Cardiology

ECG case studies.

The clinical signs of canine and feline heart failure are limited, but they must be distinguished from pulmonary dysfunction and also systemic problems. Heart disease often results in secondary respiratory signs (e.g., coughing or dyspnea); conversely, disease of the lung or its vasculature can result in secondary right heart disease (e.g., cor pulmonale).

Help for diagnosing and treating chronic valvular heart disease in dogs.

A critical aspect of treatment in the late stages of the disease.

Technicians familiar with cardiac emergencies can respond quickly and appropriately to minimize suffering and maximize the chance of success of treatment for the patient.

Congenital cardiac defects are those present at birth, and are most often from a genetic cause. In addition to genetic causes, they can also be from infectious, environmental, pharmaceutical, or a variety of causes.

Proper electrocardiography (ECG) starts with proper positioning. For a diagnostic ECG, the patient must be restrained in right lateral recumbency with the legs perpendicular to the body and parallel to each other.

Veterinary technicians are the veterinary hospital's mainstay when it comes to carefully and successfully anesthetizing critical patients. A large number of elderly canine and feline patients are affected by cardiac disease, and knowledge of how to safely monitor, anesthetize, and problem solve cardiac patients makes for a less stressful anesthesia for both the patient and technician.

Common acquired cardiac diseases of the dog include those that are caused by valvular defects, myocardial failure, infectious reasons, as a result of arrhythmias, and parasitism.

Sustained hypotension is a life threatening situation where the body's major organs (kidney, liver, brain, and heart) can experience irreversible damage from inadequate perfusion pressure. Veterinary technicians may encounter hypotension frequently when caring for emergency and critical care patients, as well as anesthetized or post operative patients who are frequently at risk of systemic hypotension.

In this session we will review thoracic radiology and echocardiography with an emphasis on normal and abnormal anatomic features.

The objectives of this presentation will be to discuss treatment of heart disease in clinical cases.

The client wants to know, and will pay for, each test you perform or each drug you give, that has a reasonable expectation of making their pet feel better or live longer.

Cardiopulmonary interactions occur because both systems occupy space in the confined thoracic cage, because the heart pumps blood through and sucks blood from the lungs, and because the lungs hinder the flow of blood from right ventricle to left ventricle. Diseases of both systems share many signs/symptoms (e.g., cough, cyanosis, cardiomegaly, exercise intolerance) but fortunately disease of each system possesses a unique set of signs/symptoms.

Our patient population has changed fairly dramatically in the last 10 years as our medical skills have progressed and we have become capable of supporting patients with advanced disease and advancing age. Now we must hone our anesthesia skills in order to support patients that largely don't fit into the 'young, healthy' category and it is no longer appropriate to think that safe anesthesia means recovering as many patients as we anesthetize.

In cytology, cells that are properly smeared and stained can be described as "fried eggs" because of the similarity in the appearance of the nucleus and cytoplasm to the egg yolk and white. If the preparation is too thick, or is improperly stained, the cell outline may be seen, but intracellular detail will not be visible.

This session will focus on the three forms of feline cardiomyopathies: hypertrophic, dilated and restrictive. We will also discuss thromboembolic disease.

Of all the diagnostic tests available, blood evaluation is one of the single most valuable tools in assessing the general health of the body. Blood, and the nutrients it carries, circulates through every living cell in the body.

In this lecture we will discuss canine dilated (DCM) and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ARVC). We will pay particular attention to breed specific findings.

Gainesville, Fla. - A first-of-its-kind pilot study involving Doberman pinschers that present with early stage dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) uses adult stem cells to mend the animal's heart activity.

Spironolactone, a selective aldosterone inhibitor, has been shown to decrease mortality in people with congestive heart failure.

Breeds like King Charles Cavaliers are prone to heart problems. Use this form to inform pet owners about it.

Check out this list of dog breeds affected by common heart disorders.

Correlating the progression or severity of disease with a specific biologic substance can greatly influence the ability to predict outcome.

Removing pericardial effusion is important from both a diagnostic and a therapeutic standpoint.