CVCA Cardiac Care for Pets

CVCA Cardiac Care for Pets CVCA Cardiac Care for Pets is dedicated to collaborating with your veterinarian to deliver compassionate, expert cardiac care.

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!

02/27/2025

What every pet owner should know about their pet’s heart health. ❤️

If your pet needs a veterinary cardiologist, find a CVCA location near you cvcavets.com/locations/

It's national heart month! Support our amazing Portland team by clicking the photo below (Where's Waldo) and hitting LIK...
02/27/2025

It's national heart month! Support our amazing Portland team by clicking the photo below (Where's Waldo) and hitting LIKE!

02/25/2025

You might be surprised to learn these things about your pet’s heart health. Share this with your fellow pet parents!

If your pet needs a veterinary cardiologist, find a CVCA location near you cvcavets.com/locations/

VCA SE Portland Animal Hospital referred Jenga to us due to a historic heart murmur. After his exam with Gregg Rapoport,...
02/25/2025

VCA SE Portland Animal Hospital referred Jenga to us due to a historic heart murmur. 

After his exam with Gregg Rapoport, DVM, DACVIM, we were happy to report that his echocardiogram revealed only a benign explanation for Jenga’s heart murmur, namely a phenomenon known as dynamic right ventricular outflow tract obstruction. As a solo finding without any other echocardiographic abnormalities (as is the case for Jenga), this is a harmless entity that is common in cats. While it includes blood flow turbulence that results in an audible heart murmur as was previously noted for Jenga, it does not cause enlargement of the heart, lead to congestive heart failure, or cause any symptoms. This is great news for Jenga since we have an explanation for the murmur that was noted, yet it does not constitute a disease or a reason for concern. As such, he does not require any heart medications, and there is no need for planned cardiac re-evaluation. 

We love good news!! 🐆

It’s that time of year again! ❤️Our amazing teams across the country celebrated Wear Red Day on February 7th in honor of...
02/21/2025

It’s that time of year again! ❤️

Our amazing teams across the country celebrated Wear Red Day on February 7th in honor of American Heart Month, raising awareness about the importance of heart health.

Now, we need your help to crown this year’s winner! 🏆✨

📸 Vote by scrolling through the photos and reacting with a ❤️ or 👍 on your favorite team’s picture. The team with the most reactions wins!

🗳️ Voting closes next Friday, 2/28 at 12 PM CT—so cast your vote before time runs out!

A huge shoutout to our eight participating offices:
🔹 CVCA Vienna
🔹 CVCA San Juan Capistrano
🔹 CVCA Louisville
🔹 CVCA Portland-Hollywood
🔹 CVCA Springfield
🔹 CVCA Fairfax
🔹 CVCA Knightdale
🔹 CVCA Wheat Ridge

Let’s show some love for our incredible teams! ❤️🐾

02/18/2025

Did you know this about your pet’s heart health? Share with other pet parents! ❤️

If your pet needs a veterinary cardiologist, find a CVCA location near you at cvcavets.com/locations/

What’s not to love about our online pharmacy? Visit our website today to shop!
02/18/2025

What’s not to love about our online pharmacy? Visit our website today to shop!

Happy Valentine’s Day! We love having the honor of caring for your furry family members & know the love you share with t...
02/14/2025

Happy Valentine’s Day! We love having the honor of caring for your furry family members & know the love you share with them is a special one. ❤

How much do you really know about your pet’s heart health? February is ! Throughout the month, several of our veterinar...
02/10/2025

How much do you really know about your pet’s heart health?

February is ! Throughout the month, several of our veterinary cardiologists will be myth-busting common perspectives around pet cardiac health.

Get excited to learn more about your furry friend's heart health from some experts! ❤️

If your pet needs a veterinary cardiologist, find a CVCA location near you at cvcavets.com/locations/

Do you have a scaly, feathered, or furry friend that’s a little outside the norm? 🐍🦎🦜 Our team offers expert care and ad...
02/08/2025

Do you have a scaly, feathered, or furry friend that’s a little outside the norm? 🐍🦎🦜 Our team offers expert care and advice for exotic pets. Call us today to book their appointment!

This Pet Heart Health Month, here are some tips to help keep your pet’s heart healthy!
02/03/2025

This Pet Heart Health Month, here are some tips to help keep your pet’s heart healthy!

Eat Good, Feel Good! 🌾Blue had previously been diagnosed with diet-associated dilated cardiomyopathy which has resolved ...
01/28/2025

Eat Good, Feel Good! 🌾

Blue had previously been diagnosed with diet-associated dilated cardiomyopathy which has resolved following transition to a grain-inclusive, non-legume-based diet and supplementation of taurine.

We are thrilled to report that Blue’s most recent echocardiogram was normal. 🥳 Compared to his last echocardiogram, the measurements of his heart’s size and function have further improved and are all in their normal ranges, providing additional evidence that the previous abnormalities were related to diet.

Given the absence of any significant findings, medications and supplements should no longer be necessary. As long as Blue’s next echocardiogram continues to be normal, he should not require any additional cardiac follow-up appointments.

We are so excited for you Blue!!! 💙

Here are some of the top benefits of ordering from our online pharmacy. Visit our website to shop today!
01/27/2025

Here are some of the top benefits of ordering from our online pharmacy. Visit our website to shop today!

Change a Pet’s Life Day! 🐾Change a Pet's Life Day is celebrated annually on January 24. This day isn’t only life-changin...
01/24/2025

Change a Pet’s Life Day! 🐾

Change a Pet's Life Day is celebrated annually on January 24. This day isn’t only life-changing for our pets, it changes our lives for the better too. Everyone can agree that having a pet brings a limitless amount of happiness and solace since they give us their eternal love, devotion, and support. This day enables us to provide a new home for one or more of the millions of animals in shelters. If you aren’t ready to get a new pet just yet, we’ll go through different ways you can improve the lives of the animals below.

How To Help:

❤ Adopt a pet
❤ Sponsor a pet
❤ Foster a pet

This day is an initiative that stirs up a global awareness of animal shelters, and pet adoption processes. It is essential because the more people that learn about the importance of pet adoption and fostering procedures, the more pets' lives can be changed for the better!

January is National Walk Your Pet Month! Along with the countless benefits of walking your pet, we know it’s their favor...
01/24/2025

January is National Walk Your Pet Month! Along with the countless benefits of walking your pet, we know it’s their favorite time of the day, too! ❤️🐕

My cat sure is purr-suasive. 😸Take a moment to Answer Your Cat's Questions today!Pay extra attention to your cat's needs...
01/23/2025

My cat sure is purr-suasive. 😸

Take a moment to Answer Your Cat's Questions today!

Pay extra attention to your cat's needs and try to understand what they might be "asking" through their behaviors.

Spend time with your cat, give them treats, and try to interpret their meows and body language.

In a world full of roses, be a daisy! 🌼Daisy was referred to us by Northwest Veterinary Hospital due to a progressive he...
01/07/2025

In a world full of roses, be a daisy! 🌼

Daisy was referred to us by Northwest Veterinary Hospital due to a progressive heart murmur. 

Daisy came to see Dr. Gregg Rapoport, DVM, DACVIM at our Portland, OR location. Echocardiographic findings revealed myxomatous valve disease - ACVIM stage B2. This stage includes evidence of myxomatous degeneration (e.g., thickened mitral valve leaflets) and at least mild enlargement of the left atrium and left ventricle, but no previous or current signs of heart failure. 

This condition is characterized by thickening of one or more of the four valves in the heart (in Daisy’s case, the mitral valve), allowing backward flow of blood. This is called valvular insufficiency or regurgitation (e.g., mitral regurgitation). With more advanced disease, this can lead to heart enlargement and eventually to congestive heart failure, or accumulation of fluid in the lungs.

Daisy does have a degree of heart enlargement such that she may benefit from a medication called pimobendan. This drug has been shown to delay progression to congestive heart failure in dogs with this condition. This medication increases the heart’s contractile strength and relaxes blood vessels, making it easier to pump blood forward. 

We will continue to monitor Daisy closely to ensure she continues to live a comfortable life!

A CVCA team member, Abi, is here to celebrate National Cuddle Up Day with you!! January typically has some of the coldes...
01/06/2025

A CVCA team member, Abi, is here to celebrate National Cuddle Up Day with you!!

January typically has some of the coldest days of the year, so what better way to stay warm and reap the health benefits of cuddling in National Cuddle Up Day? Whether it's a two-dog night (a night so cold it takes two dogs to cuddle up with to stay warm) or only slightly chilly, there are multiple benefits to cuddling with a furry friend. 🤗

Happy New Years from CVCA!! 🥳
01/01/2025

Happy New Years from CVCA!! 🥳

Hey everyone!! CVCA Portland is coordinating a costume contest for employees, clients, and non-clients, come join the fu...
10/15/2024

Hey everyone!! CVCA Portland is coordinating a costume contest for employees, clients, and non-clients, come join the fun! 👻

Hey everyone! We are participating in a fun competition, winner gets a prize!!! Please vote (like) CVCA Portland! Thank ...
02/15/2024

Hey everyone! We are participating in a fun competition, winner gets a prize!!! Please vote (like) CVCA Portland! Thank yooooou!! 😘🤗❤

This happy boy is Oscar! 😍 He was referred to us by Cascade Animal Hospital due to a recently noted heart murmur. After ...
01/03/2024

This happy boy is Oscar! 😍 He was referred to us by Cascade Animal Hospital due to a recently noted heart murmur.

After his initial exam and echocardiogram with William Rausch, DVM, DACVIM, he was diagnosed with a heart condition called “dilated cardiomyopathy,” often abbreviated as “DCM.”

This is a condition in which the heart’s ability to contract is reduced, particularly affecting the main pumping chamber of the heart, the left ventricle. With more advanced disease, forward pumping of blood can become ineffective enough that pressure increases in the left atrium, the chamber behind the left ventricle in the cardiovascular system. Further back-up of pressure can lead to congestive heart failure or accumulation of fluid in the lungs.

The development of DCM for Oscar is likely related to the diet that he has been eating. While there are many unanswered questions on this topic, concerns have been raised about a possible association between certain diets and the development of DCM in dogs. You may see the term “BEG diets” online, an acronym used to include a group of diets that have raised concerns among some veterinary nutritionists and cardiologists. The “B” stands for so-called boutique diets, meaning diets manufactured by smaller pet food companies. The “E” refers to diets containing “exotic” ingredients; some examples include legumes (e.g., lentils or chickpeas) or potatoes that are often used to replace grains; other examples include unusual meats, fruits, or vegetables. The “G” refers to grain-free diets; these have received the most attention but do not account for all cases of diet-associated DCM, nor has the absence of grain been confirmed to be the culprit even in those diets that do not contain it (since these are the same diets which often contain legumes or potato as major ingredients to replace grain).

Due to these concerns and the potentially significant benefit of making a change, we strongly recommended transitioning Oscar to a diet that includes grain and one that does not include legumes (e.g., peas, lentils, or beans) or potatoes (white or sweet potatoes) as any of the first 10 listed ingredients.

While there is still much to be learned about the issue of diet-associated cardiomyopathy in dogs, feeding a diet that meets these guidelines appears to be the safest approach and this is what was recommended for sweet Oscar.

We will continue to monitor Oscar closely with his diet change to make sure he remains a healthy and happy pup! 🖤🤍

12/29/2023

Working with our wonderful patients and clients this past year has been a joy. 🥰 Thank you for your kind reviews and your continuous support of us!

❤ Getting cardiology care for my dog through CVCA was a great experience. Dr. Allen was not only incredibly knowledgeable, but also compassionate and personable in how she delivered the news about our dog’s diagnosis. She sat me down with a diagram she drew on while she carefully explained our dog’s condition, and sent me home with a detailed summary report as a reference. Email and phone contact with the office before the appointment and after for follow-up questions was easy and efficient. Our appointment was right on time and I was given accurate price quotes and time expectations beforehand. Overall, I was impressed by CVCA’s expertise and service and will be back.

❤ The doctors and staff at CVCA are compassionate, knowledgeable, and very communicative. They provide excellent care, and are prompt in answering all my questions, and addressing all the cardiac concerns I have for my pet. The support staff is very friendly, and my pet genuinely enjoys coming to see them for visits. So happy and thankful I found CVCA!

❤ Dr Allen was very kind and extremely thorough. She explained everything in terms I could easily understand and she couldn’t have been sweeter to Zoe. The members of the staff whom we encountered were also very kind and helpful. I can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that we are in excellent hands. Thank you.

❤ Dr. Meghan Allen and her team are exceptional — helpful, compassionate, patient, with expertise in veterinary cardiology. We were so impressed with all the time Dr Allen spent explaining our dog’s diagnosis and suggested treatment. She never appeared to be in a hurry and answered all our questions. Truly a rockstar in her specialty!

❤ My dog received a (very serious, but thankfully incorrect) heart-related cancer diagnosis from an internist at a different vet clinic in October, and was referred to CVCA to take a better look and confirm the diagnosis. Dr. Rapoport stayed late that same day so I that I wouldn't have to sit with the uncertainty. He took the time to walk me through my dog's x-ray and echocardiogram results so I could understand exactly what was going on (and why the initial diagnosis had been incorrect); and was incredibly kind on what was probably the longest and most emotional day of my life. He also was able to recommend and write a referral to a great oncologist, who has since treated my dog's thymoma. I'm very grateful for the experience at CVCA and would absolutely recommend them to anyone whose dog or cat family members need heart care.

❤ Really awesome experience. Every person who helped us was extremely welcoming. Dr. Allen was SO nice and knowledgeable - we got a very thorough evaluation of our dog’s heart condition and the next steps to take. 10/10 recommend this place, very happy with our experience!

❤ Wonderful place. Very professional and knowledgeable. They seem to love pets. Our Bolt loves them too.

❤ Our chocolate Labrador Retriever, Buster Brown, was seen to rule out an enlarged heart. Communication was top notch and they were very gentle with him. I would certainly recommend to any dog owner in need of a cardiac evaluation.

❤ They were very accommodating to schedule a last minute appointment for my dog. Staff was friendly and respectful. Dr Allen was kind, patient, and knowledgeable.

❤ You all are the absolute best in everything you do. Very knowledgeable, personable, caring and upfront in a professional but empathetic way with my pets and myself. My last dog, Lucy, and my current dog, Little Bit, have/had heart conditions. I brought my old little cat Lady, Hippo, for a recheck echo with Dr. Allen today and had a fantastic experience. Both Dr. Allen and the veterinary assistant, Cassie, were so kind and nice to me and Hippo. They were so genuine in their care that it made me feel relaxed and comfortable (as someone who gets bad anxiety bringing their loved one in to the hospital). Everything was thoroughly explained and the appointment itself went smoothly. Hippo is now happily snoozing at home, signs that she had a wonderful stress free experience too. I'm so grateful for the staff here and the care we both received was top notch!

❤ Given the best care possible by Dr. Rapaport and his Staff. I am so thankful for everything you do!

CVCA Portland is wishing you a HAPPY NEW YEAR! 🥳

‼️ Note: We will be closed Monday, January 1, 2024 and back to regular buisness hours on Tuesday, January 2nd.

Did you know⁉️ About 30% of Maine C**n cats have a genetic mutation that makes it more likely that they will develop hyp...
12/28/2023

Did you know⁉️ About 30% of Maine C**n cats have a genetic mutation that makes it more likely that they will develop hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – thickening of the muscle walls of the heart.

The best way to discover any early heart diseases is to get an OFA Certification from your local Cardiologist. This is a common test for many breeders, such as Hilary, who had “Simba” (as seen below) screened with Dr. Gregg Rapoport.

Fun facts about Maine C**ns:

🐱 Most domestic cats reach a height between 9 and 10 inches, but the average Maine C**n has a height between 10 and 16 inches!

🐱 While most cats grow to a length of 18 inches, Maine C**ns can reach an amazing 40 inches in length.

🐱 The average cat’s tail measures around 12 inches long, Maine C**n tails are usually around 16 inches long!

🐱 Maine C**ns were named the official state cat of Maine in 1985.

Check out Hilary’s page, 4PetsakeMaineC**ns.com for more information about adopting a Maine C**n!

"Cupcake" wanted to inform you that CVCA Portland will be closed on Monday, December 25th, and Tuesday, December 26th. W...
12/21/2023

"Cupcake" wanted to inform you that CVCA Portland will be closed on Monday, December 25th, and Tuesday, December 26th. We will be back to regular business hours on Wednesday, December 27th.

We hope everyone has a meow-velous holiday! 🐾

CVCA Portland wants to give a big THANK YOU to those who donated toward our local food drive. You helped make a differen...
12/07/2023

CVCA Portland wants to give a big THANK YOU to those who donated toward our local food drive. You helped make a difference to those in need in our community and we are forever grateful.🙏 "When we help people in need, our entire community is strengthened."

A sweet message from Chonk's caretaker: 🥰Chonk was given a steroid that didn’t agree with him. After Chonk's scary near ...
12/06/2023

A sweet message from Chonk's caretaker: 🥰

Chonk was given a steroid that didn’t agree with him. After Chonk's scary near death experience, CVCA Portland helped Chonk continue to live a long life. I am forever thankful for the folks at CVCA!

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2030 NE 42nd Avenue
Portland, OR
97213

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Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

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