Internal Medicine Clone
Veterinary Internal Medicine — Advanced Diagnosis for Complex Cases on Long Island
Some cases do not fit a simple diagnosis. A pet that has been sick for months without a clear answer. A condition that is not responding to standard treatment. Symptoms that span multiple organ systems in ways that require methodical, specialist-level investigation to unravel. This is the work of internal medicine.
At Gold Coast, our board-certified internist, Dr. Jacqueline Gest-Poulos, DVM, DACVIM, specializes in exactly these cases. She uses advanced diagnostics, a systematic approach, and years of specialist experience to find answers that elude general practice — and to build treatment plans that address the underlying cause, not just the symptoms.
Conditions We Diagnose and Manage
Endocrine Disorders
- Diabetes mellitus: diagnosis, insulin regulation, and long-term monitoring
- Cushing’s disease (hyperadrenocorticism): complex diagnosis and individualized treatment
- Addison’s disease: adrenal insufficiency requiring lifelong management
- Hypothyroidism: common in dogs; managed with hormone supplementation
- Hyperthyroidism: most common in older cats; multiple treatment options
Immune-Mediated Diseases
- Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA): life-threatening; requires aggressive immunosuppression
- Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (ITP): abnormal platelet destruction
- Polyarthritis: immune-mediated joint disease
Infectious Diseases
- Tick-borne illness: Lyme, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, RMSF
- Leptospirosis: renal and hepatic involvement; zoonotic risk management
Gastrointestinal Conditions
- Chronic vomiting and diarrhea: investigating root causes beyond standard treatment
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): endoscopic diagnosis, dietary management, and immunosuppressive therapy
- Pancreatitis: acute and chronic; management and prevention of recurrence
- Protein-losing enteropathy: complex protein loss through the GI tract
Kidney, Liver, and Respiratory
- Chronic kidney disease: staging, management, and slowing progression
- Acute kidney injury: intensive management and recovery monitoring
- Hepatitis and liver disease: portosystemic shunts, chronic hepatitis, copper-storage disease
- Pneumonia and respiratory disease: chronic cough, bronchitis, and infectious causes
Advanced Diagnostic Tools Used in Internal Medicine
- Endoscopy: minimally invasive GI and respiratory visualization, with biopsy capability — avoiding surgery for tissue diagnosis
- Vimago HD CT: exceptional cross-sectional detail for organ, mass, and vascular evaluation
- Abdominal and thoracic ultrasound: real-time organ assessment and guided sampling
- Comprehensive bloodwork and urinalysis: with advanced panels for organ function and endocrine markers
- Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL): airway fluid sampling for respiratory disease
- Bone marrow biopsy: for hematologic and immune-mediated conditions
Is this an emergency?
Gold Coast is a specialty and referral center open Mon-Fri 7am-6pm, Sat 8am-4pm. For emergencies at any hour, West Hills Animal Hospital is on the same campus .