultation, thoracic radiography, general anesthesia, bronchoscopy, bronchoalveolar lavage cytology and culture, 2 days hospitalization +/- CT thorax |
| Nasal discharge/sneezing $3,000-4,000 | Consultation, general anesthesia 2h, head CT +/- thorax, rhinoscopy, nasal biopsies, 2 days hospitalization |
| Tracheal collapse $2,000-2,500 | Consultation, thoracic radiography, general anesthesia 2h, bronchoscopy, bronchoalveolar lavage cytology and culture, 2 days hospitalization |
| Upper respiratory noise $2,500-3,000 | Consultation, general anesthesia, CT head rhinoscopy, nasal biopsies, 2 days hospitalization. |
These are approximate estimates/list of items for these clinical complaints. It will be tailored individually in each case and discussed with the client during initial consultation/hospitalization. These estimates do not include treatments.