Cardiac Disease Examinations

Pet Cardiac Disease Examination in Huntsville and Madison, AL

Cardiac Disease examination consists of many types of testing. An Echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart), ECG, chest radiographs, and a blood pressure screening. A Cardiac Work Up will' allow us to look at the heart and its functions to screen and assess cardiac disease.

The Great news is that our team at Animal Medical Clinic is fully equipped to handle what these tests bring to light. Call us today at (256) 837-9700.

Symptoms That Would Prompt for A Cardiac Disease Examination

• Weakness
• Lethargy
• Exercise Intolerance
• Shortness of Breath
• Coughing
• Abnormal Lung Sounds
• An Irregular Heartbeat
• A Heart Murmur
• Irregular Pulses

How Is A Cardiac Disease Examination Performed?

We perform full cardiac work up here in Huntsville and Madison daily. No special preparation is required for this procedure.

We start with an ECG, blood pressure screening, and chest Xrays. Your pet will need to remain still for all tests. On the ECG and blood pressure screening they will either be standing or lying down on an exam table in our hospital. We apply electrodes to your pet’s skin for the ECG, at the base of each of their four legs. We may also apply a special conduction gel or rubbing alcohol to your pet during this procedure. These applications can help electrical signals travel more easily to the ECG machine, which allows for better recordings. For the chest Xrays your beloved pet will be laying on a specialized table for the film capture. Once done we tend to give biscuit treats!

The main testing begins when we perform an Echocardiogram of the heart. We will keep your pet still with belly rubs for only a short period of time to get adequate pictures of the heart and its functions. The amount of time on each test depends on your pet’s cooperation and the abnormality we suspect.

What Do You Learn From Cardiac Disease Examinations?

Cardiac Disease Screening consists of many tests. Echocardiogram, Electrocardiogram (ECG), Blood Press Screening, and Chest Radiographs. Each test gives part of the heart evaluation to review the functions. Together, we are able to better screen for heart diseases.

With all the tests, we are able to examine the hearts:

Are the heart rhythms (beats) normal? An ECG is an electrocardiogram that allows us to view the heart rhythm and possibly detect any abnormal beats. This type of examination assists with other cardiac examinations to get a full picture of the heart function.

Are the heart valves functioning correctly?  An Echocardiogram gives us a very accurate way to assess your pet’s internal heart beats. If there is an abnormality, the results of the Echo will allow us to diagnose heart conditions and possibly get your beloved pet on the right medications to help.

Does the pet's heart size appear to be normal? An Xray of the chest allows us to view many things, one of the biggest is to check the size and shape of the heart. Heart enlargement and shape changes happens when the heart is trying to overcompensate a condition or disease. It is not a diagnosis but a smaller symptom that speaks largely in cardiac disease.  

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