As you know, the heart is one of the most vital of the body’s vital organs, and the same is true when it comes to our pet’s hearts, too. For this reason, any health issues involving the heart need to be taken seriously and treated with the utmost attention to detail.
While some heart issues can be adequately addressed by your pet’s regular veterinarian, it is sometimes necessary for pets to see a heart specialist (board-certified veterinary cardiologist). This ensures they receive care and treatment with a veterinarian who has extensive training, education, and experience in specifically treating conditions of the heart in pets.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the reasons why your dog might need to see a cardiologist.
5 Signs Your Dog Needs to See a Cardiologist
1. Your Dog Has Symptoms of Heart Problems
If your dog experiences symptoms of a heart problem such as difficulty breathing, fatigue, fainting, collapse, excessive panting, coughing, or a distended abdomen, schedule an appointment right away. Our veterinarian will examine your dog and help you determine whether these symptoms are related to your pet’s heart.
2. Your Dog Has an Abnormal Heart Sound
When diagnosed with a heart murmur, arrhythmia, click, gallop, or split heart sound, a cardiologist can determine the underlying cause of the abnormality and recommend a treatment plan.
3. Your Dog Is Genetically Predisposed to Cardiovascular Problems
Certain breeds have a genetic predisposition to heart problems. Dogs of these breeds should be screened regularly.
4. Your Dog's Heart Problem Has Not Improved With Treatment
If your dog has been diagnosed with a heart problem and is currently on a treatment plan that has not yielded the desired results, then your dog should see a specialist right away.
5. Your Dog Is Diagnosed With a Heart Disease
There are several different types of heart diseases that can affect pets such as congestive heart failure, hypertension (high blood pressure), heart muscle diseases, heart valve diseases, tumours, and diseases of the pericardium. Our veterinarians work closely with our veterinary heart specialist to provide thorough care and treatment to our patients that are diagnosed with a heart problem.
Veterinary Cardiology Specialist at Sage Creek Animal Hospital
At Sage Creek Animal Hospital, we continuously strive to provide our patients with superior veterinary care, and as a part of this commitment, we have a board-certified veterinary cardiologist available for our heart patients who need a specialist’s attention.
To learn more about veterinary cardiology or to schedule a cardiology appointment for your pet, we welcome you to contact us today.
