Diagnostic9 connections · 4 sources
Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram is a heart ultrasound that provides detailed images of cardiac structure and function. It is the definitive diagnostic tool for heart disease in pets.
Key Facts
- Non-invasive ultrasound of the heart; usually no sedation needed
- Evaluates chamber sizes, wall thickness, valve function, blood flow
- Detects cardiomyopathy (HCM, DCM), valve disease, congenital defects
- Doppler mode measures blood flow velocity and direction
- In cats, detects "smoke" (blood stasis) that predicts clot/aortic-thromboembolism risk
- Performed by veterinary cardiologists or trained general practitioners
- Species: dogs and cats
Connections (9)
Related Conditions
Aortic ThromboembolismCondition
Left atrial enlargement and "smoke" predict clot risk
CardiomyopathyCondition
Definitive diagnostic test
Congestive Heart FailureCondition
Monitors cardiac function and guides treatment
Diet Associated CardiomyopathyCondition
Cardiac ultrasound is recommended to screen for early structural changes in dogs consuming implicated diets.
Heart DiseaseCondition
Central diagnostic for all cardiac conditions
Pulmonary HypertensionCondition
Doppler used to estimate pulmonary pressures
Tetralogy Of FallotCondition
The definitive diagnostic imaging modality used to visualize the structural abnormalities.
Ventricular Septal DefectCondition
Provides definitive visualization and measurement of the septal opening.