Unfortunately, heart conditions can affect pets at any age. Heart disease is usually a life-threatening condition, but early diagnosis and appropriate therapy can extend the life of your pet.
What are some symptoms of heart disease?
Symptoms of heart disease can include rapid breathing, coughing, decreased appetite, lethargy, weakness, body swelling, and exercise intolerance. If your pet experiences any of these symptoms, we recommend that you make an appointment with your veterinarian right away.
How does your veterinarian examine your pet’s heart?
To examine your pet’s cardiac function, your veterinarian will first listen to the heart using a stethoscope. They might then recommend other diagnostic procedures that can be performed at our hospital, such as x-rays, ultrasounds, an electrocardiogram (ECG) and blood testing, to accurately identify the cause of the heart disease.
Once the cause has been identified, your veterinarian will create a treatment plan for your pet to help control the disease.