Small Animal Internal Medicine is the branch of medicine specializing in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, endocrine system, hematology, respiratory tract, kidneys and urinary tract, and infectious diseases. Common disorders seen by Internists include hormonal imbalances such as Cushing’s or Addison’s, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, diabetes, liver disease, and chronic kidney disease. Abdominal ultrasound, CT scans, specialized blood tests, and scoping procedures are common diagnostic tools. Our Small Animal Internal Medicine service has many studies involving these disorders as well as new treatment options, so please check back often to see if your pet may qualify to enroll in one of our studies. Thank you!
Dogs hospitalized with Nasogastric Vs Nasoesophageal feeding tubes
This study is using a Bravo pH capsule placed along with the feeding tube to take pH readings. We want to see if there is a difference in pH (to reflect acid reflux) in nasoesophageal versus nasogastric feeding tubes.
Eligibility
- Dogs hospitalized for feeding tube placement and monitoring are eligible.
- Dogs must be over 5kg
- Dogs cannot be brachycephalic
- Dogs cannot have a history of reflux or megaesophagus
- Dogs cannot have been on gastric acid suppressants or prokinetics 2 weeks before tube placement
What happens
Your dog will be randomly selected to be in either the NE or the NG group. The Bravo pH capsule will be placed in the esophagus when the feeding tube is placed and verified with radiographs. A sensor will report pH levels every 6 seconds for 2-5 days while the feeding tube is in place during hospitalization. Your dog will pass the capsule naturally.
Incentives
The placement radiographs are paid for by the study. Help science and dogs!
More Information
For more information contact Dr. Katie Anderson at klanderson33@wisc.edu or Amy Elbe, CVT, LAT, at clinicalstudies@vetmed.wisc.edu or 608-890-3484.
Monitoring Blood Pressure in Dogs with Chronic Kidney Disease
We are looking for 20 dogs with stable, IRIS Stage 2 or 3, chronic kidney disease. We are investigating if gabapentin used to help with vet visit anxiety affects the blood pressure in dogs with chronic kidney disease. Gabapentin is processed by the kidneys and blood pressure is affected by blood flow through the kidneys. We want to see if there is a difference in the blood pressure of dogs who have been given gabapentin and if this is different for healthy dogs versus dogs with kidney disease.
This study involves 3 visits to UW Veterinary Care. The first visit is to screen for eligibility and will pay for your dog to have a physical exam, blood, and urine tests. The second and third visits will need to be a week apart and your dog will receive either the gabapentin or a placebo (one at each visit) and then relax in the hospital for a few hours and have their blood pressure monitored at the end of 3 hours.
To enroll, or if you have questions, contact Amy Elbe, CVT, LAT, at clinicalstudies@vetmed.wisc.edu or 608-890-3484.
dogs with Immune Mediated Thrombocytopenia
We are looking for 4 more (as of 3/31/25) dogs newly diagnosed with primary immune mediated thrombocytopenia (ITP) for a clinical trial measuring cytokine levels to see if they are a good marker of inflammation and can help guide treatment and predict relapse. Dogs will need to have blood collected at enrollment, recheck appointments at weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, and 48 or until relapse. The owners will get a free recheck CBC at each appointment. Please contact Amy Elbe, CVT, LAT with any questions or to enroll at 608-890-3484 or clinicalstudies@vetmed.wisc.edu
Dogs with Chronic Kidney Disease
We are looking for dogs with chronic kidney disease level II, III, or IV to spend one day in the hospital. They will have baseline bloodwork done to confirm their stage. Then they will get a single oral dose of doxycycline. They will be taken outside for potty breaks at 9am, 1pm, and 6pm to measure the amount of doxycycline passing into the urine. The study will pay for all the bloodwork and samples and you will get a copy of the results.
For more information or to enroll in the study, please contact Amy Elbe, CVT, LAT, at 608-890-3484 or clinicalstudies@vetmed.wisc.edu.
Cats with FIP
We are recruiting cats who have been diagnosed or are suspected to have FIP (feline infectious peritonitis).
We have completed our study that includes enrolling FIP affected cats + their healthy housemates. We have a related FIP study that is looking at response to remdesivir treatment.
Updated 8/1/24:
We can get remdesivir from the human hospital to treat cats suspected to have FIP!
If you have a kitty that needs ER supportive care and treatment, they can come through UW Veterinary Care ER service. If you have a cat that you suspect has FIP but it is stable, please call UW Vet Care at 608-263-7600 to schedule an appointment through the appropriate service (internal medicine, ophthalmology, neurology, etc.).
Our clinical trial pays for an FIP FA test and an IFA PCR test ($300 value) and if your cats starts treatment for FIP you will get $500 off your UW Veterinary Care bill. Clients are responsible for all additional costs.
As of June 1, 2024 Stokes Pharmacy, a reputable and well-known national compounding pharmacy based in New Jersey, has partnered with BOVA, the company that makes GS in the UK and Australia, to bring a compounded GS oral tablets to us! The tablets will be compounded in a formulation identical to the BOVA formulation currently in use in the UK and Australia, so we have good evidence for dosing recommendations. Please contact your primary care veterinarian to obtain a prescription for this legal GS,or call for a UWVC appointment.
Referring veterinarians can CLICK HERE to fill out a form asking for advice from our specialists.
Please call 608-263-7600 to refer in your cat patients suspected to have FIP. Or, call 608-890-3484 or email clinicalstudies@vetmed.wisc.edu for questions about the FIP study.