CARDIOLOGY

Cardiology

Our veterinarians are trained to diagnose and treat pets with congenital or acquired heart disease, pets who cough, or have breathing problems. Bit & Spur Animal Hospital’s staff is trained to rapidly diagnose and effectively manage heart failure and many other diseases that develop during the course of a pet’s life.

We comprehensively evaluate your pet, explain the best treatment options, and take the time answer all of your questions.

Symptoms of Heart or Respiratory Disease:

Pets with any of the following symptoms may benefit from cardiology care:

• Coughing
• Breathing problems or shortness of breath
• Heart murmur
• Heart failure
• Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
• Weakness, fainting, or collapse
• Congenital heart disease (birth disorders)
• Acquired heart disease
• Elevated systemic blood pressure (arterial hypertension)
• Elevated lung blood pressure (pulmonary hypertension)
• Infectious diseases (such as heart worm disease or bacterial heart infections)

Pets with heart or breathing problems benefit from a consultation:

• Cardiac consultation generates plans for prevention of heart failure
• Safe and effective long-term health management of pets with heart disease
• Improve and maintain quality of life
• Assess for the risk of anesthesia

Diagnostic Procedures:

Non-invasive technologies are used to safely and rapidly evaluate pets with suspected heart or lung disease:

• Radiography (chest x-rays)  provide essential information about the chest and all of its organs
• Electrocardiography (ECG) recordings assess the heart rate, rhythm and potential irregularities (arrhythmias)
• Laboratory blood tests are used to evaluate kidney function, thyroid status and other important parameters