Relatório de estágio curricular obrigatório: área de clínica médica de pequenos animais

Abstract

Currently, the relationship between humans and animals has been strengthening and occupying an increasingly important role in society. The bond established between them highlights the need for qualified veterinarians capable of providing care for pets, which are often considered members of the family. In this context, the role of the veterinarian is essential and indispensable in promoting the One Health concept, acting in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases, especially zoonoses. Therefore, the mandatory curricular internship was carried out at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the Federal University of Pelotas, located in Capão do Leão, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, in the Small Animal Internal Medicine Service, from February 23 to May 8, 2026, totaling 429 hours, under the supervision of Dr. Sérgio Jorge and the guidance of Professor Antonella Souza Mattei, DVM, PhD. This report aimed to describe the internship site, the activities performed and/or observed, and the clinical caseload followed, as well as to present two clinical case reports. During the internship, a total of 613 procedures were performed and/or monitored, with medication administration being the most frequent, accounting for 38.34% of all procedures. Sixty patients were followed, of which dogs represented the majority 78.33% (n= 47). Among them, mixed-breed dogs were the most prevalent 46.80% (n= 22), and males accounted for 51.06% of the canine population. Cats represented 21.66% (n= 13) of the cases, with males being more prevalent (61.53%); all feline patients were mixed-breed animals (n= 13). The monitored cases were classified into preventive veterinary medicine (n= 10) and pathological conditions (n= 78). Routine check-up consultations were the most frequent category (50%), while among the diseases observed, digestive and accessory organ disorders were the most prevalent, corresponding to 26.92% of the total caseload. Two clinical cases are reported in this study: mediastinal lymphoma associated with retroviral infections in a young cat and leptospirosis associated with anaplasmosis in an elderly dog, both mixed-breed animals. The first case highlighted the importance of clinical sign evaluation and early diagnosis for proper disease staging, as well as the chemotherapy protocol employed, while demonstrating that retroviral infection represented a poor prognostic factor for clinical improvement. In the second case, the clinical signs presented together with the diagnostic findings were highly relevant for therapeutic decision-making, and early treatment following diagnosis contributed positively to patient management. However, the case also demonstrated that coinfection with anaplasmosis may delay recovery, representing an important factor in clinical progression. Finally, the mandatory curricular internship was fundamental for consolidating the knowledge acquired during undergraduate training, providing valuable experience in the clinical routine of Veterinary Medicine and contributing significantly to professional development. [resumo fornecido pelo autor]