Fields of Medicine and Health

Question 1

Surgery

Answer 1

• Either ORTHOPEDIC (bone, muscle) or SOFT TISSUE (tumors)
• Blue Pearl Veterinary Surgery Specialists have years of advanced training and are BOARD CERTIFIED
• The difference between General Practice Vets and Surgery Specialists is that they have the opportunity to perform procedures many times over, while primary care may have experience in broad ranges of care, but can perform complex surgeries less often.
• Often performed surgeries: Hernia repair, removing tumors from ears, throat, etc, and Sports injuries

Question 2

Anesthesiology & Pain Management

Answer 2

• Veterinary anesthesiologists are specialists with extensive knowledge on how to administer anesthesia in the safest way.
• Some pets are higher risk for reasons such as complicating illnesses or respiratory diseases, so a veterinary anesthesiologist becomes involved because the procedures come with a higher risk. They create a customized anesthesia plan for the patient and carefully monitors the patient. Then, they may collaborate with other caregivers in pain management and recovery.
• BluePearl is fortunate to have board-certified specialists in this area.

Question 3

Cardiology

Answer 3

• THE HEART
• Veterinary cardiologists treat pets’ heart ailments, such as problems with the valves, heart muscle, and blood vessels. They also know about LUNG diseases and problems in a heart’s chest.
• Advance testing includes EKG, echocardiograms, and contrast imaging.
• Common conditions include: High blood pressure, feline blood clot disorders, and irregular heartbeat

Question 4

Critical Care

Answer 4

• CRITICAL CARE ALWAYS STARTS OFF AS AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.
• There are currently no critical care doctors in BluePearl, Internal Medicine Doctors take over instead
• Critical Care specialists help pets in the most urgent situations, who need 24-hour monitoring or face life-threatening conditions.
• In the case of an emergency, the emergency vet and nurses will work to stabilize the pet’s condition, and then transfer the patient to the critical care doctor.
• BluePearl’s intensive care units are designed for pet’s comfort and safety, with sophisticated diagnostics and monitors
• Common things our critical care specialists can help with are: blood transfusions, breathing assistance, pain management

Question 5

Dermatology

Answer 5

• If pet is scratching or licking excessively, first stop should be to your primary care vet. But if it doesn’t respond to treatment or symptoms continue, a veterinary dermatologist might be the answer;
• Our dermatologists can use many different diagnostic tests to pinpoint the problem, and can prescribe ointments, medicated shampoos or medications. Other diagnoses may require freezing, laser treatment or surgery to remove growths or lesions.
• Common conditions: allergies, hot spots, skin tumors

Question 6

Emergency Medicine

Answer 6

• When pet is suddenly injured or ill, our highly qualified doctors and vet nurses can evaluate and stabilize your pet quickly and compassionately.
• It is a collaborative treatment, the emergency doctor works closely with other teams to provide the appropriate care in the crisis and seamless follow-up, and will work closely with your family vet.
• Common conditions: Accidents, seizures, accidental poisoning

Question 7

Internal Medicine

Answer 7

• They put together clues from the pet’s history, clinical signs, lab results, imaging studies and other testing to diagnose the problem.
• Our internal medicine specialists can diagnose severe chronic illness or symptoms that appear suddenly.
• Conditions and illnesses we often treat: All the scopes & ultrasounds, anemia, fever, complications from aging
• 2 IM doctors per hospital

Question 8

Neurology

Answer 8

• Pet walking funny? BluePearl Veterinary neurologists partner with your primary care vet in treating conditions that affect the BRAIN, MUSCLES, SPINAL CORD, and NERVES.
• Vet neurologists help pets who are paralyzed or too weak to move their limbs, pets who have spinal pain, and pets who have seizures.
• Pets who are tilting their heads, who have balance problems, or who have sudden behavioral changes may also have a neurological issue.
• Sometimes neurological problems require surgery, which may be performed by the neurologist or by a board-certified veterinary surgeon.
• Conditions often treated: Epilepsy, Brain Tumors, Deafness

Question 9

Oncology

Answer 9

• CANCER
• For some pets, a cure may be possible. For others, better quality of life
• Because cancer symptoms can vary and may overlap those of other other conditions, many pets are diagnosed by other specialists and then are seen by the veterinary oncologist. Most likely, they are diagnosed by internal medicine or surgeon if the cancerous tumor is large.
• Veterinary oncologists use many of the same types of cancer treatments that are available to humans, including SURGERY, CHEMOTHERAPY (a pill), and RADIATION therapy (when it is a serious form of cancer.)
• Sometimes a treatment plan includes a combination of these methods.
• Radiation therapy works by killing rapidly dividing cells such as cancer cells.
• Diseases often treated: Bone cancer, Breast cancer, Tumors

Question 10

Radioiodine I-131

Answer 10

• Cures HYPOTHYROIDISM in cats
• If cat is experiencing symptoms such as changes in behavior, litter box habits, and eating habits, weight loss, fever, rapid heartbeat, and shedding and diarrhea, they may have hypothyroidism.
• THERE ARE NO CURRENT DOCTORS IN BLUEPEARL THAT ADMINISTERS RADIOIODINE, we refer to Hypurrcats in NYC
• It is often treated with a single injection of radioactive iodine, which dissolves the tumor.