When your local veterinarian tells you that your pet needs a dog echocardiogram, you may not be sure how the process works. This test can be an important step in formulating the treatment plan for your furry companion.
Our vets in DeSoto, TX, can explain the process to you and why it’s important. Learn more about what this test entails and why you might need to visit a veterinary cardiologist to have it done.
What Are Echocardiograms for Dogs?
A dog echocardiogram is a type of test that can look at the animal’s heart without opening the skin. This type of test uses sound waves operating at a high frequency to create an image of the area around this vital organ.
Echocardiograms provide key health information about dogs. Some of the information veterinarians receive regarding the health of the heart include:
- Size of the organ
- Wall thickness
- The presence of any masses
- How it is functioning
- Any odd shapes in the four chambers
- Performance of the valves
- Health of the pericardial sac
One of the most critical aspects of this test is that it shows the heart as it’s functioning. The doctor can see how the organ is beating and find any issues that are occurring during this process that could explain any symptoms.
Why Your Veterinarian Might Not Do the Testing
When your pet’s vet chooses to order a dog echocardiogram, you might have to travel to another office. This procedure differs from X-rays or ultrasounds and requires special training to perform properly.
It sometimes requires specialized equipment that most vet’s offices do not have available. You might have to take the animal to a veterinarian cardiologist’s office to have the test done. The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine provides board certification for vets who demonstrate the required experience and knowledge as a cardiologist.
Once the cardiologist creates the images, your normal vet and the cardiologist will interpret them. After developing a plan for the care of the animal, your veterinarian will perform any of the required procedures.
Steps Required for Echocardiograms From a Veterinarian
When performing a dog echocardiogram, the cardiologist will place the dog on a table appropriate for ultrasounds and similar tests. It often has padding for the pet’s comfort.
Most dogs do not need sedation for this process. However, healthcare professionals may add sedation based on the animal’s temperament, as the dog will need gentle restraint during the procedure.
Dogs will lie down during the test. It takes up to 20 minutes to receive the desired images, but it’s possible that other testing and measurements will occur during the appointment, including:
- X-rays
- Blood work
- Blood pressure measurements
- Electrocardiogram to measure rhythm
The entire appointment, including interpreting the results, could take up to two hours.
Dogs should not need to have food or water withheld before this procedure. You rarely need to shave the animal’s fur before the process, although thick fur may need clipping.
How Do Echocardiograms Compare to Ultrasounds or Doppler Tests for Dogs?
Echocardiograms differ from other types of non-invasive tests because they require some custom techniques. Veterinarians who specialize in heart care do the test, which some people call a cardiac ultrasound. They use similar tools to ultrasounds but might require a transducer probe.
A dog echocardiogram focuses on the heart and the nearby areas. If your vet wants to see the performance of other organs in the animal’s body, a dog ultrasound is the most common option.
Another non-invasive option is Doppler imaging. This is a testing procedure to show how blood enters, moves through, and exists in your pet’s heart. It might be helpful for your veterinarian to have two or more of these tests performed to provide a complete picture of the animal’s health.
What Illnesses in Dogs Can the Imaging Show?
Much like with humans, echocardiograms are important tests for animals suffering from heart disease. They could also show other issues, including:
- An irregular heartbeat
- Presence of a murmur
- Abnormal size
- Abnormal shape
- Valve problems
- Presence of heartworm disease
Your veterinarian might diagnose your pet with heart disease and use a dog echocardiogram for additional information. If the animal is experiencing shortness of breath, intolerance to exercise, or constant coughing, heart disease is a possible diagnosis. If the vet hears problems with rhythm or a murmur when listening through a stethoscope, these can be signs of heart disease.
Echocardiograms can measure the extent of the damage to this vital organ. The information that the cardiologist measures provides clues used to develop a treatment plan for your pet.
The veterinarian might recommend various medications or other forms of intervention to try to stop or reverse the disease’s progression. After a certain period of treatment, your vet might recommend having another canine echocardiogram. If the new measurements don’t show any progress, the vet might try another treatment plan.
Help for Finding Congenital Disease in Puppies
Hearing murmurs is common when the vet is examining a puppy. Frequently, the puppy will outgrow whatever condition is causing the murmur without any treatment required. However, if the vet continues to hear the heart murmur at subsequent checkups, a puppy echocardiogram can show exactly what is happening.
The canine cardiologist might determine that the puppy needs aggressive treatment to try to fix the murmur. It’s also possible that the new tests show that the puppy’s heart is healing and doesn’t need treatment.
At Penny Paws Animal Clinic, We Give Your Pet the Highest Level of Care
When treating your dog for health problems like congestive heart failure or pericardial effusion, our veterinarians may deploy a variety of tools. We might suggest a dog echocardiogram, a pet ultrasound, or similar kinds of testing.
To receive the highest level of care for your dogs and cats, visit Penny Paws Animal Clinic. Our trusted team focuses on giving your family pets the highest level of care. To set up an appointment, call our DeSoto, TX, office today at (469) 807-3030 or one of our other regional clinics.