Heart Smart Ultrasound Imaging For Your Pets
A healthy heart is just as important for our canine and feline family members as it is for us humans. In order to ensure your pet’s optimal heart health, we rely on advanced imaging techniques to detect and prevent potential heart problems. One of the most beneficial diagnostic tools is ultrasound, an invaluable and highly effective imaging procedure that has been used in veterinary medicine for decades.
Here at Eagle Animal Hospital in the Greater Kansas City area, our diagnostic specialists utilize echocardiogram technology to evaluate the anatomy and function of your pet’s heart, which allows us to make accurate diagnoses, determine personalized treatment plans, and prevent the onset of heart problems when detected early on. Keep reading to learn more about echocardiogram testing for your pets, and get in touch with us today to schedule a consultation with your vet.
Benefits of Veterinary Echocardiogram Testing
- A safe, non-invasive, painless procedure for your dogs and cats.
- Visualizes the size and structure of your pet’s heart.
- Provides crucial information about the heart’s health and function.
- Delivers real-time data that can be used to identify a range of heart conditions.
- Helps your veterinarian accurately diagnose various heart problems.
- Provides valuable information to help inform preventative measures.
- The digital images can be shared with ease and promptness between our two clinics.
- A quick procedure with little-to-no discomfort for your pet.
- You’ll receive the results the same day as the test is performed.
Heart Smart Diagnostic Imaging
Painless and Non-Invasive
Improves Early Detection Measures
Enhances Diagnostic Accuracy
Veterinary Echocardiogram Testing In Kansas City
If your Kansas City veterinarian suspects your four-legged friend is suffering from a heart problem, our state-of-the-art animal hospital is equipped with advanced diagnostic technology to take a closer look at their heart. Our specialists can perform the echocardiogram right in the comfort of our clinic to gain real-time insights into your pet’s heart health. This allows us to not only detect potential heart problems, but also allows us to create a personalized treatment plan for your beloved pet, and enhances our preventative care for issues detected early.
How Does An Echocardiogram Work?
Often referred to as an ECG or EKG, a veterinary echocardiogram is similar to heart assessments we humans undergo. This type of ultrasound test uses high-frequency sound waves that reflect a real-time picture of your pet’s heart. Your vet uses a non-invasive, handheld ultrasound probe to gently contact your pet’s chest as they lay comfortably on a padded exam table. As the sound waves bounce off of their heart, they return to the transducer device as echoes, which generate the moving picture of the heart on a monitor.
What To Expect
Unlike more complex procedures such as surgery, your pet is not restricted from normal eating and drinking prior to their echocardiogram test. While you will want to plan on the entire visit taking between one and two hours, the actual test itself only takes about 15-20 minutes. Your pet will be safely and comfortably restrained on an exam table for the duration of the test. That said, this procedure is painless, so we typically do not need to sedate, anesthetize, or shave your pet to complete the procedure. However, if you feel your pet may need sedation, you can discuss this with your veterinarian prior to their examination. Once the image has been constructed, your doctor will go over the results with you during the exam appointment, and may recommend any further testing based on the results.
Common Health Conditions In Canines and Felines
Using cardiac ultrasound, your veterinarian can detect an array of heart conditions, including:
- Heart Disease
- Valve Abnormalities (Chronic Valvular Disease)
- Heart Muscle Thickening (Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy)
- Heart Dilation (Dilated Cardiomyopathy)
- Congenital Diseases
- Heart Tumors
- Most Other Heart Problems
What Is an Echocardiogram Used For?
Cardiac ultrasound is an advanced diagnostic imaging tool that provides crucial information about your pet’s heart health. An echocardiogram can show your veterinarian a great deal about the heart’s structure and function, including:
- The size and shape
- An internal view of the organ
- The thickness of the walls of the heart
- How well the heart is pumping
- How well the valves are working
- Any defects present inside the heart
- Abnormalities in blood flow patterns
- Potential blood clots
- Abnormalities in the pericardium (sac surrounding the heart)
- Any damage to the heart
An echocardiogram can also be used in conjunction with other diagnostic tests such as X-rays. In some cases, your veterinarian may recommend additional diagnostic testing.
Contact Our Animal Clinic In Kansas City
If you would like to arrange a consultation with your veterinarian to find out if your furry best friend is a candidate for an echocardiogram, then please contact our Client Care team today. You may also connect with your veterinarian virtually via telemedicine using your smartphone, tablet, or computer from the comfort of your home or office. If you have any questions about this common diagnostic procedure, please do not hesitate to reach out by filling out the form below.