Cardiology

What is veterinary cardiology?

Veterinary cardiology is the branch of veterinary medicine that focuses on the study and treatment of diseases of the heart and cardiovascular system of animals. This specialty covers the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of heart disease in dogs and cats. Since the heart is a vital organ, its health directly affects the quality of life of your animal and its longevity.

Heart disease can affect animals of all ages, although some diseases are more common in elderly animals or certain predisposed breeds. One early diagnosis and adapted care are essential to preserve the quality of life of your companion.

Races predisposed to heart problems

Some breeds of dogs and cats are genetically more likely to develop heart problems:

In dogs Horseman King Charles, Boxer, Newfoundland, German Doug, and Irish Wolfhound are at increased risk of developing heart disease.

Cats Maine Coon, Bengal, British Short Hair and Ragdolls are particularly prone to heart problems such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

For these breeds, preventive cardiac screening is strongly recommended, especially prior to reproduction or any procedure requiring anesthesia.

When to consult a cardiologist veterinarian?

Several signs may indicate a heart problem in your animal and require a specialist consultation in veterinary cardiology:

Warning symptoms in dogs and cats

• Persistent cough, especially at night or after exercise
• Unusual fatigue and Exercise Intolerance
• Shortness of breath at rest or in moderate activities
• Syncopes or episodes of sudden weakness
• Abdominal swelling or members
• Respiratory disorders as a quick or difficult breathing
• Loss of appetite and weighting
• Behaviour changes like night agitation or isolation

A cough is never anomaly in a dog or cat and may report a serious heart or lung disease. If you notice any of these symptoms, consult your veterinarian quickly who can, if necessary, direct you to our specialist in cardiology.

Preventive consultations

It is also recommended to consult a cardiologist veterinarian in the following cases:

• When detecting a Cardiac breath during a routine examination
• For a preventive screening breeds at risk
• Before surgical procedure requiring anesthesia, particularly in elderly animals
• In the context of the regular monitoring animals with a known heart disease
• Prior to release reproduction for breeds predisposed to heart disease

Cardiac examinations available at the Veterinary Clinic Paris 17

Thanks to the intervention of a specialist cardiologist, our clinic offers different reviews state-of-the-art heart disease diagnosis.

Chest X-ray

The X-ray chest allows to evaluate the size of the heart, its shape and its position in the chest cage. It also provides an overview of the lungs, thus identifying the lung consequences of heart disease as pulmonary oedema.

This examination is particularly useful to differentiate a cardiac cough from a cough related to a primary respiratory disease.

Cardiac ultrasound (Echocardiography)

LCardiac ultrasound is the reference examination in veterinary cardiology. This non-invasive and painless examination allows you to visualize the structure and functioning of the heart in real time.

For dogs : Cardiac ultrasound in dogs is used to assess the dimensions of heart cavities, wall thickness, heart muscle contractility and valve functioning. It is particularly useful for diagnosing degenerative valvular diseases, common in certain races such as the King Charles Horseman.

For cats : Cardiac ultrasound in cats is essential to detect cardiomyopathy, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy very common in this species. This examination accurately measures the thickness of the heart muscle and evaluates diastolic function.

Doppler echocardiography completes this examination by allowing the analysis of blood flows inside the heart and large vessels, showing possible leaks or obstructions.

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

The electrocardiogram records the electrical activity of the heart and detects heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmias) and other abnormalities such as ventricular hypertrophy.

This examination is particularly appropriate in case of suspicion of arrhythmia or syncopes. Simple and fast to perform, it often completes echocardiography to provide a complete heart check-up.

The main heart diseases in pets

Breath in the Heart

A heart breath is not a disease in itself but a clinical sign that reveals a turbulent blood flow in the heart. It can be mild (functional breath) or testify to an underlying cardiac anomaly such as congenital malformation or acquired pathology.

Detection of a heart breath during routine clinical examination is often the starting point for further cardiac exploration. The echocardiography is then the examination of choice to determine its origin and gravity.

Heart failure

Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to perform its pump function properly. This condition may be the result of various advanced heart diseases.

In dogsIt often results from degenerative valvular disease (endocardiosis) or dilated cardiomyopathy. Typical symptoms include cough, shortness of breath and stress intolerance.

CatIt is frequently associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Clinical signs may be more discreet and appear late, including rapid breathing and difficulty breathing during stress.

The treatment of heart failure aims to improve the quality of life of the animal and to slow the progression of the disease. It usually combines several medications such as diuretics, l

Other common heart disease

• Dilated heart disease : heart muscle disease affecting mainly dogs of large breeds
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy : common disease in cats characterized by thickening of the heart muscle
• Congenital heart disease : malformations present at birth such as aortic or pulmonary stenosis, or interventricular communication
• Dirofilariosis (heart loss) : disease parasitic which can cause serious cardiac complications

Our approach

To Veterinary Clinic Paris 17The Doctor Hugues Journaux collaborates with an expert cardiologist who regularly intervenes within our structure. This collaboration allows us to offer specialized consultations in veterinary cardiology without you having to travel to a referral centre.

We favour a comprehensive approach that combines:

• One accurate diagnosis with modern imaging and cardiac exploration equipment
• The appropriate treatments specific needs of each animal
• One Custom tracking to adjust the treatments according to the evolution of the disease
• The practical advice to best accompany your pet on a daily basis

Our goal is to ensure the complete management of your companion's heart problems, while accompanying you with benevolence and professionalism throughout the care journey