Heart Failure

Although heart disease in cats and dogs is common, advancements in treatment have enabled these patients to live longer and have a better quality of life. This resource can help you navigate diagnosis and management of heart disease in your patients.

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A brown Boxer dog stands alert in a grassy field, showcasing its muscular build and attentive expression. The background features soft, blurred hues of yellow and green, suggesting a natural outdoor setting.

The fact that pericardial effusion is relatively uncommon underscores the need to review its causes, clinical signs, examination findings, and management.

A 6-lead ECG with runs of ventricular ectopy.

Correctly identifying an arrhythmia starts with understanding cardiac conduction. Review normal cardiac conductivity and waveforms as well as what happens when abnormalities in this system lead to arrhythmias.

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Obtaining a complete history is an essential step in a cardiac workup, and answers to these key questions will facilitate the diagnostic process.

A fluffy, bi-colored cat with striking blue eyes sits on a table in a well-lit veterinary clinic, looking directly at the camera. The background features blurred outlines of a person and various veterinary equipment, indicating a clinical setting.
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Cats with subclinical HCM may appear healthy, but the risks for CHF, arterial thromboembolism, and sudden cardiac death can loom large. Discover how a new therapy is shifting the treatment paradigm.

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Clinician's Brief Podcast

Drs. Alyssa Watson and Andrea C. Eriksson De Rezende.

Dr. Eriksson De Rezende covers a variety of presentations, the full list of diagnostics (including NT-proBNP), the virtues of sedation, and therapies ranging from the mainstays to that new sirolimus drug.

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Dr. Estrada shares how to effectively use ECG in general practice and reviews a comprehensive list of arrhythmias that veterinarians may encounter, including those that could mean trouble.

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See how Plumb's can answer your treatment FAQs for heart failure.

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A King Charles spaniel looking into the camera.

Inhibition of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system is a critical part of treatment for congestive heart failure in dogs. Could combining an aldosterone antagonist with an ACE inhibitor improve outcomes?

Ragdoll cat sitting on the floor staring into the camera.

Do you recommend a recheck or immediate echocardiography for a cat with a new murmur? Researchers looked for an objective marker on thoracic radiographs to help answer this question.

A veterinarian in blue scrubs and gloves holds a fluffy, tabby cat with bright green eyes close to their chest, showcasing a calm interaction in a clinical setting. The background is softly blurred, emphasizing the focus on the cat and the caregiver.
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A conditionally approved therapy is changing the landscape of feline HCM. Dive into the RAPACAT trial results to see how delayed-release sirolimus impacted disease progression and discover what clinicians should know about dosing, tolerance, and patient selection.

A lateral thoracic radiograph of a normal dog with measurements added to evaluate heart size compared to the thoracic vertebrae.

This cardiologist guides you through calculating a vertebral heart scale, its uses, and interpreting findings.

Gloved hand holding back end of a cat lying sternally on exam table and staring into camera.

Cardiac troponin I is a biomarker of myocardial cell injury. How useful is cTnI testing when assessing risk for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats?

A laterally recumbent dog with an index finger lightly touching the dorsal surface of a right hind paw near the hock.

Pulse assessment is a crucial part of every patient’s physical examination. Learning the proper methods for obtaining an accurate heart rate, rhythm, and pulse quality is crucial for the assessment of systemic health and treatment recommendations.