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CVCA Cardiac Care for Pets

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CVCA Cardiac Care for Pets

CVCA Cardiac Care for Pets is dedicated to collaborating with your veterinarian to deliver compassionate, expert cardiac care.
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CVCA is the leading choice for veterinary cardiology. Our team of board-certified veterinary cardiologists treats more patients with heart disease than any other practice worldwide. Our expertise and top-of-the-line echocardiography equipment ensure an accurate diagnosis and the best outcome for your pet. Entrust your pet's care to a board-certified cardiologist!

11/11/2024

Falling leaves and floppy ears, that's our kind of autumn.🍂

11/05/2024

Hey! Hey you! Ya YOU! Are you checking respiration rates ❓❓

It's always good to know how to monitor your pet’s sleeping respiratory rate at home!

A rate greater than 30 breaths per minute or an increase from normal rates could be an early sign of congestive heart failure. This should be done once daily. When your pet is truly asleep (as opposed to resting but awake).

You can obtain this rate by counting the number of times that a breath is taken in 15 seconds and multiplying that number by 4 (or in 30 seconds, multiplied by 2). If that number is greater than 30, or if you notice an upward trend in your pet’s respiratory rates (e.g., if it is generally in the high teens but starts trending into the 20s), please call your local cardiologist to determine whether medical therapy or even an ER visit is necessary.

If you like, you can use the Cardalis app to help count and track your pet’s respiratory rates over time. This is a useful and free app that is available through either the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store!

Happy breathing! 😸🐶

10/31/2024

Happy Halloween from CVCA and some of our amazing patients! 🎃

10/24/2024

Life is Golden. 💛

This handsome 10-year-old is Mowgli!

Mowgli's first visit with CVCA was in January 2024. He returned to us for a re-evaluation of ACVIM stage B1 myxomatous valve disease.

Results revealed great news!! His heart remains normal in size and the remainder of his chest cavity also appears normal. Based on a lack of apparent heart enlargement, there is no need to begin any cardiac medications at this time. Yayyyy Mowgli!! 🐕

10/15/2024

Happy Vet Tech Appreciation Week!!

Please join us in thanking the amazing Veterinary Nurses and Assistants who make CVCA run so smoothly. You deserve to be celebrated! ❤🥳

10/11/2024

The spookiest night of the year will be here before we know it! 👻 As you make your plans, here are some pet-safety tips to remember! 🐾

10/08/2024

What is P I M O B E N D A N ❓❓

Pimobendan (Vetmedin) lowers the pressure in both the arteries and veins, as well as improves heart muscle strength. This improves blood flow to the body without causing heart muscle damage. It has greatly improved the quality of life and life expectancy of pets with advanced heart disease.

Sweet Febe recently came in to see CVCA and was diagnosed with degenerative mitral valve disease (ACVIM stage B2). Our plan is to start her on Pimobendan to help increase the pumping power of her heart, while also decreasing its workload. We will keep a close eye on her to ensure she continues to avoid cardiac symptoms and lives a long happy life! 🖤🤍

10/03/2024

Your life changes forever when you're chosen to be loved by a westie. 🤍

Oliver's echocardiogram revealed a diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension (PHT).

What is PHT❓PHT is a condition of high blood pressure within the vasculature of the lungs (in the pulmonary arteries, veins, and/or capillary system). Pulmonary hypertension is not usually a primary disease entity of itself but is often secondary to other primary diseases. Clinical signs of this disease include difficulty breathing, exercise intolerance, weakness, and syncope (fainting). If severe and chronic, PHT can lead to progressive structural changes to the right heart and congestive heart failure (fluid buildup in the abdomen and around the lungs secondary to cardiac dysfunction).

At Oliver's re-evaluation, his hypertension GREATLY improved after medical therapy, which is great news! We plan to keep a close eye on Oliver to keep him stable for even longer.

10/01/2024

Did you know roughly 6.5 million animals enter animal shelters each year, according to ASPCA? If you’re looking to welcome a furry friend into your family, consider your local animal shelter! ❤️

Did you adopt your pet from a shelter? We’d love to see a picture of them in the comments!

10/01/2024

National Walk Your Dog Week is observed between October 1 to 7! 🐾

Is your pooch a fan of getting outdoors and taking a walk? If that is the case, this week is an ideal time to play outdoors. 🍂 You and your dog may join a nationwide celebration highlighting the advantages of walking together. Therefore, it is time to get out those shoes and prepare your puppy’s paw pads for National Walk Your Dog Week! 🎊

This time serves as a reminder to pet owners that exercise is critical for the health of their canine companions. ❤

Post a photo of you walking your beloved furry companion and tag us ! We would love to see photos of you and your pup(s) celebrating!

Happy walking!! 🍃

09/25/2024

Love is a wet nose and a happy tail! ❤

09/24/2024

This adorable 3 month old is Archie! 😍

Following adoption, he was seen at VCA North Portland Veterinary Hospital for a wellness exam. His physical exam revealed a grade 2/6 heart murmur that had progressed to a grade 3/6 at a subsequent visit 2 weeks later.

Archie then presented to CVCA (🙋‍♀️) for an initial evaluation to assess the heart murmur further. Dr. Gregg Rapoport, DVM, DACVIM found that Archie’s heart murmur is related to the speed of blood flow in a specific area of his heart, namely the area where blood leaves the left ventricle and passes through the aortic valve to enter the aorta. In this location, blood flow velocity is high enough to be heard as a murmur, particularly when Archie is more excited or anxious. In the absence of any structural abnormalities in this area of the heart, such as backward flow across the aortic valve (aortic regurgitation), blood flow turbulence, or a visible obstruction to blood flow (subaortic ridge), this would be considered normal variation in an adult dog.

In some dogs, this same finding can be the result of a congenital heart disease called “aortic stenosis.” This is an abnormal narrowing (stenosis) in this region of the heart. The stenosis is typically just below the level of the aortic valve, technically referred to as “subaortic” stenosis. In more severe cases, this obstructs forward blood flow, requiring the left ventricle to become stronger and thicker to send blood into the aorta. While this defect is congenital (present since birth), the narrowing can become more severe during the first one to two years of life.

We are hopeful that this will not be a significant problem for Archie and we will be sure to keep a close eye on him! We love you Archie!! ❤❤

09/19/2024

Excuse me, I need moar food! 🐱

09/12/2024

Life is better with a Dane! 🐾

This handsome boy is Douglas! He came to CVCA to screen for dilated cardiomyopathy due to breed predisposition.

What is dilated cardiomyopathy❓

Dilated cardiomyopathy starts with degeneration of the heart muscle. The muscle becomes thinner and weaker, particularly the normally thick muscular wall of the left ventricle.

As the heart weakens, it loses its ability to pump blood effectively. The blood congests in the heart, causing increased pressure, which causes the thin heart muscle walls to stretch. This stretching causes the large, dilated appearance.

Some dogs develop a heart murmur if the heart valves become stretched enough to create a leak. Some dogs also develop an abnormal heart rhythm because of the stretched heart muscle.

Thankfully, Douglas had NO abnormalities seen on his echocardiogram (ultrasound examination of the heart)!
No structural abnormalities were noted and he also did not have any apparent arrhythmia during his visit (abnormalities in how electrical impulses are conducted through the heart).

Given a breed predisposition for dilated cardiomyopathy, today’s evaluation showed no evidence of this condition.

We are so excited for you Douglas, keep being the sweet lap dog that you are! 🥳

09/06/2024

Thinks I don't know what V-E-T Spells! 🩺

09/02/2024

Happy Labor Day! Thank you to our incredible teammates for all you do. ❤️

08/30/2024

SIX FUN LABOR DAY ACTIVITIES FOR YOU AND YOUR DOG!

1. The dog beach 🏖
2. Go camping 🏕
3. Stay at a dog friendly hotel and explore the town 🐾
4. Host a dog party 🥳
5. Explore a new hiking trail 🥾
6. Simply relax 😌

Have a fun and relaxing Labor Day weekend!

Yours truly,
CVCA cardiac care for pets ❤

08/29/2024

Remi is here to share what signs to look for when dealing with advanced cardiac disease.🚦

Signs of advanced cardiac disease can include coughing, tiring more easily with activity, breathing more quickly or with difficulty, abdominal distension, or any episodes of weakness or fainting. Any difficulty breathing or collapse episodes would warrant immediate medical attention. 🚑

In addition, please call if you notice any unexplained decrease in appetite, vomiting, or diarrhea, as there can also be side effects of cardiac medications.

Even for milder signs, or if you ever have any questions or concerns, never hesitate to call your nearest CVCA! 👋

08/08/2023

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL CAT DAY! 🐱
Show us your sweet fur babies in the comments!

To learn about cat specific heart diseases, click the link below.
https://www.cvcavets.com/feline-heart-diseases/

08/08/2023

This sweet girl Roxie, had her first visit with us! She was referred to the Louisville office by Pewee Valley Veterinary Center for evaluation of a cough. Fortunately, Roxie's heart disease is very mild and unrelated to her cough. Roxie was happy to be with her parents during the consultation, as you can see!😃

05/02/2023

Meet Sarabi, the 18 month old, Maine C**n kitty that LOVES to go on road trips!

Sarabi came to see Sarah Bell, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology) for an echocardiogram to screen for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM),

Fortunately, Sarabi's heart checked out to be normal. Sarabi will visit Dr. Bell and the Louisville staff yearly to make sure her heart size and function doesn't change.

When Sarabi is not at the vet or traveling on road trips, she likes to hang out in her adorable hanging bed! To learn more about the cardiac care we provide at CVCA, visit our website at https://hubs.li/Q01NmjwL0!

CVCA Louisville is located inside .

03/03/2023

Rhaego, a 1 year old King Charles Cavalier was seen at the Louisville office for a preliminary heart screening. Since cavaliers are prone to heart disease (Degenerative Valve Disease) Rhaego's mom wanted to get a head of the game and have a baseline echocardiogram done.

What is Chronic Degenerative Valvular Disease?
It is the most common form of heart disease in dogs and usually affects the mitral valve.
The condition is slowly progressive and is caused by abnormalities that develop along the edges of the heart valves.
Over time, the heart enlarges and the heart muscle weakens secondary to the long term leaks (regurgitation) in the valves.
When the heart can no longer accommodate the abnormal blood flow, the patient develops congestive heart failure – demonstrated by coughing and breathing difficulties.

A fun fact about Rhaego, he was named after a Game of Thrones character, and his best friend is a cat!

Rhaego go lots of love and treats at his visit with us!

To learn more about the cardiac care we provide at CVCA, visit our website at https://hubs.li/Q01F75wS0!

CVCA Louisville is located inside .

03/01/2023

Meet Simon, a 10 week old Mi-Ki. Simon was referred to us by Dr. Ross at Peewee Valley Vet after hearing a heart murmur.

After evaluation with Sarah Bell, DVM, MS, DACVIM, the echocardiogram showed a congenital heart defect known as a Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA).
PDA is the failure of a large blood vessel (ductus arteriosus) to close just after birth.
In a fetus, this vessel is normal and allows blood to bypass the lungs since the lungs are not used in utero.

At birth, the vessel should closes within hours, directing blood to flow into the newly inflated lungs. PDA is the most frequently seen congenital defect of dogs and is sometimes seen in cats.

Simon is scheduled to have surgery to close the PDA and should have a normal life. Despite having a heart condition, Simon is not letting it get in his way, he is very active and very smart!

To learn more about CVCA and PDA, visit https://hubs.li/Q01DNBKX0

CVCA Louisville is located inside .

01/31/2023

This very sweet kitty is Olive. Olive came to our Louisville location after being referred from Charlestown Veterinary Clinic for an Increased (NTproBNP). A proBNP is a simple blood test that can tell us about heart health. The ProBNP test works by detecting a protein that is released in response to cardiac stretch or stress. An echocardiogram by a board certified cardiologist is the best test to determine if actual heart disease is present.

Fortunately, after the echocardiogram with Sarah Bell, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology), Olive's heart checked out normally. Charlestown Veterinary Clinic will continue to monitor Olive for any changes in the future and we do not need to see Olive back unless something changes.

Olive was the purr-fect patient for her blood pressure. She LOVED all the treats we had in the exam room.

To learn more about CVCA and feline heart disease, visit https://hubs.li/Q01z2Lq90

CVCA Louisville is located inside .

01/24/2023

Willie Ray, a 3 Year old "Speedy" Cane Corso, presented for evaluation of an asymptomatic arrhythmia referred by Louisville Integrative Veterinary Services.

Fortunately after evaluation with Sarah Bell, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology), Willie had an innocent heart murmur and sinus arrhythmia. Willie does not need to see us in the future unless something changes, or if he wants lots of treat and belly rubs!

When Willie is not at the vet, he is running in the FastCAT in which he is ranked #1 for the 2022 season at an average speed of 28.39mph! Luckily Willie's heart will not stop him from running any races in the future!

To learn more about the cardiac care we provide at CVCA, visit our website at https://hubs.li/Q01z2DV00!

CVCA Louisville is located inside .

09/12/2022

Cardiologist Sarah Bell DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology) has new addition to the family! Meet Ben Bell, Dr. Bell's CUTE and sometimes crazy standard Poodle fur baby. Ben is 3 months old and loves treats, naps and playing tug of war with the technicians!

Poodle puppies can sometimes get congenital heart disease such as Atrial Septal Defects (ASDs) are a result of failure of closure of the atrial septum during fetal development resulting in a communication between the left and right atria.

An echocardiogram by a board certified cardiologist can diagnose this and other heart diseases.

To learn more about the cardiac care we provide at CVCA and other common heart diseases, visit our website at https://hubs.li/Q01l-llT0!

CVCA Louisville is located inside BluePearl Veterinary Partners.

08/24/2022

Meet Focus, an 8 year old Border Collie that came to see Sarah Bell DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology) and the Louisville staff in 2021 for having collapsing episodes at home.

After her initial evaluation, Focus was diagnosed with a condition called third degree heart block, which is caused by a low heart rate, leading to decreased blood flow to the brain, lungs and body. Shortly after her visit, Focus got a permanent pacemaker implanted at The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center.

Upon her recheck for a pacemaker interrogation, Focus is doing great and has not had any collapsing episodes. We will continue to check Focus every 6 months to make sure her pacemaker settings do not need to be adjusted. In her free time, she LOVES to
cool off and chase her ball in the pool!

To learn more about CVCA, and common heart diseases, visit https://hubs.li/Q01kSYX-0

CVCA Louisville is located inside BluePearl Veterinary Partners.

07/27/2022

What is a heart murmur? A heart murmur occurs when there is turbulent blood flow within the heart.
Some murmurs can be innocent, while others are linked to heart disease. An echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) by a board certified veterinary cardiologist is the gold standard for definitive diagnosis.
A 5 year old English golden retriever named Grover presented for a grade 2/6 heart murmur. Grover needed to undergo anesthesia for a teeth cleaning which warranted his owners to make an appointment with us to rule out any heart disease.

Like Grover below, we are happy to say his heart murmur is innocent, and Dr. Sarah Bell DVM,MS,DACVIM (Cardiology) cleared him for anesthesia!

To learn more about heart murmurs, or to request an appointment, visit our website at https://hubs.li/Q01hJZ9q0!

CVCA Louisville is located inside BluePearl Veterinary Partners.

06/23/2022

Tinkerbell a 12 year old chihuahua, has been coming to the Louisville office of CVCA since October of 2021. Initially Tinkerbell was diagnosed with a common canine heart disease called Degenerative Valve Disease.

Degenerative Valve Disease is a progressive disease so we like to recheck patients with disease to insure they are receiving the best treatments as the disease progresses. Dr. Sarah Bell, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology) is currently managing Tinkerbelle and per her last recheck is doing GREAT!

Tinkerbelle's mom said Tinkerbelle (The Queen) LOVES her sleep and does not like to get woken up! She is a great patient because she enjoys taking her medications that taste like peanut butter, which makes her fur siblings jealous!

To learn more about CVCA and **Degenerative Valve Disease**, visit **https://hubs.li/Q01fp_kH0, all are on our website under Cat/Dog Heart Disease**

CVCA Louisville is located inside BluePearl Veterinary Partners.

06/15/2022

Mitral valve disease is one of the most common heart diseases we see in dogs.

Mitral regurgitation, a valve disease, is a common cause of a heart murmur in dogs. Blood flow becomes turbulent and creates the murmur. Murmurs are graded on a scale of 1-6… the higher the number, the more obvious the murmur. Your dog can lead a normal life with a heart murmur. A board-certified dog cardiologist can diagnose and help treat the condition.

Aspen Owens is a 11 year old Yorkie mix that came to see our Louisville Cardiologist, Sarah Bell, DVM, MS, DACVIM, for a new heart murmur and elevated blood test called a proBNP (a blood test that measures levels of a protein called BNP that is made by your heart and blood vessels). Aspen was referred by Seneca Animal Hospital.
Fortunately, Aspen was diagnosed with mild regurgitation and does not require medications at this time. We will continue to see Aspen to monitor this disease as it is progressive.

To learn more about CVCA and Mitral Valve Disease, please visit our website or click the link https://hubs.li/Q01bw-cn0
CVCA Louisville is located inside BluePearl Veterinary Partners.

06/08/2022

Stella, a 7 year old shepherd, came to see Dr. Sarah Bell DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology) in November of 2021 for a low heart rate and a decrease in energy. Stella was diagnosed with a condition called "Third-degree heart block".

Third-degree block, or complete heart block, occurs when all electrical impulses to the AV node are blocked resulting in an abnormally slow heart rate. The low heart rate causes decreased blood flow to the brain, lungs and body.

Stella was recently seen for a recheck after getting a pace maker implanted at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine to help with her heart condition and low heart rate. Fortunately, Stella is doing great and is much more active! Dr. Bell will recheck Stella's pacemaker every few months to make sure her settings are still adequate.

Our Vet technician Mary, loved giving Stella some treats after her recheck exam!

To learn more about CVCA and Dog/Cat heart disease, visit https://hubs.li/Q01bw-vk0.

CVCA Louisville is located inside BluePearl Veterinary Partners.

06/01/2022

Cinnabon, an ADORABLE Pit bull Mix rescued by the Animal Care Society, sat down patiently like a good girl for a treat with vet technician, Katherine.

Dr. Sarah Bell, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology) performed an echocardiogram on Cinnabon after she was diagnosed with a heart murmur at 9 weeks of age by doctors at Goshen Animal Clinic. Luckily, Cinnabon's heart checked out normal and she was diagnosed with an innocent heart murmur. Some heart murmurs can be normal however, others may be due to a congenital defect or underlying disease. Getting an Echocardiogram by a board certified cardiologist is the best and most accurate way to get a definitive diagnosis.

Puppies and Kittens tend to be very wiggly for their exams and echocardiograms. Our technicians are very skilled at giving long belly rubs and spray cheese as a distraction, which result in tail wags such as Cinnabon's below :).

To learn more about the cardiac care we provide at CVCA, visit our website at https://hubs.li/Q01btDBS0!

CVCA Louisville is located inside BluePearl Veterinary Partners.

05/25/2022

One of the common breeds we tend to see with heart murmurs are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Pip, a 7-year-old Cavalier, has been coming to us for two years. Pip was first diagnosed with a heart murmur by her primary care vet at Lake Cumberland Animal Hospital. She was diagnosed with a common heart disease in dogs and Cavaliers known as degenerative valve disease.

What is chronic degenerative valvular disease?
It is the most common form of heart disease in dogs and usually affects the mitral valve.
The condition is slowly progressive and is caused by abnormalities that develop along the edges of the heart valves.

Over time, the heart enlarges and the heart muscle weakens secondary to the long term leaks (regurgitation) in the valves.

At Pip's recheck, her echocardiogram showed no progression and she is still stable at a mild form of progression. We will work closely with her primary vet to continue to monitor Pip for any changes until her next recheck with us.

To learn more about CVCA and degenerative valve disease, visit https://hubs.li/Q01bx5fZ0.

CVCA Louisville is located inside BluePearl Veterinary Partners.

05/11/2022

Dr. Sarah Bell and the Louisville staff was at the Kentucky Dog Show Cluster in March doing breed screenings. Dr. Bell had the pleasure of screening Hustle, a 2 year old Belgian Malinois! Hustle loves to do agility, bite-work, tracking, frisbee, and hunt for shed antlers. Hustle had an echocardiogram done to ensure he can safely handle all the athletic work he does. Fortunately, Hustle's heart was normal!

To learn more about the cardiac care we provide at CVCA, visit our website at https://hubs.li/Q019M1FN0!

CVCA Louisville is located inside BluePearl Veterinary Partners.

05/04/2022

Meet this cute Yorkiepoo named Moorpark! Moorpark was referred by Skipworth Veterinary Clinic and recently visited us to monitor his mitral valve disease.

After seeing Sarah Bell DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology) and Bethany, one of our vet techs, for an exam, we found that Moorpark is doing well!

What is mitral valve disease?
It is the most common form of heart disease in dogs and usually affects the mitral valve.
The condition is slowly progressive and is caused by abnormalities that develop along the edges of the heart valves.

Over time, the heart enlarges and the heart muscle weakens secondary to the long term leaks (regurgitation) in the valves.

When the heart can no longer accommodate the abnormal blood flow, the patient develops congestive heart failure – demonstrated by coughing and breathing difficulties.

Thankfully, this condition is not a death sentence, and pets can live happy and healthy lives with the help of a veterinary cardiologist!

To learn more about CVCA and Mitral Valve Disease visit https://hubs.li/Q018ZwHQ0

04/27/2022

Miss Macy Grace came to see Sarah Bell, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology) and technician Katherine for newly developed cough and suspected congestive heart failure. Macy was referred to us from Burke Veterinary Services in Kentucky.

Macy's family says she is the sweetest dachshund, who loves to dress up in dresses and suspenders! We are happy to report that her heart checked out normal.

Signs that your dog might have heart disease include:

◾Coughing and difficulty breathing
◾Getting more tired on walks or when playing
◾Weakness and/or collapse
◾Bloating / swelling of the abdomen (belly)
◾Sudden onset of back leg weakness or paralysis

To learn more about the cardiac care we provide at CVCA and congestive heart failure , visit our website at https://hubs.li/Q018Zv640!

CVCA Louisville is located inside BluePearl Veterinary Partners.

04/20/2022

Ryker is an adorable 4 year old Boston Terrier who likes to snuggle on her owners lap! Ryker's primary veterinarian at Madison Animal Clinic recommended an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease and luckily, her heart is perfect!

To learn more about the cardiac care we provide at CVCA, visit our website at https://hubs.li/Q0179gt_0!

CVCA Louisville is located inside BluePearl Veterinary Partners.

04/13/2022

Meet Cedric! He was referred by Country Hills Veterinary Hospital last August and recently came to see us to recheck his heart condition, subvalvular aortic stenosis (SAS).

SAS is a relatively common congenital (inherited) heart defect in the dog and a rare defect in the cat.

It is most often identified in large and giant breed dogs such as the Newfoundland, Golden Retriever, Boxer, Rottweiler, German Shepherd, English Bulldog, Great Dane, German Short-haired Pointer, and Bouvier des Flandres. It is reported in many other purebreds as well as mixed breeds of dogs.

It consists of abnormal tissue located just below the aortic valve that creates an obstruction the heart has to overcome to pump blood out to the body.
Stenosis makes the heart work harder than normal. As a result, the heart muscle can become thickened (hypertrophied). The heart murmur is created by blood being pumped at a higher speed and pressure across the stenosis into the aorta.

Cedric was a happy boy for his exam with our cardiologist, Sarah Bell, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology) and the Louisville technical staff. He received many treats and belly rubs and is doing well with his heart disease!

To learn more about CVCA and SAS, visit https://hubs.li/Q0179gK10

CVCA Louisville is located inside BluePearl Veterinary Partners.

04/06/2022

This is Tootie! Tootie is a Boxer who was referred to us by Lyndon Animal Clinic and recently visited us to monitor a common boxer heart disease called arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) .

What is Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy?

ARVC a primary disease of the heart muscle. It most commonly affects the Boxer, however, it is also reported in the English Bulldog, American Staffordshire, and rarely in cats. It is characterized by the progressive replacement of normal heart muscle cells by fat and/or fibrous tissue. In more advanced cases, ARVC may also affect the left ventricle resembling another common cardiac disease: dilated cardiomyopathy.

ARVC is an adult-onset inherited disease, with the presenting age and range of clinical symptoms in the offspring of affected parents being quite variable. The incidence of ARVC typically increases with age, with clinical signs often becoming apparent around middle age. Patients with the disease may present with asymptomatic cardiac arrhythmias that are noted on routine examination, fainting spells (syncope), congestive heart failure (coughing, respiratory difficulties, abdominal distention) or even sudden cardiac death.

After seeing Sarah Bell, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology), and technician Katherine for an exam and recheck echocardiogram, we found that Tootie is stable and doing well given her diagnosis!

To learn more about CVCA and ARVC, visit https://hubs.li/Q0179gK90

04/03/2022

Our CVCA Louisville team was at the ! Cardiologist Sarah Bell was performing screening echocardiograms to clear for breeding purposes.

We hope to see everyone next year for the 2023 Cluster!

Address

13160 Magisterial Drive
Louisville, KY
40223

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Telephone

+15024100034

Website

https://cvcavets.com/

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