To ensure the cardiologist has a complete, up-to-date picture of your pet’s health and to get you in and out as smoothly as possible, please complete the following steps prior to your visit:

1. Transfer Medical Records (Past 2 Years): Please ask your primary care veterinarian, and any previous specialists or emergency rooms, to forward all medical records from the past two years. While a complete history is helpful, our cardiologist is specifically looking for:

   • Any previous echocardiograms or prior cardiac diagnoses.

   • Previous chest X-rays.

   • Recent bloodwork (especially kidney panels).

   • A complete medication history: Please make sure we have an up-to-date list of all current medications, including the exact dose, how often you give it, and any recent adjustments.

2. Complete the Patient Intake Form (1–3 Days Before Your Visit): Please fill out our online Patient Intake Form ideally 1 to 3 days prior to your appointment.

   • Why this specific window? This ensures we have the most current, up-to-the-minute information regarding your pet's symptoms and daily routine.

   • The biggest perk: Completing this ahead of time dramatically streamlines your check-in process. It minimizes paperwork on arrival, ensuring both you and your pet don't have to wait around any longer than necessary. (Note: Even if you are an existing client with us, we do need a new intake form completed for each individual pet we evaluate).

3. Watch for Our Confirmation Call: Our team will give you a brief call before your scheduled visit to confirm your appointment time and ensure we have received your pet's records. If you are having any trouble with the intake forms, just let us know during this call and we will be happy to help guide you!

We rarely need to shave pets for our evaluations! If a shave is necessary to get clear, accurate ultrasound images of the heart, it is typically just one or two small spots on either side of the chest.

A Note for Pet Parents: We understand that a missing patch of fur isn't ideal. If you strongly prefer that your pet not be shaved, please let our team know. We will absolutely do everything we can to obtain diagnostic images without it, using specialized gel and alcohol to part the fur instead.

Will my pet need to be sedated or anesthetized?

No, general anesthesia and injectable sedation are rarely needed. An echocardiogram is a completely non-invasive, painless ultrasound. Most pets tolerate it beautifully while lying comfortably on a padded table or resting in our team's arms.

• For Anxious or Wiggly Pets: If your pet tends to get highly stressed or won't sit still at the vet, pre-appointment oral sedation is a wonderful option.

• What to do: Speak with your primary care veterinarian about prescribing safe, mild oral medications (such as Gabapentin or Trazodone) to be given at home before you head to our office. This keeps your pet calm, happy, and relaxed during their heart evaluation.

We treat your pet like family, which means we take our time to be thorough, gentle, and precise. A standard initial appointment typically takes about 45 minutes to an hour.

⚠️ Please Note: Appointments can sometimes run a little longer, especially if we are triaging an unexpected cardiac emergency. We deeply appreciate your patience and understanding in these moments, as we provide the same urgent, life-saving care to every pet in critical need.

The appointment is divided into two main parts:

Step 1: The Evaluation & Diagnostics

First, our team will gather your pet's medical history and perform a specialized evaluation:

• Comprehensive Physical Exam: The cardiologist will listen closely to your pet’s heart and lungs (checking for murmurs or arrhythmias) and assess their overall circulatory health.

• Echocardiogram (Cardiac Ultrasound): This is the core of the appointment. It is a painless, non-invasive ultrasound that allows us to look inside the heart in real-time to see how well it is pumping and check the heart valves.

• Additional Tests (If Needed): Depending on what we find, the doctor may recommend chest X-rays (to check the lungs for fluid) or kidney bloodwork (especially important if we are starting or adjusting certain heart medications).

Step 2: The Sit-Down Consultation & Care Plan

Once the diagnostics are complete, you will sit down one-on-one with the cardiologist to go over everything. We believe in empowering pet parents, so you will leave with:

• A Clear Explanation: We will walk you through your pet's specific disease process so you truly understand what is going on.

• A Tailored Medication Plan: If medication is necessary, we will map out exactly what it does, the correct dosages, and how to give it.

• At-Home Monitoring Instructions: We will teach you what to look out for at home, including how to track your pet's resting respiratory (breathing) rate.

• Detailed Records: A complete write-up of our findings and test results will be provided to you and shared directly with your primary care veterinarian.

• A Recheck Plan: We will establish a clear roadmap for future follow-ups to ensure your pet's heart remains well-managed.

Because we operate as an independent cardiology practice, we do not dispense medications on-site. However, we make getting your pet’s medications as easy and convenient as possible!

Many of the medications used in veterinary cardiology are the exact same as human medications. Depending on what your pet needs, we are happy to call in or send prescriptions to:

• Local Pharmacies: Such as CVS, Walgreens, grocery store pharmacies, or your preferred neighborhood pharmacy.

• Online Pharmacies: Such as Chewy, PetMeds, or other trusted online veterinary dispensaries.

• Compounding Pharmacies: Such as Wedgewood Pharmacy. (Compounding pharmacies are fantastic if your pet needs a very specific dose or prefers a flavored liquid instead of a pill).

• Any pharmacy of your choice!

Just let our team know which option works best for your family, and we will ensure the prescription is sent over.

Yes! We understand that traveling to a clinic can be stressful for some pets (and their parents!), so we are thrilled to offer dedicated "House Call Days" on an on-demand basis.

Because bringing our advanced cardiology ultrasound equipment and medical team on the road requires careful planning, we coordinate these mobile visits by region. We schedule a House Call Day for a specific area once we have enough interested families to coordinate a full route for the day.

Would you like us to come to you? Let us know!

The more requests we receive, the more frequently we can offer this mobile service. If you are interested in an at-home cardiology appointment, please reach out to our team to be added to our house call list for your area!

If you are worried that your pet is experiencing a medical or cardiac emergency, please do not wait. Seek professional veterinary advice immediately.

• During Our Business Hours (Monday–Friday): Call our office right away. Our team is highly trained in veterinary cardiology and can help assess the situation. We will get back to you as soon as possible, but if you cannot reach us immediately or feel your pet is in critical distress, please proceed directly to the nearest emergency center.

• After Hours, Weekends, or Holidays: Please contact or proceed immediately to a 24/7 veterinary emergency hospital.

📍 Need an Emergency Room recommendation? We have compiled a list of trusted, fully-equipped 24/7 emergency facilities in our area. Click Here for ER facilities.

Disclaimer: This website is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for immediate, professional veterinary medical care. If your pet is in distress, always call a veterinary professional first.