Cardiology - What We Offer
AVSEC's cardiology department offers:
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Non-invasive diagnostics: echocardiography (including color/spectral doppler and tissue doppler imaging), nine-lead EKG, blood pressure, digital radiography (x-rays), and holter and event monitoring
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State-of-the-art hospitalization: temperature/humidity-controlled oxygen cages and telemetry (wireless EKG).
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Interventional treatment for patients with congenital heart disease (PDA occlusion, balloon valvuloplasty, etc.) and permanent pacemaker implantation
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Cardiologists providing cardiac evaluations on-site and throughout the Front Range, including 24-hour emergency services at AVSEC
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A warm and compassionate approach to cardiologic care for your pets
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An empathetic communication style among specialists and your family
Highly-specialized care for the cardiac patient includes:
Echocardiography
RMVC is equipped with a state-of-the-art cardiac specific ultrasound machine with Colorflow, spectral, and tissue Doppler capabilities. Echocardiography is the mainstay of cardiac diagnostics as it allows for both structural and functional evaluation of the heart.
Electrocardiography
We perform ECGs when appropriate. Although insensitive for the diagnosis of heart enlargement, the electrocardiogram is the gold standard in arrhythmia (irregular heart beat) diagnosis and management.
Blood pressure measurement
Knowledge of your pet’s blood pressure may affect drug dosage and administration as well as long-term management of select patients with cardiac disease.
Pericardiocentesis
Pericardiocentesis is performed when there is fluid accumulation between the heart and the sac that surrounds the heart (the pericardium). Performance of an echocardiogram prior to pericardiocentesis is often critical in cases of pericardial effusion. Pericardial fluid highlights soft tissue masses facilitating the diagnosis of neoplasia.
Holter monitoring
This 24 hour ambulatory ECG is ideal for the evaluation of tachyarrhythmias (fast heart beats). The holter exam may influence whether to treat some arrhythmias and greatly aids in their management. The holter may be worn home by the patient so that he/she may be evaluated in their home environment.
Event monitoring
Ideal for a syncopal (fainting) dog, the event monitor is an ambulatory ECG that houses a continuous loop recorder. The monitor is typically worn for one to two weeks to optimize the probability of capturing an event. When an event occurs the owner depresses a button that captures the ECG at the time of the event.
Hospitalization
RMVC offers cardiac care that is unparalleled. Oxygen cages are used for patients who are having trouble breathing. The environment of our cages can be humidity and temperature controlled as well as provide a finely calibrated oxygen enriched environment. Wireless telemetry is used to monitor patients with severe heart rhythm disturbances. Because it is wireless, the pet may move freely in its environment and their ECG may be monitored even while out on walks. Our nurses are specially trained to monitor and meet the needs of our hospitalized patients.
Fluoroscopy
Fluoroscopy is used for catheterization. These procedures include pacemaker implantation, PDA occlusion, and balloon valvuloplasty.
Digital Radiography (x-rays)
Digital x-rays allow for rapid and detailed image acquisition which not only greatly decreases the time and therefore stress associated with taking x-rays but also enables high resolution imaging for more accurate diagnoses.
Cardiac catheterization
Fluoroscopy is used for cardiac catheterization and is best described as “real time x-rays”. This makes it possible to visualize catheters as they move through the heart. RMVC offers the following non-invasive procedures: pacemaker implantation, PDA occlusion, balloon valvuloplasty, angiography and other advanced cardiac catheterizations.
Cardiology treatment and services are led by Dr. Karen Sanderson of Boulder's Rocky Mountain Veterinary Cardiology.
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