Internal Medicine
The Internal Medicine Service offers a comprehensive canine and feline medical referral service to veterinary surgeons in general practice. Clinics are run daily from Monday to Thursday with an emergency service available at other times.
Current Studies
Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory Bowel disease (IBD) is considered to be the most common cause of vomiting and diarrhoea in dogs. It is characterised by chronic inflammation of the stomach and the gut, causing persistent, recurrent signs such as vomiting and diarrhoea. The exact cause of this disease is currently unknown, but it is thought that diet, infectious agents, genetics and abnormalities of the immune system play a role.
The Royal Veterinary College is conducting a number of studies to assess the effect of new therapeutics in dogs with inflammatory bowel disease. It is thought that the new products will improve the clinical signs of IBD in dogs. In order to confirm a diagnosis of IBD , various tests need to be performed to rule out other possible causes of the signs these include an ultrasound scan and blood samples as well as a endoscopic examination of the stomach and gut.
We aim to collect samples from dogs suffering from IBD during a 6 week period in which they will receive a prescription diet alongside either a new therapeutic or a placebo. The collective results from a large number of dogs are expected to add important knowledge and understanding of this disease and help find strategies for its treatment.
Download further information for the Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease Study
Pancreatitis
Canine acute pancreatitis (CAP) is a common and well recognized disease in dogs. In human cases of acute pancreatitis, nutritional intervention is one of the few treatment modalities proven to have a beneficial effect on patient outcome. Of the nutrients investigated, glutamine holds the most promise and has been shown to reduce inflammation and decrease hospitalization time.
The aim of this double-blinded study will be to investigate and record whether the parental supplementation of glutamine will positively impact on case outcome as evidenced by a decrease in C-reactive protein (CRP) and canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (cPLI) and through enhanced clinical response.
Download further information for the Pancreatitis Study.
Feline diabetes and acromegaly.
This particular study consists of examining the relationship between diabetes and acromegaly and also the role of cardiovascular disease in these patients.
Stabilising cats with diabetes can sometimes be very challenging, therefore clinicians at the Royal Veterinary College are studying the relationship between the control of this disease and Insulin-like growth factor (IGF).
Growth Hormone (GH) exerts an anabolic effec, which is mediated by insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and plays a significant role in basal metabolic rate and developmental processes. Catabolic effects of GH include the development of insulin-resistance.Understanding the role between these conditions could improve the management of diabetic and acromegalic cats.
We are interested in receiving blood samples from all diabetic cats, including those that are proving difficult to stabilise. Newly diagnosed cats (diagnosis within the last 6 weeks) are eligible for follow up samples for 4 months.
Cats with a high IGF may be eligible for a free consultation at the Queen Mother Hopsital for Animals and a CT scan to try to confirm the presence of a pituitary mass. This can be of clinical value if owners wish to pursue radiotherapy which is still the treatment of choice for acromegalic cats. We are keen to continue long term follow up on these cats to objectively assess the long term response to treatment as well as consider other medical options should they become available.
Please check Royal Mail postal delivery times before sending Growth Hormone samples over the Christmas period
Download study information for the Feline Diabetic and Acromegaly Study.
Download submission forms for newly diagnosed and difficult diabetics here.
Please note that samples older than 4 days may not provide reliable fructosamine results so we would advise against sending samples on a Friday.
Canine Diabetes
Certain breeds, including the Samoyed, Cairn and Tibetan terriers seem to be predisposed to developing diabetes, whereas others, including the Boxer and German shepherd dog, seem to be less susceptible. Such breed differences suggest that there is a genetic component to disease susceptibility.
To this end The Royal Veterinary College has established a national canine diabetes register. This includes a database of clinical information and an archive of residual samples. This diabetic register should allow us to progress our understanding of the causes of this disease.
We are offering haemoglobin A1c testing free of charge, which can be used to monitor glycaemic control in dogs with diabetes.
In addition, we will provide fructosamine analysis free of charge where samples are submitted from dogs with diabetes not currently registered with us.
Download sample submission forms for the Canine Diabetic Study.