Cardiology | Echocardiogram

An echocardiogram is a non-invasive procedure that allows our medical team to assess the condition of your pet’s heart. It may also be referred to as an ECG or EKG. A healthy heart is just as important to animals as it is to humans, yet unfortunately, abnormalities and health problems are also just as likely to develop.

An echocardiogram is used as a diagnostic tool, enabling your veterinary sonographer to visualize the structure of your pet’s heart. In doing so, the echocardiogram can provide crucial information about the health and function of the heart that includes:

  • How Big the Heart is

  • How Thick the Walls of the Heart Are

  • The Shape of the Heart

  • How Effectively the Heart is Pumping

  • Whether there are any Abnormalities in the Pattern of Blood Flow or any Possible Blood Clots

  • Whether there are any Abnormalities Present in the Valves

  • Whether there are any Abnormalities in the Pericardium (the sac that surrounds the heart)

  • Whether there are any Areas of Damage to the Heart

What Can I Expect to Happen During My Pet’s Echocardiogram Appointment?

Since electrocardiography is minimally invasive it can be performed without any need for pain relief medication for your pet. However, some vets will choose to provide the animal being checked with some sedation as this will ensure that they remain completely still for the duration of the appointment. This helps improve the clarity of the images and enables more accurate assessment and diagnosis.

Your cardiograph sonographer will lay your pet on their side and apply a special gel to her chest. This gel is what enables the sound waves that produce the image of your pet’s heart to travel more efficiently. The probe is then placed over it and moved around so that all areas of the heart are visible and can be assessed.

What Sort of Problems Can an Echocardiogram Detect?

An echocardiogram can identify a range of heart problems including, but not limited to:

  • Congestive heart failure

  • Congenital (present from birth) heart defects that may require treatment / special care

  • Cardiac arrhythmias

  • Damage to the heart, heart valves, or pericardium

  • Heart masses

 

Partners

As we strive to provide our patients with the highest quality medicine and diagnostic testing, we are pleased to offer echocardiograms as one of our diagnostic capabilities.  We employ the services of Mobile Pet Imaging and Anita Keck, Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer, AE, PE, and Registered Veterinary Technician.  Anita comes to our practice and performs the echocardiograms in the comfort of our hospital. After the echocardiogram is done, your pet is able to go home.

All images are sent to a Board Certified Cardiologist for interpretation.  A detailed report is then given to the medical team at Blue Valley Animal Hospital for treatment recommendations.