Cardiology and Echocardiograms

River Forest Animal Hospital Offers Echocardiograms

River Forest Animal Hospital is now partnering with an imaging and cardiolgy group in order to provide echocardiograms - a non-invasive ultrasound imaging of the heart. These live images are submitted to a board certified cardiologist and reported to our veterinarians. Together they can monitor and closely follow your pets case.  This is a great option for when wait times for cardiologist appointments can be several months and if imaging is needed quickly. 

What is a board-certified veterinary cardiologist?

A veterinary cardiologist is a specialist who has advanced training in the heart and circulatory system. To become a board certified veterinary cardiologist a veterinarian usually completes a one year internship followed by extensive specialized training in an approved residency training program (usually 3-5 years).

Board certified veterinary cardiologists focus on diagnosing and treating disease of the heart and lungs, which include Congestive heart failure (CHF), Heart muscle disease (Dilated cardiomyopathy or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy), age-related changes to the valves of the heart (Degenerative mitral valve disease), coughing and other breathing problems, congenital (present at birth) heart defects, cardiac arrhythmias (problems with the rate and/or rhythm of your animal’s heart), diseases of the pericardium (sac surrounding the heart), cardiac tumors, high blood pressure (hypertension), and pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs).

Veterinary cardiology specialists will perform a complete and thorough physical examination on your animal, and based on these initial findings, additional tests will be discussed. Depending on your animal’s condition, diagnostic testing or treatments may include echocardiography (sonogram) – non-invasive ultrasound imaging of the heart, electrocardiography (ECG) – non-invasive electrical reading of the heart’s rhythm, blood pressure evaluation, Holter monitor – 24 hour ECG performed at home, or radiography (x-rays) of the chest and lungs.