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Veterinary Cardiology

Cardiology is the medical specialty dedicated to the study of heart diseases and the repercussions that other systemic diseases (vascular or not) can have on this same organ. The Montjuïc Veterinary Hospital offers cardiac patients the possibility of receiving medical care with the most modern diagnostic techniques available. Our cardiologists offer a comprehensive service for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac and respiratory diseases with the commitment to improve and maintain the quality of life of our patients.

Cardiology

The technical advance related to this specialty has been produced by the development of new diagnostic imaging techniques that are increasingly more precise, safe and bloodless, new treatments with new drugs and the development of different surgical techniques.
However, we know that the great challenge of cardiology in our century is prevention, the best of the tools we have to minimize the risk of suffering from certain cardiological conditions. Hence the great importance that the cardiologist's advice acquires in this aspect, often in relation to biological factors or variables that are also controlled by other veterinary specialties (endocrinology, nephrology, etc.).

While it is true that diagnostic and treatment techniques can offer us thorough and detailed information about our patient's disease, it is equally or more true that a good patient history, a good physical examination and a simple electrocardiogram (ECG) They give us the opportunity to establish a diagnosis that is certainly very precise on many occasions.

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The most commonly used diagnostic procedures are non-invasive techniques that are used safely and quickly for the evaluation of pets with heart disease or suspected lung disease:

  • Echocardiography, Doppler echocardiography: uses sound waves to safely image the heart, its valves, evaluate blood flow, determine the cause of heart murmurs, and evaluate the strength and health of the heart muscle and its chambers.

  • X-ray: Provides essential information about the chest and all its structures.

  • The electrocardiogram (ECG): evaluate the heart rate, rhythm and possible irregularities (arrhythmias).

  • Blood tests: used to evaluate kidney function, thyroid status and other important parameters.

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The most common symptoms of heart disease are:

  • Cough.

  • Dyspnea, tachypnea.

  • Exercise intolerance.

  • Abdominal distension.

  • Visualization of marked or distended jugular veins and jugular pulse.

  • Apathy, lack of appetite and even diarrhea.

  • Cyanosis.

  • Pale and cold mucous membranes.

  • Depression.

  • Stunted growth.

  • Cats with posterior third paralysis.

  • Syncope.

 

The most common canine and feline cardiovascular diseases are:

  • Congenital diseases.

  • Myxomatous valve disease (endocardiosis) in all breeds and crosses.

  • Dilated cardiomyopathy and other cardiomyopathies.

  • Diseases of the pericardium, neoplasms, bacterial endocarditis.

  • Dirofilariasis.

  • Systemic diseases with cardiovascular repercussions.

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