Cardiology

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Heart problems are often found in older pets, although heart disease can affect any age in dogs and cats.  Heart disease is usually a life-threatening condition, early diagnosis and appropriate therapy can help extend you pets life and keep them comfortable.  Some heart conditions if caught early can also be managed with medication.  Making sure your pet is health and we are able to catch early diagnosis like heart disease is just another reason why annual wellness exams are important.

Heart disease can lead to congestive heart failure (CHF).  This occurs when the heart can no longer pump effectively.  If an animal is suffering from CHF, fluid usually accumulates in and around the lungs and sometimes in the abdomen, making it difficult for the heart to pump.
Congenital heart disease is animals that are born with a heart problem; that can lead to CHF
  • valvular heart disease (abnormalities of the heart valves)
  • arrhythmias (heart rhythm disturbances)
  • Heartworm disease
Call us if your pet starts to show the following symptoms:
  • rapid breathing
  • coughing
  • loss of appetite
  • tires easily
  • seems weak or has trouble exercising 
We can discover many of these conditions during a physical exam; the vet may suggest some additional test such as an electrocardiogram (ECG), radiographs and ultrasound are usually used to identify the cause of the disease or failure.
With severe cases our vets may recommend a referral to a Veterinary Cardiologist who specializes in heart disease.