Our internal medicine specialists will work in conjunction with you and your regular veterinarian to provide the comprehensive care your pet needs.

Often pets are encouraged to seek a cardiac evaluation  when a heart murmur or abnormal rhythm is heard by the family veterinarian. A heart murmur is the sound of turbulent blood flow. Normal blood flow is smooth and virtually silent. A cardiac arrhythmia occurs when the heart beats too fast, too slow, or too irregularly. Early diagnosis and effective treatment will increase your pet’s opportunity to live a normal life.

Pets that exhibit any of the following symptoms may benefit from a cardiac evaluation:

• Heart murmur

• Shortness of breath or breathing problems

• Chronic cough

• Heart arrhythmia (irregular heart beat)

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)

• Congenital and acquired heart defects or disease

• Fainting

• Fluid accumulation in chest or abdomen

• Exercise intolerance

• Pets at risk for anesthesia may also be evaluated for complications and surgical risk.

• Heart failure

What to Expect During Your Appointment

Our team will take your pet’s medical history, review results of testing done by your family veterinarian, and perform a complete physical examination of your pet. A treatment plan for your pet will be developed based on the outcome of diagnostic tests, their findings and observations.

COMMON TESTS PERFORMED INCLUDE:

• Echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart)

• Thoracic radiographs (x-rays)

• Electrocardiograms

• 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiograms (Holter monitoring)

• Blood pressure monitoring

Once a diagnosis has been established by our team, we will work with you to develop a treatment plan for your pet, keeping in mind the goals you have set for your pet and your family.

Heart Diseases in Cats and Dogs

Dogs and cats get all of the same kind of heart diseases as people, with the exception of coronary artery disease, which is very rare in our companion animals.

SOME COMMONLY DIAGNOSED HEART CONDITIONS IN DOGS INCLUDE:

• Dilated cardiomyopathy

• Degenerative mitral valve disease

• Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy

• Third degree heart block

• Sick sinus syndrome

• Pericardial effusion

• Pulmonary hypertension

CONGENITAL CARDIAC MALFORMATIONS COMMONLY SEEN IN PUPPIES:

• Patent ductus arteriousus

• Subaortic stenosis

• Pulmonic valve stenosis

• Tricuspid valve dysplasia

• Ventricular septal defect

COMMON HEART DISEASES OF CATS:

• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

• Unclassified/restrictive cardiomyopathy

• Hypertensive and hyperthyroid cardiomyopathy

For more information or to schedule and appointment, please call (808) 735-7735.

Diseases & Conditions Treated

• Asthma and Bronchitis

• Atrial Fibrillation

• Congestive Heart Failure

• Dilated Cardiomyopathy

• Feline Hypertensive Heart Disease

• Heart Block

• Hyperthyroidism Associated Cardiomyopathy

• Mitral and Tricuspid Dysplasia

• Mitral Valve Insufficiency

• Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)

• Pleural Effusion

• Pulmonary Hypertension

• Pulmonic Stenosis

• Subaortic Stenosis

• Supraventricular & Ventricular Tachycardia

• Tetralogy of Fallot

• Ventricular Septal Defects

Diagnostics

• Computed Tomography (CT)

• Echocardiogram

• Electrocardiogram

• Event Recorder & Holter Monitor

• Fluoroscopy

• Radiography (X-Rays)

• Ultrasound

Helpful Links

OFA Cardiac Congenital Disease Database

American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine