Cardiology

We're happy to offer cardiology services that allow us to investigate and treat a wide range of heart diseases that can affect your beloved companion's quality of life.

When is a cardiac assessment useful?

A cardiac assessment may be needed if your vet detects a heart murmur or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) during their examination. At home, if you notice abnormal coughing or shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, rapid and jerky breathing even at rest, abnormal swelling or a swollen abdomen, you should bring your pet in for a cardiac assessment.

What heart diseases generally affect cats and dogs?

We often see heart muscle issues (cardiomyopathies) in cats. Heart problems in cats can often go unnoticed, because they show very few symptoms until the disease reaches more advanced stages. That's why it's so important to bring your pet in for their annual checkup.

Dogs tend to have heart valve issues. Dogs are also more likely to develop cardiomyopathy. It's also very important to prevent heartworm disease.

My pet has a heart murmur. What does that mean?

A heart murmur is an abnormal sound that a veterinarian detects while listening to an animal's heart. This abnormal sound is caused by the speed of the blood or by an irregularity in the heart's structure. Every situation is different, which means a heart murmur can be benign and not cause any cardiac issues.