Equine Internal Medicine

Iowa State University’s Equine Internal Medicine Service is here for you and your horse.

Together, we diagnose and treat horses with a problems such as endocrinopathies (Pars Pituitary Intermedia Dysfunction/PPID and Equine Metabolic Syndrome/EMS), respiratory disease, gastrointestinal diseases, renal disease, liver disease, muscle disease and others. Additionally, we work with other board-certified specialists to diagnose and treat horses with cardiac disease and skin or allergy problems.

Owners commonly schedule an appointment with our service when their horse is having problems with: laminitis, difficulties loosing or gaining weight, coughing, decreased appetite, signs of colic, non-skeletal causes of poor performance, abnormal urination, fever, abnormal gaits concerning for neurological disease and more.

Our team also treats foals in our neonatal intensive care unit (link), for problems ranging from failure of passive transfer, sepsis, dysmaturity and musculoskeletal or neurological concerns.

Commonly Asked Questions

No, a referral is not needed. While we encourage you to provide us with your regular veterinarian’s information so that we can work with them for any on-going at home care needs this is not required. You can call to make an appointment for your horse at 515 294 1500.

No, while we are a teaching hospital every horse on the internal medicine service’s care is overseen and supervised by a clinician board certified in large animal internal medicine. Students, residents and interns are an integral part of our care team, but are not allowed to “experiment” or “practice” on client owned animals. We take providing your horse with the highest level of care very seriously.

We treat every horse and client with the same level of respect and importance – whether your horse is a grand champion in the show ring, or in your heart. We also understand the stress that can be involved with finances and veterinary medicine. We promise you the following:

We will do our very best to provide you with an accurate estimate for diagnostic procedures and care. This can start over the phone prior to arrival, but will be most accurate after we have performed an initial evaluation of your horse.
We will do our very best to provide you with financial updates if unexpected complications occur.
We will do everything that we can to work within your budget and meet your goals for your horse.

If you would like a price estimate prior to making an appointment with our service please let the front desk know. A member from our team will speak with you and based on the information that you provide do our best to provide you with an accurate estimate. If this estimate changes after evaluating your horse you will be updated as needed.

Interns

Interns have completed veterinary school (a four-year program, similar to medical school) and have their DVM (similar to an MD or DO). Unlike human physicians, internships and residencies are not required to practice veterinary medicine. The majority of veterinarians do not complete an internship or residency. Veterinary interns have chosen to undertake additional highly mentored training to improve their knowledge and skill. Some veterinarians will undertake more than one internship to meet their goals.

Residents

Residents have completed at least one internship in addition to completing veterinary school. They have chosen an area of specialization (such as large animal internal medicine) and have undertaken a 3-year intensive training program in that area. After completing the three years of training they are required to pass board certification examinations to be called a board-certified specialist. Less than 70% of residents who take these examinations typically pass on the first try.

Board-certified specialists

Board-certified specialists (sometimes called “senior clinicians”) are veterinarians who have completed at least one internship, residency and passed board certification examinations. Iowa State University places on emphasis on having world renowned specialists with years of experience and training in addition to their board certification, who are committed to providing high quality compassionate care to you and your horse.