Getting to the Heart of the matter: For Pet Parents

This page is under construction and will soon have many resources pertaining to pet heart disease and answers to frequently asked questions about Echocardiography. As a reminder, if you are a pet owner interested in an Echocardiogram for your furry friend, you must have pre-approval from your Primary Veterinarian.

Getting to the heart of the matter: For Pet Parents

Welcome to PET ECHOS.  Our mission is to raise awareness for pet heart disease through client education and by promoting early screening and detection using Echocardiography, helping pets live longer, happier lives.


It is estimated that between 15-20 percent of the Canine and Feline population have underlying heart disease. Signs that your Pet may have heart disease include:

  • Exercise intolerance
  • Tachypnea (rapid breathing) or Dyspnea (difficulty breathing)
  • Coughing
  • Syncope (fainting) or collapse


The most common conditions we diagnose include:

  • Degenerative Mitral Valve Disease
  • Dilated Cardiomyopathy
  • Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
  • Pulmonary Hypertension
  • Arrythmias
  • Congenital Heart Disease


Depending on which specific heart condition your pet has and whether or not Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is present, therapy may include:

  • Medications called Positive Inotropes that improve cardiac contractility (i.e., Pimobendan)
  • Medications called Diuretics to reduce cardiac preload (i.e., Furosemide)
  • Medications called Vasodilators to improve forward flow (i.e., Ace inhibitors such as Enalapril)
  • Medications called phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors to manage concurrent Pulmonary Hypertension (i.e., Sildenafil)
  • Medications such as Calcium Channel Blockers to control arrythmias (i.e., Diltiazem)
  • Antiplatelet medications to prevent blood clots (i.e., Clopidogrel in cats)


Regardless of what heart condition your pet may have, Pet Echos will provide you with a personalized educational experience to help you understand the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of your pet's heart condition. Below you may find a brief summary of some of the most common conditions we diagnose. If you have any specific questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our top priority is client education.

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Also called "leaky valve disease", Degenerative mitral valve disease accounts for 75% of heart disease in dogs and is also the most common cause of congestive heart failure in this species. It is most common in small-breed dogs and is characterized by abnormal thickening of the mitral and/or tricuspid valves. Failure of the valve to close properly allows blood to regurgitate (leak) back into the atrium, potentially causing fluid to build up in the lungs and/or the abdomen.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) is an acquired heart disease most commonly affecting large-breed dogs. It is characterized by dilation of the left ventricle and thinning of the left ventricular wall.  Ventricular contractions become impaired,  potentially leading to collapse and sudden death. The cause is unknown, except in some Doberman Pinschers that have a gene mutation. In some breeds, this cardiomyopathy may result from a lack of an amino acid called Taurine. Recently, grain-free diets have been linked to DCM in dogs.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common heart disease affecting cats with an estimated prevalance of 15% in the feline population. It is characterized by hypertrophy (thickening) of the heart muscle, usually of the left ventricle. This may lead to impaired relaxation of the heart and cause arrhythmias, the formation of blood clots which can break off and block major arteries, and congestive heart failure. HCM is also known as the "silent killer" because many cats can remain asymptomatic until the disease is very advanced and some do not present with heart murmurs, which would normally prompt the veterinarian to investigate further.