Complex medical cases
Support for pets with signs that are persistent, recurring, difficult to explain or not responding as expected to initial treatment.
Veterinary Internal Medicine Adelaide
Veterinary Internal Medicine and Referral Medicine in Adelaide
Referral medical support for dogs and cats with complex, chronic or unclear health conditions.
SAVMR works with general practice veterinarians to investigate medical disease, plan diagnostic pathways and guide practical treatment decisions for pets that need referral-level support.
Referral medicine
What veterinary internal medicine can help with
Internal medicine focuses on diagnosing and managing diseases that affect the body’s internal systems. It is often useful when a pet has ongoing signs, abnormal test results or a condition that needs more detailed investigation.
Chronic illness
Medical guidance for long-term conditions that need diagnosis, monitoring and ongoing care planning.
Unclear test results
Referral support when blood tests, urine tests, imaging or clinical signs need deeper interpretation.
Diagnostic planning
Help choosing the next useful diagnostic step, such as ultrasound, endoscopy, advanced imaging, sampling or monitoring.
Complex conditions
Conditions and signs that may need referral support
Your regular vet may recommend internal medicine referral when a condition needs more detailed assessment or when several possible causes need to be considered together.
Ongoing vomiting or diarrhoea
Unexplained weight loss
Poor appetite or persistent lethargy
Liver or gallbladder disease
Kidney or urinary tract disease
Endocrine or hormonal disease
Respiratory disease
Anaemia or blood abnormalities
Immune-mediated disease
Complex infection or inflammation
Unclear abdominal or systemic illness
Monitoring of chronic medical conditions
Book or refer a medicine consultation
Diagnostic planning
Diagnostic planning for complex cases
Not every pet needs every test. Internal medicine referral can help decide which diagnostic step is most useful, based on the clinical question, the pet’s condition and the information already available.
Ultrasound and imaging
Abdominal ultrasound and other imaging can help assess internal organs, look for structural changes and guide further testing.
View veterinary ultrasound in AdelaideEndoscopy and sampling
Endoscopy may help investigate selected gastrointestinal, respiratory or foreign body cases and may allow targeted samples to be collected.
View veterinary endoscopy servicesAdvanced imaging pathways
MRI or other advanced imaging may be considered when neurological, soft tissue or structural disease needs further investigation.
View advanced imaging pathwaysWhen referral may help
When your vet may recommend internal medicine referral
Your regular vet may recommend referral medicine when a pet’s condition needs more detailed investigation, a second level of medical review or guidance on ongoing management.
Symptoms are ongoing
Signs such as vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss, poor appetite, coughing or lethargy have continued or returned.
Results need interpretation
Blood, urine, imaging or sampling results need to be reviewed alongside the full clinical picture.
Several causes are possible
Some medical problems have overlapping signs. Internal medicine referral can help narrow the likely causes.
A treatment plan needs review
Referral support can help guide medication, monitoring, further testing or longer-term care planning.
Consultation process
What happens during an internal medicine consultation
The consultation process depends on the reason for referral and the information provided by the regular veterinarian. SAVMR reviews the case, assesses the patient and provides recommendations to help guide the next stage of care.
Clinical details are reviewed
The referring vet provides history, examination findings, medications, test results and the main clinical question.
Your pet is assessed
The SAVMR team reviews your pet’s condition and considers what diagnostic or treatment steps may be useful.
A plan is developed
Recommendations may include treatment changes, ultrasound, endoscopy, imaging, sampling, monitoring or follow-up care.
Guidance is shared with your vet
Findings and recommendations are provided to the regular veterinarian so they can remain involved in ongoing care.
For referring vets
Information for referring veterinarians
SAVMR supports general practice veterinarians with selective internal medicine referral, diagnostic planning and case guidance for complex medical conditions in dogs and cats.
Helpful information to provide with a medicine referral
Relevant clinical history
Current medications and doses
Physical examination findings
Recent blood and urine results
Previous imaging reports
Previous treatment response
Main clinical question
Owner concerns or priorities
Preferred contact details
Related services
Related referral services
Internal medicine often connects with imaging and diagnostic procedures. SAVMR also provides related referral services for ultrasound, cardiology and endoscopy cases.
Veterinary Ultrasound
Abdominal, urinary tract and focused ultrasound for dogs and cats with internal medical concerns.
View veterinary ultrasoundVeterinary Cardiology
Echocardiography and cardiac assessment for pets with murmurs or suspected heart disease.
View veterinary cardiologyVeterinary Endoscopy
Gastroscopy, bronchoscopy and selected endoscopic procedures where clinically appropriate.
View veterinary endoscopyQuestions
Veterinary internal medicine FAQs
Veterinary internal medicine focuses on diagnosing and managing diseases that affect the body’s internal systems. It is often used for complex, chronic or unclear medical conditions.
Your vet may recommend internal medicine referral when your pet has ongoing signs, unclear test results, a complex condition or a medical problem that needs more detailed investigation.
No. SAVMR works with your regular veterinarian and provides findings and recommendations to support ongoing care.
Internal medicine may help investigate gastrointestinal, liver, kidney, urinary, respiratory, endocrine, immune-mediated and other complex medical conditions.
Some pets may need ultrasound, endoscopy, imaging or sampling, while others may need review of previous results and treatment planning. The recommended next step depends on the case.
Yes. SAVMR provides findings and recommendations to the referring veterinarian so they can guide your pet’s ongoing care.
Next step
Need to arrange an internal medicine referral?
Submit a booking or referral request and the SAVMR team will help guide the next step for your patient or pet.
For urgent appointment enquiries, please contact the team directly by phone.