Cardiology for Pets
West Hills North Veterinary Clinic provides cardiology services for pets to diagnose and treat heart conditions. Our veterinarians have the ability to manage or treat conditions including: congestive heart failure, hypertension, dilated and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and valvular disorders.
Board-Certified Cardiology Services are available at the Gold Coast Center for Veterinary Care by appointment Monday through Friday.
Signs of a Cardiovascular Condition
Pets with heart disease may have symptoms that appear unrelated to heart conditions such as lack of appetite, lethargy, or fainting spells. Some pets may not show any signs or unusual behavior, and go unnoticed until his or her routine examination.
Additional signs of cardiovascular conditions in dogs and cats include:
- Coughing
- Weakness
- Exercise intolerance
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Rapid breathing at rest
- Elevated heart rate
In order to diagnose your pet’s condition, we will examine his or her full medical history, and perform diagnostic tests such as blood work, chest x-rays, and echocardiogram. These diagnostic tools can help us determine if your pet has an underlying heart problem, and if so, to assess the severity of the condition. Depending on your pet’s condition, we have a number of treatment options available including prescription medications, cardiac catheterization, angioplasty, pacemaker implantation, and cardiac surgery.
