Internal Medicine

acvim The Internal Medicine department at Veterinary Specialty Hospital is staffed with six board-certified specialists in internal medicine, focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in gastrointestinal, urogenital, endocrine, cardiac, respiratory, and hematologic systems. VSH is one of the nation’s pioneering sites for non-invasive scoping procedures in dogs and cats. Members of our staff have authored several publications and textbook chapters in the area of endoscopy.

The internal medicine staff prides itself on professional leadership, intensive diagnostics, state-of-the-art equipment, exceptional patient care, and a team approach. This approach emphasizes active collaboration within the department and with other specialty services on a comprehensive plan for diagnosis and treatment. From the treatment of cats with kidney failure, arthritis in dogsm diabetes in both dogs and cats, and a multitude of diseases and medical conditions, we believe that a strong mix of compassion and competence enhances service to our clients and their pets.

The Internal Medicine department is well-equipped with five flexible endoscopes having high-resolution video and three rigid scopes for laparoscopy and thoracoscopy. A state-of-the-art, high-resolution ultrasound machine is routinely used to perform abdominal and cardiac imaging, along with non-invasive biopsy and aspiration procedures. Also, a high-resolution digital fluoroscopy system enables procedures such as pacemaker placement, angiography, gastrointestinal/esophageal motility evaluation. Veterinary Specialty Hospital has an active relationship with the UC Davis Nephrology team and we can offer patients in need of these services the highest quality care.

Book a veterinary internal medicine appointment at Veterinary Specialty Hospital

Internal Medicine Services and Procedures

24-hour monitoring by veterinarians and technicians
Laparoscopy with high-resolution video
Thoracoscopy
Hemodynamic monitoring
Ultrasonography
Electrocardiology
Endoscopy with high-resolution video
Non-invasive biopsy and aspiration
Fluoroscopy
Angiography
Gastrointestinal/ esophageal motility evaluation
Telemetry cardiac monitoring
Blood pressure monitoring
Pulse oximetry monitoring
Fluid therapy infusion pumps
Blood and plasma transfusion
Ventilatory support
Intensive care oxygen therapy
Pacemaker placement

North County

Kevin Mallery, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM): Dr. Kevin Mallery obtained his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Tufts University in 1999. He then completed a one year internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. Following the internship, Dr. Mallery completed a residency program in internal medicine at the University of California, Davis. At UC Davis, Dr. Mallery was involved in clinical research in endocrinology and actively participated in the training of pre-clinical and fourth year veterinary students. Dr. Mallery then started the internal medicine program at a specialty hospital in Riverside County and worked there for the next 6 years. He is now the hospital director of Veterinary Specialty Hospital's North County location.

A Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Dr. Mallery’s special interests include endocrinology, autoimmune disease, gastroenterology, liver disease, and oncology. Dr. Mallery is skilled in all endoscopic techniques including gastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, rhinoscopy, cystoscopy, bronchoscopy and laparoscopy. He is also proficient in abdominal and cardiac ultrasonography, and percutaneous biopsy techniques.

Dr. Mallery has published scientific articles in endocrinology, cardiology and oncology. He lectures frequently at scientific meetings. Dr. Mallery served as co-president of the Orange Belt Veterinary Medical Association in Riverside County, from 2004-2006. He shares his home with his wife, two sons, three dogs, and one cat.
Julie R. Fischer, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM): Dr. Fischer received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Canada, and a small animal internal medicine residency at Kansas State University. Dr. Fischer served as a clinical instructor at Kansas State before entering private specialty practice in San Jose, California. In 2002, Dr. Fischer established UC Davis’s Nephrology, Urology and Hemodialysis Service in San Diego, coordinating the program until 2009 and becoming a nationally recognized expert in upper and lower urinary tract disease. She has been a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, specialty of Small Animal Internal Medicine, since 2000.

Dr. Fischer particularly enjoys the diagnosis and management of upper and lower urinary tract problems, including complicated infections, obstructive ureteral diseases, prostatic diseases, incontinence, and acute and chronic renal failure. Her other special interests include immune-mediated diseases, oncology, and the clinical training of veterinary students and house officers. She served on the ACVIM Small Animal Internal Medicine Credentials Committee, and served on and chaired the Small Animal Internal Medicine Residency Training Committee. Dr. Fischer is passionate about the evolving art of post-doctoral veterinary education, especially the fusion of academic and private-practice advanced training programs. She has published scientific journal articles and textbook chapters on urinary diseases and other internal medicine topics, and speaks locally, nationally, and internationally on topics in nephrology and urology.

San Diego

Katharine Arnell, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM): Dr. Kate Arnell is a 2006 graduate of the University of California, Davis. She completed a one-year general rotating medical and surgical internship at the Veterinary Specialty Hospital in 2007. She then completed a three-year internal medicine residency program at VSH in 2010 and became board-certified as an internal medicine specialist in 2011.

Dr. Arnell has clinical interests in all aspects of small animal veterinary internal medicine with special interests in gastroenterology, nephrology, and immune-mediated disease. She is skilled in ultrasonography and endoscopic procedures.

Dr. Arnell was born in England and travels back frequently to visit her extended family. She lives with her pitbull mix Simon and two cats, Tater and Nova.
Marie Chartier, DVM: Dr. Marie Chartier received her DVM from Louisiana State University in 2009. She completed her internship at Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts from 2009-2010 before starting her internal medicine residency at the Veterinary Specialty Hospital of San Diego. Though Dr. Chartier enjoys many aspects of internal medicine, she is particularly interested in gastroenterology and diseases of the urinary tract.
Jennifer DeBerry, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM): A Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Dr. Jennifer DeBerry has extensive clinical interests in all aspects of veterinary internal medicine. Her special interests include nephrology, endocrinology, and feline medicine. She is skilled in endoscopic procedures such as gastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, tracheobronchoscopy, rhinoscopy, cystoscopy, and vaginoscopy. She is also proficient in ultrasonography and ultrasound-guided biopsies. In addition, she is trained in performing and interpreting cytologic, fluoroscopic, and urodynamic studies.

Dr. DeBerry obtained her DVM from the University of California, Davis. She then completed an internship in general medicine and surgery here at the Veterinary Specialty Hospital. Following her internship, Dr. DeBerry returned to UC Davis, where she completed her residency in Small Animal Internal Medicine. While at UC Davis, Dr. DeBerry actively participated in the training of pre-clinical and fourth year veterinary students. She is active in ongoing research in the areas of feline diabetes mellitus and feline nutrition. Dr. DeBerry has also authored several scientific journal articles.
John Hart, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM): A Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Dr. Hart is interested in all aspects of internal medicine, particularly gastroenterology, hematology, respiratory medicine and oncology. He is skilled in tracheobronchoscopy, gastroduodenoscopy and laparoscopy. In addition he is adept at cardiac and abdominal ultrasonography, balloon dilation and percutaneous biopsy techniques. Dr. Hart’s expertise also includes interpretation of special studies such as fluoroscopy and contrast radiology.

Dr. John Hart received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Auburn University, College of Veterinary Medicine in 1988. In 1989, he completed a one-year internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City, and stayed to complete a two-year residency in Internal Medicine. He remained at the Animal Medical Center as a Staff Internist and Service Chief for three years. Dr. Hart joined the staff of the Veterinary Specialty Hospital in the fall of 1994. Dr. Hart has published scientific articles dealing with Internal Medicine and has collaborated in several clinical studies with researchers across the country. He lectures frequently to veterinarians both nationally and internationally, and participated with his dog, Amber, in human-animal bond activities.
Steve Hill, DVM, MS, DACVIM (SAIM): A Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Dr. Steve Hill has broad clinical interests in all aspects of veterinary internal medicine. His special interests are gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, pancreatic, immune-mediated, and infectious diseases as well as oncology. While at Colorado State University, Dr. Hill’s clinical research focused on infectious and zoonotic diseases. In addition, Dr. Hill has collaborated and received additional training with human gastrointestinal and infectious disease specialists.
Dr. Hill is a 1991 graduate of Colorado State University, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He completed his internship at the San Diego Veterinary Referral Hospital in 1992 and his Internal Medicine residency and his master’s degree in clinical sciences at Colorado State University in 1995.

Dr. Hill is skilled in all endoscopic procedures including gastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, trachobronchoscopy, rhinoscopy, urethrocystoscopy, vaginoscopy, laparoscopy and thoracoscopy. He is also proficient in ultrasound (abdominal and cardiac), fluoroscopy, and percutaneous biopsy procedures.

Dr. Hill has authored several scientific articles and textbook chapters and he lectures at scientific meetings. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Western University of Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and he is on the board of the Comparative Gastroenterology Society. Dr. Hill joined the staff of the Veterinary Specialty Hospital in 1995.
Dr. Hill is married with two children. The Hill family also includes dogs, cats, fish, and a snake.
Keith Richter, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM): Dr. Keith Richter is a graduate of Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine. He completed his internship at the California Animal Hospital in Los Angeles and his Internal Medicine residency at the University of California, Davis. For three years, Dr. Richter served on the Internal Medicine staff of Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston and as Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. He was then a professor at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine where he commuted back and forth to San Diego from 2001-2003. Dr. Richter has been the hospital director of the Veterinary Specialty Hospital since 1990.

A Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Dr. Richter’s special interests include gastroenterology, liver disease, oncology, and autoimmune disease. Dr. Richter is nationally recognized for his skill in all endoscopic techniques including gastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, and bronchoscopy. In addition, he has been a pioneer in veterinary thoracoscopy and laparoscopy. He is also proficient in ultrasonography and percutaneous biopsy techniques.
Laura West, DVM: Dr. Laura West received her DVM from the University of Georgia in 2007. She completed a rotating internship at VCA Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center in Norwalk, Connecticut from 2007-2008. She also completed a specialty internship in internal medicine at Animal Specialty Group in Los Angeles, California from 2008-2009. Currently, she is an internal medicine resident here at the Veterinary Specialty Hospital of San Diego. Her professional interests include feline medicine and endocrinology.

Internal Medicine Services

Internal Medicine

Internal Medicine Services and Procedures

North County

San Diego

Specialties