Download HEART AUSCULTATION (Cats)

Getting the most out of your
auscultation technique
Dr Luca Ferasin DVM PhD CertVC DipECVIM-CA (Cardiology) MRCVS
European and RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Cardiology
HEART AUSCULTATION
(Dogs)
Great Vessels(PDA)
Left Base (Aortic & Pulmonic)
Left Apex (Aortic & Pulmonic)
Right Side (Tricuspid)
HEART AUSCULTATION
(Cats)
Great Vessels(PDA)
Right Parasternal
Left Parasternal
Sternal
S1 S2
S1 S2
Slow
S1 S2
S1 S2
S1 S2
Fast
S1 S2
Gallop Sounds
3rd heart sound (S3) Early diastolic (“passive” diastolic filling)
S1 S2 S3
S1 S2 S3
4th sound (S4) Late diastolic ventricular filling (atrium contraction)
S1 S2
S4 S1 S2
S4
Gallop Sounds
Atrial Fibrillation (chaotic Rhythm)
Heart Murmur
Grading (out of 6)
1 only audible with the absolute concentration
2 soft, but easily heard
3 moderately loud and easily heard
4 loud but does not produce a palpable thrill
5 loud with a palpable thrill
6 very loud (also heard with stethoscope away from the chest)
Heart Murmur
Systolic diamond-shaped
S1
S2
S1
Turbulence originating through narrowed or irregular valves or outflow tracts
Crescendo- decrescendo (diamond-shaped) character
o Aortic or Pulmonic Stenosis
Heart Murmur
Systolic Plateau Shape
S1
S2
S1
do to regurgitation or shunts into chambers at lower resistance
o Mitral or Tricuspid valve insufficiency
o Ventricular Septal Defect
Heart Murmur
Diastolic (Rare)
S1
S2
o Aortic regurgitation
o (Pulmonic regurgitation)
S1
Heart Murmur
Continuous
S1
S2
Constant shunt flow throughout systole and diastole
Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)
(Systemic or pulmonic A-V fistulas)
S1