Making the clinic the heart of testingSeptember 20, 2021With the benefits of point-of-care testing more widely recognized, accepted, and sought after by veterinarians, new technologies to test the heart in-clinic are now available.
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A wholehearted approach to treating the cardiac patientFebruary 11, 2021Cardiology can seem intimidating, but as our knowledge and treatment recommendations advance, so do the benefits for our patients.
Understanding congestive heart failureFebruary 5, 2019Congestive heart failure (CHF) is described by medical professionals as more of a syndrome than a disease. Yet, when pet owners are often attuned to "disease," how can veterinarians best convey what CHF really is to their clients? "Congestive heart failure can result from a variety of different types of underlying heart disease," says Emily Karlin, DVM, Dipl. (cardiology), clinical instructor at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. "When we say CHF, we generally are referring to fluid buildup somewhere it should not be, as a result of heart dysfunction. We can see left-sided CHF (fluid buildup in the lungs—pulmonary edema), resulting in cough or trouble breathing, or right-sided CHF (fluid buildup in the abdomen or around the lungs—ascites or pleural effusion), resulting in abdominal distension or trouble breathing. Basically, CHF is a potential outcome of having heart disease." Recognizing signs and symptoms When it comes to differentiating CHF from heart disease, paying attention to clinical signs and symptoms is key. "Asymptomatic, or occult, heart disease is often detected based on physical exam abnormalities—such as a heart murmur, cardiac gallop, or arrhythmia—or sometimes by echocardiographic screening, but the animal is feeling well at home with no clinical …
