If your family veterinarian suspects your pet has a heart problem, you may be referred for a cardiology consultation.  Heart disease may be suspected based on the symptoms (coughing, rapid or difficult breathing, or fainting), abnormal stethoscope findings (murmur, arrhythmia, or crackles) or a hunch that your pet’s internal medical problems may be affecting the heart. The end result of heart or cardiac disease may be congestive heart failure.

Mike_Miller,_MS,_VMD,_ABVP is a veterinarian and has limited his practice to cardiology for the past 25+ years. His cardiopulmonary examination focuses on the heart, blood vessels and lungs. Your appointment will include a discussion of your pet’s symptoms, review of the chest radiographs if available, auscultation with a stethoscope, echocardiogram (cardiac ultrasound), Doppler ultrasound (color flow, continuous and pulse wave), electrocardiogram (ECG), and blood pressure measurement to assess cardiac structure, function and blood flow velocities. This information will aid in formulating an individual medicine and/or surgical plan for your pet.  The examination and consultation will last approximately 30 to 40 minutes. Detection of congestive heart failure or other significant arrhythmias are key focuses.