Cardiology Service for Dogs and Cats
Your pet’s heart health affects every part of their well being. At VSP Evansville, our specialty team provides detailed cardiac evaluations, advanced testing, and carefully developed treatment plans for dogs and cats with suspected or confirmed heart disease.
Whether your pet has a newly detected heart murmur, an irregular heartbeat, breathing changes, or an existing cardiac condition, we help you understand the diagnosis and make informed decisions about their continued care.
Expert Care
For Complex Cases
Working Hours:
Wednesday – Thursday
7:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Heart Conditions Our Team Evaluates
Heart disease can affect pets in different ways. Some conditions develop gradually, while others are discovered during a routine examination or after sudden changes in breathing, energy, or behavior. Our veterinary specialists evaluate and help manage conditions such as:
- Congestive heart failure
- Dilated cardiomyopathy
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- Degenerative mitral valve disease
- Congenital heart abnormalities
- Irregular heart rhythms
- Fluid surrounding the heart
- Cardiac tumors
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Heart murmurs
- High blood pressure
- Coughing associated with heart disease
- Exercise intolerance
- Weakness, fainting, or collapse
The symptoms of heart and respiratory disease can sometimes appear similar. A focused medical evaluation helps determine whether the heart, lungs, or another body system may be responsible.
Detailed Cardiac Testing and Treatment Planning
Our team develops recommendations based on your pet’s symptoms, medical history, examination findings, diagnostic results, and overall quality of life. Treatment may include medication, nutrition guidance, activity adjustments, continued monitoring, or another targeted medical recommendation.
Echocardiography: A heart ultrasound which creates moving images of the heart chambers, valves, walls, and blood flow.
Electrocardiography: An electrocardiogram records the electrical activity of the heart. This test may help identify an irregular heartbeat, an abnormal heart rate, or another electrical conduction concern.
Holter Monitoring: A Holter monitor records heart rhythm activity for an extended period while your pet follows their normal routine at home.
Blood Pressure Measurement: High or low blood pressure can influence the heart, kidneys, eyes, and other organs. Blood pressure testing supports diagnosis, treatment selection, and continued monitoring.
Chest Radiographs: Chest X rays help the veterinary team assess heart size, lung appearance, blood vessels, and possible fluid accumulation.
Why Families Choose VSP for Heart Care
Thoughtful Care for Every Heartbeat
Advanced medical knowledge, detailed diagnostic testing, and compassionate communication come together to support your pet throughout their heart care journey.
Focused Veterinary Expertise
Our veterinary specialists have extensive experience evaluating complicated medical conditions and understanding how heart disease may affect the rest of the body.
Precise Cardiac Evaluation
Echocardiography, electrocardiography, Holter monitoring, blood pressure testing, and chest imaging allow our team to study your pet’s heart from several important perspectives.
Coordinated Specialty Support
Heart disease may exist alongside kidney problems, hormonal disorders, cancer, respiratory illness, or another complex condition.
Comfort and Quality of Life
Our goal is to help your pet remain comfortable, active, and supported while giving your family clear information about what to expect.
Complete Physical Evaluation
Our veterinary team listens to your pet’s heart and lungs, checks their pulse, evaluates breathing, and looks for physical signs that may be associated with cardiac disease.
Detailed Medical Review
The specialist reviews your pet’s medical records, current medications, previous diagnostic findings, symptoms, and any recent changes noticed at home.
Individualized Care Recommendations
After reviewing the available findings, our team explains which diagnostic tests may be helpful and discusses possible treatment, monitoring, and follow up options.
Guidance Through Every Stage of Heart Care
A heart condition may require continued monitoring rather than a single visit. Your pet’s care plan may change over time based on symptoms, diagnostic results, medication response, and disease progression.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Veterinary Cardiology?
Veterinary cardiology focuses on diseases involving the heart and circulatory system of dogs and cats.
Cardiac specialists use physical examinations, diagnostic imaging, heart rhythm testing, blood pressure measurement, and medical history to identify heart conditions and develop personalized treatment plans.
This specialty can help families understand how a heart condition may affect their pet’s breathing, activity, comfort, and long term health.
Which Heart Conditions Can Affect Dogs and Cats?
Pets may develop heart murmurs, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, valve disease, congenital abnormalities, irregular heart rhythms, pulmonary hypertension, high blood pressure, fluid around the heart, or cardiac tumors.
Some conditions are present at birth, while others develop with age or alongside another medical disease.
A detailed evaluation helps identify the underlying problem and determine whether treatment or continued monitoring is appropriate.
When Should My Pet Receive a Cardiac Evaluation?
A cardiac consultation may be recommended when your veterinarian detects a heart murmur, abnormal rhythm, enlarged heart, or unusual blood pressure reading.
Your pet may also need evaluation if they experience:
- Persistent coughing
- Rapid or difficult breathing
- Reduced stamina
- Weakness
- Fainting or collapse
- Restlessness at night
- Abdominal swelling
- Sudden changes in activity
Early evaluation may help identify heart disease before symptoms become severe and provide a clearer plan for treatment or monitoring.
Is a Veterinary Referral Required?
Many cardiac patients are referred by their primary veterinarian, who can provide valuable medical records, examination findings, medication history, and previous diagnostic results.
A referral may not be required for every appointment. Pet parents can contact our team directly for scheduling guidance and information about the records needed before the visit.
Can Heart Disease Be Managed?
Many heart conditions can be treated or managed with medication, activity guidance, nutritional recommendations, regular testing, and continued veterinary oversight.
The treatment goal depends on the diagnosis. Some plans focus on slowing disease progression, while others address symptoms, reduce fluid accumulation, control blood pressure, or stabilize an abnormal rhythm.
Our team explains the expected benefits, monitoring needs, and possible changes you may notice at home.
Will My Primary Veterinarian Stay Involved?
Yes. Specialty cardiac care is designed to support the work of your primary veterinarian.
Our team can share examination findings, diagnostic reports, medication recommendations, and follow up guidance with the referring practice.
This coordinated approach helps your pet receive more consistent care between specialty visits and routine veterinary appointments.
Veterinary professionals can access available information through the appropriate VSP patient portal.