Veterinary Internal Medicine
in Charlottesville
From gastrointestinal issues, respiratory conditions and endocrine disorders, internal medicine is a complex field. Our team of board-certified veterinary internists is here to help you navigate your pet's complex medical case.
We pair our years of expertise with advanced radiology, endoscopy, ultrasound, and blood testing to diagnose and treat our patients.
Our veterinary internal medicine services focus on these core areas: endoscopic procedures, respiratory conditions, minimally invasive procedures, and more.
Diagnostics and Procedures we Perform
Our facility is equipped with high-end technology to ensure we reach an accurate diagnosis quickly and safely.
- Imaging & Lab Work: Abdominal and thoracic ultrasound, Computed Tomography (CT), Radiology, and a full in-house laboratory.
- Advanced Diagnostics: Ultrasound-guided biopsies, Bone Marrow Aspirates, and Blood Transfusions.
Endoscopy Services
We utilize minimally invasive endoscopic procedures to visualize internal organs without the need for major surgery.
What to Expect
Typically, consultations and ultrasound require around 90 minutes to complete. In the absence of an ultrasound, the consultation typically takes an hour.
During the consultation, an internist will review your pet’s medical history, perform a physical exam, discuss recommended diagnostics and treatments, and answer any questions you may have.
Once diagnostics and/or a treatment plan are chosen, your pet may need to spend a few hours with us after the consultation. We will take this time to perform any necessary diagnostic tests.
Once your consultation is completed, the internists may have you bring your pet back for further diagnostics.
These are a few things you can expect:
- Drop off for internal medicine procedures is between 8:00a.m–9:00 a.m.
- No food after 10:00 p.m. the night before, but water through the night is usually fine
- Please bring any medications your pet is taking
- Please bring those medications in the prescription bottles
For patients being dropped off with us for the day, the receptionist will give you a form to provide the internist with current information regarding your pet.
The form includes space to note current concerns you have for your pet, along with places to note details about when they last ate and received their medications.
Minimally Invasive Procedures
Virginia Veterinary Specialty & Emergency offers state-of-the-art interventional radiology diagnostics and procedures. These procedures are designed to address your pet’s condition in the most effective and least invasive way possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some internal medicine conditions are chronic and require ongoing management. We create personalized treatment plans tailored to your pet’s diagnosis, lifestyle, and overall health.
Internal Medicine Doctors
Carrie Miller, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM
Dr. Miller received her DVM from Tufts University in 1999. She then completed a rotating internship in medicine and surgery at Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital in Colorado in 2000. In July 2003, she became board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine after finishing her residency at Wheat Ridge Veterinary Specialists in Colorado. Dr. Miller continued as a staff doctor at Wheat Ridge Veterinary Specialists and trained for seven years with Dr. Brendan McKiernan, an internationally known respiratory specialist.
Dr. Miller is a member of the American Animal Hospital Association, American Veterinary Medical Association, and the Virginia Veterinary Medical Society.
Shannon Ryan, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM
Dr. Shannon Ryan attended Denison University in Granville, Ohio, where she received her BS in biochemistry in 2003. She then attended The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, where she received her DVM in 2008. After veterinary school, Dr. Ryan began a rotating small animal internship at Hope Advanced Veterinary Center in Vienna, Virginia. During her internship, she developed a strong interest in Internal Medicine and stayed on to complete a year-long internship with the Internal Medicine department. Dr. Ryan then completed a three-year residency in Internal Medicine also at The Hope Center. During her residency, she researched the effects of low doses of dopamine on morbidity on dogs with pancreatitis and performed a retrospective review on chronic vomiting in cat’s etiology and diagnostic testing. In February of 2015, Dr. Ryan became board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Once certified Dr. Ryan joined the team at Virginia Veterinary Specialty & Emergency, in December of 2015.
Michelle Purnell, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM
Dr. Michelle Purnell is an air force brat born in upstate New York. She grew up in Louisiana and pursued undergraduate studies at Louisiana State University. She then graduated from Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1998 and remains a rabid LSU Tigers fan to this day. She completed a rotating small animal medicine and surgery internship in Chicago, IL, where she was voted Intern of the Year. She then pursued a residency in small animal internal medicine at Oklahoma State University and was awarded the Phi Zeta Honor Society research award. Upon finishing her residency, she joined a busy multi-specialty referral practice in North Carolina, where she was a staff small animal internist for 16 years, and for the last three years there, she served as the medical director. Dr. Purnell is board certified in small animal internal medicine and joined Virginia Veterinary Specialty & Emergency in November of 2017.
Zachary Crouse, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM
Joining in September 2024, Dr. Zachary Crouse is originally from Virginia and completed his undergraduate education at Virginia Tech. He earned his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the Western University of Health Sciences in California. Following veterinary school, he completed a one-year Small Animal Rotating Internship, followed by a three-year Small Animal Internal Medicine Residency, both at Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston. In 2017, following the completion of his residency, Dr. Crouse earned board certification from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in Small Animal Internal Medicine. He remained on as a staff internal medicine specialist at Angell Animal Medical Center until 2024, at which time he relocated to Charlottesville to join the team at VVSE.
Dr. Crouse enjoys the process of diagnosing and treating diseases in dogs and cats while guiding and educating their caretakers. He believes it is important to include caretakers, referring veterinarians, and the entire VVSE team in order to diagnose and treat patients effectively.
