Cardiology in Sarasota

Setting the Standard for Cardiac Care

Our doctors use specialty diagnostics to evaluate and manage heart disease in pets. Dr. Luther is certified through the Sound Institute to perform echocardiograms, and every study is reviewed by a board-certified cardiologist. We offer digital radiology, echocardiography, electrocardiography and blood pressure analysis, and we can perform full cardiac workups and build treatment plans for your pet. These tests are part of our broader veterinary diagnostics services.

Heart Disease in Dogs and Cats

Dogs and cats get heart disease, just like their human companions. An estimated 8 million dogs in the United States (about 10% of all dogs) and 1% of cats worldwide have heart disease. As with people, the risk rises with age.

• Valvular disease: the most common form of heart disease in dogs. It mainly affects small breed dogs over 5 years of age and accounts for up to 75% of canine heart disease.
• Heartworm disease: responsible for about 13% of heart disease in dogs, even though it is entirely preventable. Cats can get heartworm too, but it is much less common in them.
• Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM): a myocardial disease that makes up about 8% of canine heart disease and mainly affects large breed dogs of all ages. DCM has become more common recently, and there is a link to grain-free diets, although the reason is still not understood.
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM): the more common heart disease in cats, a thickening of the heart muscle that keeps it from working properly. In cats, HCM often occurs secondary to hyperthyroidism, but it is genetic in certain breeds such as Norwegian Forest cats and Maine Coon cats.

Symptoms of Heart Disease

Symptoms depend on the type and severity of the disease. Early heart disease may cause no symptoms at all. As it progresses, you may notice:

• Fatigue or reduced willingness to walk or exercise
• Difficulty breathing or an increased respiratory rate
• Coughing
• Loss of appetite or weight loss
• A distended abdomen
• Trouble sleeping

Because early heart disease is often silent, we recommend a yearly pet wellness exam to screen for it. Your veterinarian will listen for murmurs and irregular rhythms and look for other subtle signs. If heart disease is suspected, they may measure blood pressure or recommend bloodwork, x-rays, a cardiac ultrasound or an ECG to confirm the diagnosis and find the cause.

Stages of Heart Disease

Heart disease in dogs is described in stages. Stage B1 describes asymptomatic dogs with a heart murmur and no radiographic or echocardiographic evidence of cardiac remodeling. Stage B2 refers to asymptomatic dogs with more advanced mitral valve regurgitation and left atrial enlargement that meets the criteria for starting Vetmedin (pimobendan). Treatment should begin at stage B2. There is no advantage to starting this medication at stage B1, and it can potentially be harmful. Only an echocardiogram can definitively diagnose the stage.

Congestive Heart Failure

The final stage of heart disease is congestive heart failure (CHF). It occurs when the heart can no longer meet the body’s demands and fluid builds up in the lungs and/or abdomen. There is no cure for CHF, but medications can help the heart work better. The Quality of Life and Extension of Survival Time trial (QUEST), the largest clinical trial of dogs with CHF, found that dogs treated with pimobendan lived much longer and had a higher quality of life than dogs treated with conventional therapy. Furosemide and spironolactone help remove fluid from the lungs and abdomen. Which medications your pet needs depends on the type and severity of the heart disease, so talk with your veterinarian or a veterinary cardiologist.

Diet and Exercise

Diet and exercise matter for preventing obesity, diabetes and arthritis, but they have not been found to play an important role in acquired heart disease. Most forms of heart disease cannot be prevented, with the exception of heartworm disease and some cases of DCM and HCM. Heartworm disease can be treated, but it is far easier to prevent with year-round parasite prevention. In dogs, annual testing is important because heartworm can sometimes resist monthly preventives.

Early Diagnosis Is Key

Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to extending your pet’s quality of life. Routine visits let us catch heart disease while it is still asymptomatic, and starting treatment earlier can improve quality of life and extend life expectancy.

Don’t wait until it is too late to have your pet checked. If your veterinarian has found a sign of heart disease, such as an arrhythmia or murmur, please make an appointment for a consultation with us or a veterinary cardiologist as soon as possible. At Sarasota Animal Medical Center, our passion for pets and quality of care cannot be matched, because they deserve the best.

Pet Heart Health Questions Answered

Give Your Pet’s Heart the Attention It Deserves

Whether your pet has a murmur, an irregular rhythm or is simply due for a heart screening, our team is ready to help. Call (941) 954-4771 or request a visit online.

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