Services
Veterinary Medical Specialists offers the latest advances in internal medicine and specializes in diagnosing and managing the most difficult internal medicine and oncology cases. By teaming with Veterinary Surgical Associates (VSA) in our shared facilities, we are able to provide the most comprehensive medical and surgical care. We offer a full range of diagnositc testing and treatment for a multitude of internal medicine problems, from cardiac to reproductive issues. With oncology services in all locations, we provide in-depth client consultations and comprehensive cancer staging and treatment
Our San Mateo office has been supplying excellent internal medicine care on the Peninsula since mid 2002. With the addition of our Concord office in August 2004, our full range of services expanded to a larger segment of the San Francisco Bay Area. In October 2006, we extended services to the South Bay with the opening of our Campbell facility.
At VMS, we use the latest ultrasound equipment, computed tomography (CT), and endoscopy to perform noninvasive and minimally invasive diagnostic evaluations. Ultrasound and CT can be used to guide fine needle aspirates or needle biopsies of internal organs or masses. CT can also give us a glimpse into hard-to-evaluate areas including the nasal passages, sinuses, brain and spine. In our Campbell office, we have a state-of-the-art linear accelerator which allows us to offer leading edge technology for cancer treatment in the form of radiation therapy.
Services provided by VMS include:
Internal Medicine/Critical Care
Our internists are specially trained to assess a variety of internal medicine diseases, including diseases of the urinary system, respiratory system, endocrine system, immune system, liver/gall bladder, pancreas, spleen, nasal passages/sinuses, and infectious diseases.
For those patients requiring hospitalization, we provide excellent overnight care of our critical patients utilizing our superb nursing staff and up-to-date ICU monitoring equipment. We provide 24 hour care on the weekends at our facility in San Mateo, and in coordination with the Contra Costa Veterinary Medical Emergency Center in Concord and United Animal Emergency Clinic in Campbell.
Our in-house laboratory is well equipped, with the ability to perform complete blood counts, full blood chemistry panels, electrolyte and blood gas evaluations, coagulation profiles, in-house cytology, and blood typing/cross-matching.
As a part of our critical care services, we offer transfusion medicine as well as both partial and total parenteral nutrition.
Oncology
Our oncologists are committed to providing pets with cancer the best possible comprehensive, compassionate care from diagnosis through staging and therapy. In most cases before cancer treatment begins, a comprehensive cancer evaluation is performed. This evaluation includes tests to assess the extent of disease, commonly referred to as staging. Depending on the type of cancer, staging porcedures may include chest x-rays, abdominal ultrasound, needle aspirate/biopsy, CT scan or specialized blood tests.
Cancer treatment modalities we provide include state-of-the-art chemotherapy, immunotherapy, surgery (in conjunction with Veterinary Surgical Associates), and through our Campbell facility, radiation therapy.
Radiation Therapy
A valuable treatment approach for many cancers is radiation therapy. This treatment involves carefully targeting the cancer tissue with high-energy radiation that can kill the cancer cells. This is often combined with surgery and/or chemotherapy for comprehensive treatment. Radiation therapy requires very specialized equipment. The linear accelerator in our Campbell facility represents the latest in this technology, providing both electron and photon capabilities and allowing us to precisely treat both superficial and deep tumors while sparing adjacent normal tissues. VMS has a team of specially trained individuals on staff to perform this therapy - including veterinary medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and radiation therapists. VMS is one of only a few centers that can offer this highly specialized therapy for companion animals in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Endoscopy Services
At VMS we utilize the highest quality fiberoptic and video endoscopy and equipment for a wide variety of procedures including: gastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, bronchoscopy, rhinoscopy, cystoscopy, and vaginoscopy.
Gastroduodenoscopy
Our flexible videoendoscopes allow us to visualize the inside of the stomach and upper intestine, as well as remove foreign bodies from the stomach and esophagus. We also are able to perform minimally invasive biopsies of the stomach and intestine with this technology.
Colonoscopy
Our flexible scopes and rigid scopes allow excellent evaluation and biopsy of the rectum and colon for lower bowel diseases in both dogs and cats.
Bronchoscopy
Our flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopes allow thorough evaluation of the trachea and lower airways. Sometimes used to remove lung foreign bodies, such as foxtail grass awns along with other inhaled plant material, we can also readily perform bronchoalveolar lavage for cytology and culture to evaluate diseases such as pneumonia, bronchitis and asthma.
Rhinoscopy
Both our rigid and flexible rhinoscopy equipment allow for extensive evaluation of the nasal passages; and, in conjunction with CT scan, can provide a very thorough evaluation of the nose.
Vaginoscopy
We can readily evaluate the vaginal tract for a variety of conditions, along with performing transcervical inseminations when required for our breeding patients.
Cystoscopy
Depending on the size of the animal, many patients can have their urethra and bladder visually evaluated with rigid cystoscopy, sometimes averting elaborate dye studies or surgical exploration. Cystoscopy can be used to evaluate the urinary tract for stones, polyps and tumors as well as ectopic ureters.
Other Services
Cardiology
The clinicians for VMS offer comprehensive cardiac evaluations, including the leading edge of echocardiography and ECG evaluation; using this equipment we also can perform minimally invasive procedures such as pericardial centesis for relief of pericardial effusion and tamponade. In conjunction with the VSA surgeons, we offer thoracoscopy to create pericardial windows as a less invasive long-term treatment for pericardial effusion and tamponade.
Radiology
We utilize digital radiography for excellent x-ray imaging at all of our locations. In conjunction with Radiocat, we are able to offer affordable Iodine-131 therapy for cats with hyperthyroidism at our San Mateo office.
Reproductive Services
In our Concord office, we are able to address reproductive issues, including assessment of ovulation timing, artificial inseminations, fresh-chilled semen shipping, as well as evaluation of the male and female to improve fertility. Transcervical inseminations can also be performed.