Download So Your Pet Has a Heart Murmur…

So Your Pet Has a Heart Murmur…
A heart murmur is caused by turbulent blood flow either within
the heart or the major blood vessels leaving the heart. When
your veterinarian listens to your pet’s heart with the stethoscope, they normally only hear the familiar "lub-dub" sound of
the heartbeat which is caused by the rhythmic closure of the
heart valves. Blood flow within the heart is normally smooth
and silent. Therefore, the presence of a murmur alerts your
veterinarian to the presence of abnormal or turbulent blood
flow. Although some murmurs may be “innocent”, most murmurs are indicative of underlying cardiac disease. Cats and
dogs typically hide early signs of cardiac disease, often not
showing outward symptoms until they have severe disease and are in a crisis situation. The “wait and see” approach is not recommended for pets with a heart murmur. Furthermore, an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment before your pet is
in a crisis greatly improves their outcome. Early intervention also helps prevent costly
and often lengthy hospitalization. In short, a cardiology evaluation when abnormal
heart sounds are first heard provides for the best care of your pet.
The gold standard for assessing the severity of cardiac disease and determining treatment options for any cardiac patient is an evaluation and echocardiogram (ultrasound
of the heart) performed by a veterinary cardiologist such as those at CVCA. Veterinary
cardiologists have 4 years of training beyond veterinary school in the specialty of cardiology. They have also passed a series of examinations over a two year period to become board-certified.
An echocardiogram allows cardiologists to precisely evaluate the heart’s pumping ability, map out the blood flow throughout the heart, and measure the thickness of the
heart muscle as well as the size of the chambers. They can then identify the exact
origin of the murmur and determine if therapy is indicated as well as to tailor treatment
recommendations to each individual patient. The goal of CVCA is to have open collaboration with you and your primary care veterinarian in order to prevent the development of congestive heart failure and optimize the quantity and quality of your companion’s life.
CVCA is an extension of your primary care veterinarian’s practice. We are passionate
about diagnosing and treating pets with heart disease. We are the largest cardiology
practice in the world and evaluate over 12,000 dogs and cats each year. CVCA has 9
board certified veterinary cardiologists, three cardiology residents, and a team of
trained nurses and client service representatives who understand the importance of
your pet’s well being and the human-animal bond. Please visit our website or call us to
obtain more information regarding cardiac disease in the veterinary patient and the
services we provide.
The Heart of Companion Care
www.cvcavets.com