Cardiology

A veterinary cardiology evaluation consists of a complete history and a cardiac physical examination along with additional diagnostic tests as indicated, so fees vary from case to case. We will discuss all fees prior to and during treatment. We understand that your time is very valuable so we will do everything in our power to accomplish this in a timely manner. However, a cardiac workup can sometimes be time-consuming so we may ask that you leave your pet with us for 1-3 hours.

• A brief description of the reason for the appointment with the Cardiology Team, including all of your pet’s symptoms even those that may not seem significant.
• List of medications your pet is receiving, including any over-the-counter drugs, herbs or metabolic supplements, as well as any problems your pet may be having with the medications.
• Your pet’s diet history, including treats and snacks.
• If your pet has a history of being extremely anxious during vet visits, you may want to consult your primary care veterinarian to see if your pet could benefit from an anti-anxiety medication prior to your appointment. Common anti-anxiety medications, such as oral gabapentin or trazodone, are safe for patients with heart disease. We are unable to prescribe medication over the phone prior to your initial appointment but are happy to work with your primary care veterinarian to make recommendations.

Although X-rays are important diagnostic tools, an echocardiogram provides live images from which the cardiologist can measure the size and thickness of the greater vessels, the chambers of the heart and heart valves, as well as track the flow of blood through the heart and vessels. An X-ray is a still picture that can be used to determine the size of the heart’s silhouette, accumulation of fluid and changes to the size of the cardiac vasculature. X-rays allow evaluation of the lungs which an echocardiogram does not.

In many cases, we will not have to repeat the diagnostics performed by your family veterinarian, so it is always good to bring these to your appointment for evaluation. However, this varies from case to case, and we will provide you with an estimate for the diagnostics needed to evaluate the condition of your pet properly.

For procedures lasting all day or for your convenience while you are at work, you can drop off your pet so we can treat your pet during the day and be ready for pick-up by late afternoon. Please ensure that you provide phone numbers where we can reach you during the day. When your pet is ready to go home, we will provide written discharge instructions.

In many cases, your family veterinarian will perform follow-up exams, blood work and radiographs with phone consultation from the cardiology service. However, there are some cases that will need to have the cardiologist and or the equipment here at CARE to perform the follow-up care.

An ECG records only a few minutes of the heart’s rhythm in which case an abnormality could easily be missed. The Holter monitor records every heartbeat over 24 hours. The full recording is then evaluated by the cardiology technicians and the cardiologist. The results are then used to help determine the diagnosis and treatment plan as well as to evaluate response to current medical treatment.

Many breeders want to have their puppies screened for congenital cardiac defects before they are sold. In such cases, the cardiologist will sign a “provisional” certification. Otherwise, OFA certification is performed when the dog is at least 1 year of age.

A referral from a family veterinarian is not required; however, we would prefer to work with your family veterinarian to provide you and your pet with the most comprehensive veterinary care.

Because our service is so specialized, we are unable to offer your pet the general care that your family veterinarian can. If you need a family veterinarian, the CARE team is happy to provide you with a list of veterinary general practitioners based on your location.

Although it is not very common, sedation may be necessary for certain procedures. It is recommended that your pet not eat after midnight the night before your cardiology visit. However, if your pet is on any medications, it is important to give the medications at the normal scheduled times. Water is always okay up until the cardiology appointment.

Board certification is a rigorous credentialing system veterinary cardiologists go through to enhance their education and experience and to bring you the most current knowledge and skills. For more detailed information, you can visit the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) website, which provides an overview of board certification in veterinary specialties.