Echocardiography (Heart Scan)

Echocardiography (a heart scan) is an imaging technique using ultrasound to assess the heart. This allows us to have a look at the heart’s shape and structure, giving a detailed assessment of the chambers, valves, and great vessels.

In addition to this, we can look at how the heart contracts and assess how effective it is at pumping blood around the body. This equipment is important in diagnosing a range of heart diseases including mitral valve disease, which is common in Cavalier King Charles spaniels, congenital heart defects, congestive heart failure, and a number of other heart-related conditions.

When having a heart scan, patients are often not required to have sedation, and the procedure is short and painless. Echocardiography is recommended for any animal with a heart murmur of concern or symptoms of heart disease (coughing, breathing changes, exercise intolerance, or fainting).

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