Chwilkę...
Veterinary cardiology is a branch of veterinary medicine that deals with diseases of the cardiovascular system, all the way from diagnosis to treatment.
Heart disease in your pets can be congenital or acquired – it can occur in both very young and older animals.
The symptoms of heart disease are often non-specific and overlooked – they include lethargy, exercise intolerance, coughing, shortness of breath, loss of appetite and weight loss, enlargement of the abdominal cavity, syncope, limb paralysis (especially in cats), and retarded growth in young animals. Veterinary cardiology is medical speciality focused exactly on these issues.
Some breeds are predisposed to heart diseases such as dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and mitral valve insufficiency.
Symptoms of cardiac and respiratory failure may occur in conjunction with other systemic diseases, such as kidney disease, endocrine disorders, cancer, or electrolyte imbalances.
As the heart is the vital organ of the body, early diagnosis and treatment are essential to ensure that our patients enjoy a good quality of life and remain active companions for as long as possible.
At our clinic, we will take comprehensive care of your pet, conducting a thorough interview, clinical examination, and a series of additional tests to make a proper diagnosis and offer best treatment.
● electrocardiogram (ECG) – recording of the electrical activity of the heart, which allows us to diagnose arrhythmias and conduction disorders, as well as detect myocardial hypoxia, electrolyte disturbances, and changes in the size of the heart chambers
● blood pressure measurement – allows the systolic blood pressure to be determined and influences the choice of medication for treatment
● chest X-ray – performed to assess the shape of the heart, blood vessels and lungs, allowing early congestive changes in the pulmonary circulation to be detected
● echocardiography – ECHO (ultrasound of the heart) – performed on an animal in a lying or standing position using an ultrasound machine with special probes, used to assess the structure and function of the heart. It can be used to diagnose congenital defects, acquired diseases of the heart muscle and valves, and neoplastic lesions of the heart and major vessels, as well as diseases of the pericardium.
● Holter ECG – 24 hours – assessment of the occurrence of arrhythmias and their diagnosis, identification of the cause of fainting, assessment of the effectiveness of antiarrhythmic therapy
● ionogram – assessment of electrolyte levels in circulating blood – particularly important in chronic heart disease, arrhythmias, and diuretic treatment
● pharmacotherapy of cardiovascular diseases
● chest and pericardial punctures (e.g., in cases of cardiac tamponade) under ultrasound guidance – a procedure performed to evacuate free fluid from the chest cavity or pericardial sac and to assess its physical and cytological characteristics
● oxygen therapy
● vascular surgery – occlusion of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
We recommend booking a visit for prophylactic cardiac examination and cardiac examination before any planned surgical procedure performed under general anesthesia.
Our veterinary cardiology specialsts are: Dr. Karolina Kruk-Szczepańska and Dr. Justyna Szady.
Booking your appointment early ensures a shorter waiting time.
