|
Have a Heart
When we Examine your pet, one of the things we always do is listen to the heart and lungs. Why? Just like us, good quality of life is impossible if your heart cannot pump the blood you need or your lungs can't deliver the oxygen to your heart. It is especially important with animals to do regular examinations since they cannot talk to us and inform us that they feel tired or have a general lack of energy or shortness of breath. A healthy heart equals a healthy pet. Most pets with heart problems can receive medications/treatments to greatly extend their life IF their problems are detected early.
All pets with histories of heart murmurs, changes in existing murmurs, or history or weakness, difficulty breathing, coughing, or collapse need to be evaluated by a veterinarian on a regular basis. While in some situations, just an exam is necessary, very often pets require a minimum of chest x-rays to determine the problem. When we suspect heart problems, the next step is a cardiac or heart work up. This involves getting an ECG (electrocardiogram) to check the rate/rhythm of the heart, a blood pressure reading, and an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). We are lucky at Cordova that we can perform all these services in house AND receive an evaluation/report from a cardiologist. This allows us to not only obtain a diagnosis, but to also determine the best medications for your pet and allow a good quality of life.
Breeds that are known for heart problems may need periodic ECG screens in order to detect problems earlier. Please contact the office for details.
| 
Processing ....