Cardiology Expertise for Pets
Can Guardian Veterinary Specialists help a pet with a cardiac problem? In a heartbeat.
While it’s difficult to face the diagnosis of a heart condition in a beloved pet, there’s good news: with today’s advances in veterinary medicine, many heart conditions can be successfully managed, extending pets’ lives and maintaining their quality of life. These advances are available at Guardian Veterinary Specialists.
Seeing a veterinarian who specializes in cardiac conditions can help your pet achieve the best possible heart health. Our board-certified veterinary cardiologist has completed additional academic and clinical training to achieve his specialist credentials. He evaluates and treats dogs and cats with both congenital (present at birth) and acquired (develops over time) heart disease.
Symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, exercise intolerance or abdominal swelling may signal a heart problem. If your primary care veterinarian detects a cardiac abnormality that needs further evaluation, such as a heart murmur or irregular heart rhythm, your pet may be referred to Guardian Veterinary Specialists for comprehensive assessment and care.
The Heart Conditions We See:
Some of the most common heart conditions affecting dogs and cats.
- Congestive heart failure
- Congenital heart disease, including aortic stenosis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, patent ductus arteriosus
- Acquired heart disease, including heart valve disease, pericardial disease, dilated cardiomyopathy
- Arrhythmias (heart rhythm disorders)
- Pericardial and pleural space disease
Sophisticated Diagnostic and Treatment Resources
As veterinary specialists, we offer a complete array of today’s most technologically advanced diagnostic and treatment resources, including:
- Echocardiogram, a test that uses ultrasound to check how well the heart is working
- Electrocardiogram (with and without contrast)
- Angiography, x-ray imaging to view the heart’s blood vessels
- Balloon valvuloplasty, a procedure to repair a heart valve that has a narrowed opening
- Cardiac CT
- Fluoroscopy (like an x-ray movie)
- Holter monitoring (a wearable device that tracks heart rhythm)
- Pacemaker implantation
- Patent ductus arteriosus occlusion, a procedure to repair a congenital heart defect where a blood vessel connecting two major arteries stays open, causing blood to return to the lungs instead of going to the rest of the body
- Pericardiocentesis, a procedure to remove fluid that has built up in the sac around the heart
