Radiographic findings of cardiac silhouette can be subjectively assessed or objectively evaluated using the vertebral heart scoring method. Cardiac silhouette enlargement is often present in cats with cardiac disease, and vertebral heart scores have been shown to be higher in cats with cardiac disorders and left-sided cardiac disease as compared with normal controls. Commonly used as sedatives, α-2 agonists can cause numerous cardiovascular effects (eg, decreased cardiac output, bradycardia, peripheral vasoconstriction, transient hypertension followed by hypotension).