Cardiac diagnostic tests
At the Veterinary Heart Institute, we offer comprehensive care for your pet with cardiac disease. Every patient will receive a physical exam, vitals check, and indirect blood pressure. Depending on the problem, we will recommend one or more cardiac diagnostic tests.
- Electrocardiography: Evaluation of the electrical activity of the heart.
- Thoracic Radiography (X-rays): Pictures of the heart, primarily to examine the lungs.
- Echocardiography: Ultrasound of the heart.
- Holter Monitoring: 24 or 48-hour recording of the heart’s electrical activity.
- Implantable Loop Recording
- Pacemaker Interrogation: Checking the function of a pacemaker.
Breed screening
We also offer breed screening for congenital conditions (present since birth) and adult-acquired diseases.
OFA exams are available for breeds of dogs and cats that require cardiac certification. We offer discounts for multiple dogs.
Fluid accumulation tests
For diseases that cause fluid accumulation, we recommend fluid removal procedures to yield a diagnosis and relieve pressure. These tests include:
- Pericardiocentesis: Removal of fluid from around the heart (with or without cytology).
- Thoracocentesis: Removal of fluid from the space between the lungs and chest wall (with or without cytology).
- Abdominocentesis: Removal of fluid from the abdomen (with or without cytology).
Cardiac surgery
The Veterinary Heart Institute features not only medically-trained cardiologists but also a cardiac surgeon. In fact, Dr Pelosi has a unique training, being the first board certified individual in the world in both ACVS and ACVIM (Cardiology). Some of the conditions/procedures we can address surgically include:
- PDA
- Pulmonic stenosis
- Vascular rings
- Pericardial masses
- Cardiac tumors
- Thoracic tumors
- PPDH
- Pericardiectomy
If you have any questions about our services, please contact us today at (561) 670-0249 or (561) 388-8577