Tailored Treatment Plans for Complex Medical Conditions
Internal Medicine
The Internal Medicine team specialises in diagnosing and formulating treatment plans for pets with multiple or complex medical conditions. Led by our Board-certified Internal Medicine Specialist, the team utilises a range of diagnostic techniques to thoroughly investigate and develop treatment plans for acute and chronic conditions.
Some commonly seen conditions include:
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Gastrointestinal disorgers (e.g. inflammatory bowel disease)
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Haematological (blood) diseases and bleeding disorders
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Endocrine conditions (e.g. diabetes, Cushing's disease, Addison's disease)
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Urinary disorders
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Kidney disease
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Heart conditions (e.g. heart murmur, heart failure)
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Cancer
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Neurological disorders (e.g. epilepsy, seizures)
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Liver disease
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Respiratory conditions (e.g. Feline asthma, chronic bronchitis)
The team also collaborates closely with our other departments such as Surgery and Emergency and Critical Care to ensure the best patient outcome.
Procedures
Echocardiogram
Commonly known as an "echo", the echocardiogram is a cardiac ultrasound that scans the heart and nearby blood vessels to check the structure and function of your pet's heart. The procedure is non-invasive and does not require sedation or general anaesthesia.
Endoscopy
Using an endoscope to examine the interior of your pet's organs (e.g. bladder, nose, gastrointestinal tract etc.), the vet can assess your pet or perform tissue biopsies and cell sampling. Endoscopies are minimally invasive and done under general anaesthesia. It also leads the way to interventional procedures such as stent placements.
Joint & Spinal Tap
A joint tap or arthrocentesis is performed by inserting a needle into the joint to retrieve fluid for analysis. Spinal taps involve collecting fluids from the spinal cord for analysis. Both procedures are performed under short general anaesthesia.
Bone Marrow Aspiration / Biopsy
Bone marrow aspiration is a procedure to remove a small amount of liquid bone marrow, while a bone marrow biopsy entails retrieving a solid bone marrow sample. This is generally done the determine the cause of abnormalities (extremely high or low) white and red blood cell counts, or of low platelet counts. The procedure is performed under short general anaesthesia.
Internal Medicine Team
Dr Nathalee Prakash
BSc BVMS (Hons) PhD DACVIM (Small Animal Internal Medicine) FANZCVS (Canine Medicine)
Internal Medicine Specialist
Dr Nathalee Prakash graduated with first-class merit honours from Murdoch University, where she obtained her Bachelor's degree. She later completed a three-year residency in Small Animal Internal Medicine at the University of Melbourne. She is double-boarded and has specialist qualifications with the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (ANZCVS) in Canine Medicine and is also an American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) diplomat in Small Animal Internal Medicine.
Dr Prakash obtained her PhD in 2019, with the thesis focusing on inflammatory bowel disease in dogs. She has several publications that are mainly in the areas of veterinary gastroenterology and immunology.
She has also received further training in echocardiography, interventional procedures including stent placements, and is qualified in haemodialysis.
When not at work, Dr Prakash enjoys spending time in the company of dogs, friends and books.
PUBLICATIONS: ORIGINAL SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES
Martínez-López, L. M. Perez-Gonzalez, A. Washington, E. A. Woodward, A. P. Roth-Schulze, A. J. Dandrieux, J. Johnstone, T. Prakash, N. Jex, A. & Mansfield, C. (2021) Hierarchical modelling of immunoglobulin coated bacteria in dogs with chronic enteropathy shows reduction in coating with disease remission but marked inter-individual and treatment-response variability. PloS one, 16(8), e0255012.
J.R.S. Dandrieux, L.M. Martinez Lopez, N. Prakash and C.S. Mansfield (2019) Treatment response and long term follow up in nineteen dogs diagnosed with chronic enteropathy in Australia, Australian Veterinary Journal, DOI: 10.1111/avj.12846
N. Prakash, P. Stumbles and C.S Mansfield (2019) Concentrations of interleukin-6, -8, -10 and tumour necrosis factor-α in the faeces of dogs with acute diarrhoea, New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 67(3), pp. 138-142.
N. Prakash, and C. Mansfield (2014) “Review of the use of budesonide, mycophenolate mofetil and leflunomide in dogs” Australian Veterinary Practitioner, Vol. 44, No. 1, pp. 567 – 573.
N. Prakash, P. Stumbles and C. Mansfield (2013) "Initial Validation of Cytokine Measurement by ELISA in Canine Feces," Open Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 3(6) pp. 282-288.
N. Prakash, M. J. Day, P. Stumbles, I. R. Peters, M. Sharman, A. Paul and C. Mansfield (2012) "Assessment of Molecular Signalling Mechanisms for Eosinophilia in Rottweilers" Open Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 2 (4), pp. 170-177.
N. Prakash, M. J. Sharman, S. Adsett, C. S. Mansfield (2011) “Vascular Hamartoma in the Oesophagus of a Dog” Australian Veterinary Practitioner, 42 (1) pp. 172-175.
Book Review of ‘Canine and Feline Gastroenterology’ 1st Ed (Washabau & Day) for Australian Veterinary Practitioner
Emma Tee BSc Psychology, Specialist Dip in Veterinary Clinical Practice
Veterinary Nurse
Emma was working in research when she decided veterinary nursing was her true passion. She then started training in veterinary nursing and successfully obtained a diploma conversion in veterinary clinical science. Professional development is important to her and she is currently pursuing a Masters in Clinical Animal Behaviour with The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh. You can often find Emma cuddling and feeding the patients. Her warmth towards the patients is contagious.
She has two guinea pigs and looks forward to having more furry friends in the future.