Cardiac work-up (auscultation / ECG / echo)
Three tools: auscultation finds murmurs and rhythm issues, ECG reads rhythm, echocardiography shows structure and function. Heart disease in dogs and cats is silent early — screening beats waiting for signs.
🧾 Before the test
- ✓Keep the pet calm before the exam (no exercise right before)
- ✓Bring previous records for comparison
- ✓A familiar towel helps cats
📊 Reading the key values
| Search | High | Low |
|---|---|---|
| Murmur on auscultation | Suggests valve disease or defects — graded 1-6, echo localizes it | No murmur |
| ECG | Arrhythmia, chamber enlargement patterns | Normal rhythm |
| Echocardiogram | Valve thickening/regurgitation, HCM, chamber enlargement — lesion and staging | Normal structure |
| NT-proBNP blood test | Elevated cardiac stretch marker — screening aid | Lower risk |
💡 How to read it Cavalier King Charles, Doberman, Maine Coon and Ragdoll are high-risk breeds — echo on schedule. For cats, «sleeping breaths over 40/min» is the most practical home monitoring sign.
🤖 AI report interpretation
Type the values from your report below (e.g. “ALT 250, BUN 40”) and the AI will interpret them against each test’s reference meanings.
FAQ
Does a murmur mean heart disease?
Not always — puppies can have functional murmurs that vanish by adulthood; senior murmurs usually mean valve degeneration. Grading plus echo determines significance.
Can a heart-disease pet still exercise?
Stable patients benefit from low-intensity activity; adjust with your vet after medication starts and avoid sudden intense stimulation.