Cardiac ultrasonography, also called Echocardiography, is considered the gold standard for diagnosing heart disease in pets.
At WTVS, our mobile team is able to perform these advanced heart evaluations right in your veterinarian’s hospital. Using ultrasound, we can assess heart structure and function to detect conditions such as valvular disease (like mitral valve disease in small dogs), dilated cardiomyopathy (often seen in large dogs), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (in cats), congenital anomalies (abnormalities present at birth), cardiac or pericardial masses, and other acquired cardiac disorders.
Most pets do not require sedation for an echocardiogram, as remaining awake allows for a more accurate assessment of the heart’s natural rate, rhythm, and contractility. This gentle, noninvasive procedure provides your veterinarian with critical information to guide diagnosis and treatment—while keeping your pet comfortable and close to home.
In certain complex or unusual cases, your veterinarian may recommend referral to a board-certified veterinary cardiologist for more specialized evaluation. WTVS also performs cardiac evaluation upon request from cardiologists whose patients cannot travel regularly back to their facility.