Digestive organs are where the food consumed by the animal is digested and absorbed, consisting of a wide range of organs such
as esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, liver, biliary tract, pancreas, etc. These organs are sometimes further categorized
into hepatobiliary organs and pancreas.
The main symptoms of the digestive system include dysphagia, acute/chronic vomiting, hematemesis, acute/chronic diarrhea,
hematochezia, melena and dyschezia, which can also lead to anorexia, depression, weakness, weight loss, abdominal dilatation
and abdominal pain.
Specific symptoms of hepatobiliary organs diseases include abdominal swelling, jaundice, hemostatic disorder ,
polyuria/polydipsia, upper abdominal pain, etc., and other nonspecific symptoms are similar to other digestive symptoms.
Tests for diagnosis include blood tests, X-rays, urinalysis, radiographic examinations, ultrasound, endoscopy, testing for antigens
against infectious diseases, and other specialized tests.
Typical diseases treated by gastroenterlogy include esophageal foreign substances, megaesophagus, reflux oesophagitis,
gastric foreign body, gastric inflammation, gastric ulcer, gastric tumor, intestinal foreign body, acute/chronic enteritis by
bacterial or parasite, and infectious intestinal diseases such as canine Parvo viral enteritis, canine corona enteritis and feline
panleukopenia virus infection, and various inflammatory bowel diseases related to the immune system, as well as megacolon.
And acute and chronic hepatitis associated with the hepatabiliary organs, cirrhosis, congenital and acquired hepatoportal
shunts, liver tumors, cholecystitis, gallbladder stones, biliary obstruction, acute and chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic exocrine
dysfunction and pancreatic tumors, etc.
Pulmonology and Cardiovascular departments
This can be largely divided into Pulmonology and Cardiovascular departments.
Usually, animal pulmonology includes otorhinolaryngology, and refers to an area of medicine that diagnoses and treats diseases
that occur in nasal cavity, throat, trachea, bronchus, and lungs, etc. common symptoms with which patients visit the hospital,
and the typical diseases include brachycephalic syndrome found in snub-nosed dogs(such as Shih-Tzu, Pekingese, Bulldog, etc.),
Tracheal collapse, pneumonia accompanied by infectious diseases such as distemper virus, and allergic pneumonia, etc.
SNU VMTH performs stethoscope, X-ray, blood tests, infectious disease tests, and nasal/organ washing, etc. for accurate
diagnosis and treatment. In terms of animal cardiovascular medicine, vascular disease only takes a minor proportion, and heart
diseases take up most of the treatments. These heart diseases include symptoms such as cyanosis, exercise intolerance,
dyspnea, cough, ascites, and fainting, etc.
Congenital heart disease can be divided into congenital and acquired heart diseases. Congenital heart diseases include patent
ductus arteriosus (PDA), atrial septal defect (ASD), ventricular septal defect (VSD), and Tetralogy of Fallot. Acquired cardiac
diseases include heartworm infections, diverticulum insufficiency (MVII), tricuspid insufficiency (TVI), dilated cardiomyopathy
(DCM), and hypercardiomyopathy (HCM), etc.
We perform basic diagnosis of stethoscope, X-ray and blood tests, and induce accurate diagnosis through more specialized
electrocardiogram and echocardiography. We also pay particular attention to medication and dietary control.
Urology department
Urinary organs filters wastes in the blood through the kidneys and discharge them out of the body in the form of urine.
The organs in the urinary system, which is the pathway for the urine to be created, stored and discharged, are composed of
kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra, etc.
Symptoms of diseases dealt with in the urology department may include dysuria, hematuria, oliguria and polyuria, as well as
non-specific symptoms such as depression, loss of appetite, pain, weight loss, vomiting and diarrhea. These animals are
diagnosed and treated accordingly through urinalysis, ultrasound, x-ray, ultrasound, blood tests, and biopsy, etc.
Typical diseases treated by urology department include stones and tumors in the urinary system, acute and chronic renal failure,
pyelonephritis, glomerular diseases, cystitis, and lower urinary tract syndromes that are common in obese cats.
Endocrinology Department
Endocrine refers to hormone being secreted into the body. Pituitary gland, thyroid gland, pancreas, adrenal glands, ovaries and
testes are representative endocrine organs. An endocrine metabolic disorder means that the hormones secreted from these
endocrine organs are above or below the normal levels. Of course, various tumors or inflammatory conditions that occur in these
endocrine organs are also included in endocrine metabolic disorders.
Typical endocrine disorders include diabetes mellitus, hyperadrenocorticism, hypoadrenocorticism, and hypothyroidism.
Symptoms of these diseases are exhibited through nausea, increased appetite, weight gain or loss, symmetrical hair loss on the
skin or pigmentation. In addition to basic blood tests, urinalysis, X-ray and ultrasound tests, endocrine disorders are diagnosed
and treated accordingly by specialized hormone tests.
Contagious diseases
Although the occurrence rate of contagious diseases is decreasing due to vaccination, animals with lack of immunity from the
mother before the vaccination, or collectively raised animals tend to suffer from contagious diseases. These contagious diseases
are spread through bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites, ticks, protozoa, etc. In case of virus, symptoms may be more serious, and
may require the animal to be admitted to the hospital and get symptom therapy such as IV or injections, etc.
Diseases common to dogs and cats include dermatophyte, giardia, coccidiosis, ear mites, sarcoptes scabiei and heartworms, etc.
Virus-based diseases are mostly non-transferrable between dogs and cats. Common viral infections in dogs are corona, parvo,
distemper viruses etc., and more recently influenza. Viral infections in cats include panleukopenia, calicivirus, feline leukemia,
feline infectious peritonitis, etc.
We conduct various kit tests, feces tests, and PCR tests to identify the causative agents, and perform basic blood tests.
We also perform ultrasound and X-ray if necessary for each disease, and carry out intensive treatment in a hospitalized in
isolated hospital room.
Professor
Clinical Professor
Teaching Assistants(TA)
Chief Veterinarian
Medical Staff
Animal Health Technician(AHT)
Endoscopic treatment
Endoscopes used in the internal medicine department include gastrointestinal endoscopy(upper and lower), respiratory
endoscopy, laparoscopy, thoracoscopy, and bladder endoscopy. Depending on the purpose of the procedure, these treatments
can be categorized into soft endoscopes, hard endoscopes, and capsule endoscopes.
The endoscope is a diagnostic and treatment device that can be used to perform non-invasive and precise tests without
damaging the mucous membranes, lumens or organs. It can be operated with the minimum anesthetic durations without
additional hospitalization, thus reducing the burden related to anesthesia or surgery.
Tests using endoscopic instruments made of high-performance CCD can accurately diagnose not only the upper gastrointestinal
tract but also parts of large and small intestines without difficulty.
These indications can be very useful in patients with chronic vomiting as well as those requiring removal of foreign substances
such as esophageal and stomach contaminants, as they can indicate diseases that are difficult to diagnose unless direct lesions
such as a gastric ulcer or chronic gastritis are confirmed.
Additionally, through rectal endoscopy, intra-rectal lesions can be observed through rectal endoscopy in patients with bloody
diarrhea or chronic diarrhea, and samples can be taken to perform a biopsy, enabling the advantage of an accurate diagnosis.
The internal medicine department at SNU VMTH uses an RGB type digital endoscope and has soft microfracture endoscopes of
less than 6mm for digestive endoscope and less than 3mm for respiratory endoscope, which enables smooth endoscopic
treatments in patients with small bodies under 1kg body weight. We are striving to further improve diagnosis rate and cure rate
with endoscopes for laparoscopic digestive system and respiratory system as well.
Anticancer treatments
As in humans, there are many types of cancer that can occur in companion animals, and the occurrence rate of cancer in
companion animals is also on the rise as the proportion of old dogs increases due to recent advances in veterinary medicine.
Depending on the type of cancer, the treatment can proceed in a variety of ways. Benign tumors can be treated through just
surgical resection, but in the case of malignant tumors, surgical resection as well as chemotherapy must be performed in parallel
in many cases. Among malignant tumors, whether or not a treatment will be given is determined by cases where the anticancer
treatment will be effective or not effective, or by the stage of the cancer‘s progression (early, middle or terminal). At SNU VMTH,
after the confirmed diagnosis of cancer, we offer our help in your best decision on how to proceed by identifying the animal’s
health status, age, and other medical conditions.
Chemotherapy is one of the commonly used methods. It is used in cases where one or more organs are invaded by the cancer
cells and it is difficult to remove the tumor entirely through surgery or it is difficult to access the tumor, or if metastasis is a
concern following the surgery. Some types of tumors respond 80 to 90 percent of the time, and other types have little response.
Therefore, there are cases where we recommend chemotherapy while in other cases it may not be recommended depending on
the type of the tumor. We have about 30 types of antitumor agent here at SNU VMTH, and if necessary, we administer the
antitumor agent that is best suited for each patient. In general, sometimes there are side effects to antitumor agent. But in some
cases the patients become more active, and in other cases the overall quality of life improves without any side effects. The rate
of side effects is only a third of that of humans, which is significantly lower. We also anticipate side effects that can appear in
advance, and we carrying out preventive treatments accordingly.
At SNU VMTH, we try to provide specialized treatment to our patients by considering individual conditions according to each
patient. We are also working on the latest anticancer medicines in an effort to provide even better treatments.
In addition, in the terminal stage of malignant tumors, even if treatment is attempted, the prognosis may not be as desired.
However, in these cases, the malignant tumors cause weight loss and other symptoms/pains over their entire systems, which
rapidly degrades their quality of life. For such patients, we are dedicated to providing all the help we can through hospice
programs, so that the patients can be even a little more comfortable while living out the rest of their lives.
Even if no anticancer treatment is available or you do not want chemotherapy, you and your companion animals can still join
programs that can improve their quality of life.
Consultation Stages for Cancer Patients upon Visit
01. Basic body check, blood/serum chemical test, radiological tests, urinalysis
02. Tissues/pathological examinations
03. Confirmation of cancer diagnosis
04. Determination of metastasis to other organs
05. Determination of treatment methods
Hemodialysis
Hemodialysis is a treatment that adjusts body fluids, acid bases, electrolyte imbalances, uremia-related substances, and toxic
substances. It utilizes the principle that liquids and particles move through semi-permeable membranes. Indications in small
animal medicine apply to acute and chronic renal failures and acute poisoning. Acute renal failure due to grape ingestion, uremia
due to urethral obstruction, severe electrolyte abnormalities due to Addison's disease, uremia before and after surgery, drug
poisoning, etc. are actual examples for which dialysis is conducted.
Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), which is a state-of-the-art equipment, is available at SNU VMTH, with a single
dialysis duration lasting between 4 to 8 hours, conducted 2 to 4 times per week. A central venous catheter is needed to secure
the blood vessels prior to dialysis, and depending on the type of catheter, local anesthesia or short periods of sedation may be
required.
Hemodialysis is a method of calibrating acid-base, electrolyte imbalance, uremia-related substances and toxic substances.
The treatment uses the principle of diffusion where the solute moves from high to low concentration through semi-permeable
membranes, achieving concentration equilibrium. Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy(CRRT), which is a state-of-the-art
equipment, is available at SNU VMTH. This equipment uses a low blood flow and ultrafiltration to slowly adjust the uremia,
electrolyte and acid-alkaline imbalance in a continous manner similar to the biological function of the kidney. CRRT has also been
increasingly used for the treatment of human patients critically contracting acute renal failures, and as the equipment only
requires small portion of extracorporeal circulation, and as it improved to support adjustments of circulation amount through the
use of blood pumps, the use of CRRT in its jugular form has spread wide even to pediatric medicine.
In small animals, there are still only a few cases where CRRT has been applied, but it is becoming increasingly useful by
eliminating the toxic substances and reducing the underflowing water. In small animal medicine, CRRT is most often ordered and
performed in cases of acute renal failure, and is also sometimes performed for patients with chronic renal failure showing uremia
symptoms, electrolyte imbalance, acute renal poisoning caused by poisonous substances such as antifreeze liquid, as well as in
cases of drug poinsoing.
The procedure for hemodialysis is as follows.
Prior to executing the dialysis, a central venous catheter must be attached in order to secure vein access, and local anesthesia or
short-term sedation may be required depending on the type of the catheter and the patient‘s condition. The artificial kidney and
cardiopulmonary pathways are determined based on the weight of the patient, and dialysis will be performed using dialysis fluid
and anticoagulant. During dialysis, the patient is continuously monitored.
Glucose, Electrolytes), gas analysis, blood pressure, body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, etc., are used as monitoring
indicators, and we will observe in detail the possible side effects. Possible side effects include coagulopathy associated with
long-term heparin anticoagulation, anemia, infection, thromboembolism, etc., but these symptoms do not appear frequently.
Duration of dialysis procedure varies depending on the patient's condition and will be carried out 2 to 4 times a week.
In the case of acute renal failure, dialysis treatment can be completed with a few sessions, but in cases where the kidney has lost
its function, such as with chronic kidney failure, the animal may have to receive dialysis treatment for life. Also, depending on the
patient, hemodialysis may not be performed if the patient is too light-weight or has severe anemia. Based on this basic
information, SNU VMTH can help you decide on the most suitable method when hemodialysis is necessary, taking into
consideration the general condition, prognosis, and possibility of complications, etc. for each patient.
Holter Monitor
Recently, as the aging of the companion animal progresses further, many diseases are being observed. Among them many
animals show symptoms such as fainting, fatigue, dyspnea, etc. If a heart-related disorder is suspected, or if arrhythmia and
cardiac murmur are observed through the stethoscope , electrocardiogram(ECG) will be performed as a part of the basic
checkup. Since the common ECG equipment tests the heart‘s electrocardiogram for only a short time at the hospital, the
patient’s level of excitement may affect the waveforms on the electrocardiogram. And since most arrythmia disappears after only
a short period of time, and since there are various factors over the course of an animal‘s daily life, there may be a need for a
long-term ECG testing. The Holter Monitor is a test equipment that records electrocardiogram over the course of a patient‘s daily
life for an extended time frame(24~48 hours). This is widely used for the diagnosis of arrhythmia in human medicine.
The HOLTER recorder is also the primary choice when accessing the frequency of arrhythmia over 24 hours, or when assessing
the patient‘s response to treatments.
Monitoring Procedures
After shaving the ventral side of the patient's thorax, attach the electrode wire and connect the portable holter device to the
electrode wire. Put on a vest-shaped garment suitable for the size of the patient, then put the holter in the pocket and keep it for
24 hours. At this time, the patient experiences almost no inconveniences in daily life.
The HOLTER monitor has an Event button that allows you to observe waveforms that correspond with the exhibited symptoms by
pressing this button when the patient shows such symptoms.
After 24 hours, visit the hospital, remove the electrode wire, and wait for the test results. The test results will be available to you
in 7 to 10 days through your doctor.