A significant percentage of pets will develop heart disease at some point in their lives. It is important to be familiar with the symptoms and available tests in case your pet ever experiences any heart related concerns.

What are the signs of heart issues?

Heart problems manifest differently in cats and dogs. Sometimes symptoms might seem like they’ve come out of nowhere (especially for cats), while others slowly worsen over time. If you notice any of the following symptoms in your pet, please contact us at 519- 624-9760. Signs you can look out for are:

• Tiredness
• Coughing
• Weight loss
• Fainting
• Difficulty breathing

How do you diagnose heart disease in pets?

First, we’ll do a physical exam to listen for heart murmurs with the help of a stethoscope. A heart murmur is the noise heard when blood moves abnormally through the heart. We’ll also check your pet’s pulse and see if there are any other physical signs of disease, like buildup of fluid in the chest or abdomen. A heart ultrasound (echocardiogram) or chest x-rays may be recommended to collect information. An echocardiogram is the only available test to confirm the cause of a heart murmur. This is done by a Veterinary Cardiologist.