Cardiology
Call us at 747-900-2568
VCA Veterinary Specialists of the Valley is proud of their affiliation with Advanced Veterinary Care Center ("AVCC"), which operates their San Fernando Valley practice out of our facility. AVCC's team is led by Michael Lesser, DVM, DACVIM. For more information on AVCC, visit their website at advancedveterinarycarecenter.com.
Why does my animal need to see a Board-certified Veterinary Cardiologist?
Commonly called Cardiologists, these Specialists focus on diagnosing and treating disease of the heart and lungs, which include:
- Congestive heart failure
- Damage to the heart muscle or valves
- Coughing and other breathing problems
- Congenital (present at birth) defects
- Cardiac arrhythmias (problems with the rate and/or rhythm of your animal's heart)
What should I expect during the visit with a Board-certified Veterinary Cardiologist?
The Cardiologist will perform a complete and thorough physical examination on your animal, and based on these initial findings, additional tests will be discussed. Depending on your animal's condition, diagnostic testing or treatments may include:
- Advanced laboratory testing of various blood samples
- Balloon valvuloplasty to dilate narrowed vessels
- Blood pressure evaluation
- Cardiac catheterization procedures
- Echocardiography - non-invasive ultrasound imaging of the heart
- Electrocardiography (ECGs) - electrical reading of the heart's rhythm
- Heart Registry Certification for breeding programs
- Radiography (x-rays)
-
Surgical repair of congenital heart defects