Concerning a pet's heart, lungs and blood vessels, veterinary cardiology is involved in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, which includes congestive heart failure, hypertension, dilated and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and valvular disorders. Symptoms of pet heart problems include weakness, exercise intolerance, shortness of breath or apparent difficulty in breathing, fast breathing at rest (not normal panting), collapse, fainting spells, cough and elevated heart rate.

A board certified veterinary cardiologist is a licensed veterinarian who has obtained intensive, additional training in veterinary cardiology and has been certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM). Because the function of your pet's heart and lungs are interrelated, veterinary cardiologists are also knowledgeable about lung disease as well as diseases of the chest cavity in order to ensure the best possible outcome for your pet.