Charlottesville Veterinary Cardiology
Some dogs and cats are born with heart conditions, like heart valve malformations and holes in the septum. But many types of heart disease are acquired later in a pet’s life. With proper diagnosis and treatment, your pet can live a long and happy life with heart disease.
- Dilated cardiomyopathy
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- Degenerative mitral valve disease
- Dilated cardiomyopathy
- Pericardial disease
- Heartworm disease
If you notice any abnormal symptoms—like weakness, difficulty breathing, coughing, weight loss, and lethargy—see your primary care vet right away. They can refer you to our specialists for advanced care and treatment. With early action, your pet gets the best chance of a positive outcome.
Cardiology Services For Your Pet
Our cardiology team provides a variety of services for your pet, including:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart)
- Holter monitoring (a 24-hour ECG)
- Review of thoracic (chest) radiographs and blood work performed by your primary veterinarian
- Treatment recommendations for cardiac disease
- Advanced surgical procedures
What is a Veterinary Cardiologist?
A veterinary cardiologist treats conditions that involve the heart and circulatory system. The road to becoming a veterinary cardiologist is long.
It includes:- 4 years of pre-professional studies at a university
- 4 years of veterinary school at an accredited college to earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree
- 1–2 year cardiology internship
- 3-year residency in cardiology
That’s a total of 8—9 years of education—and it doesn’t even count the exams a veterinary cardiologist must pass to obtain board certification.
Board-certified cardiologists graduate residency with substantial experience in diagnosing and treating heart conditions. Throughout their training, they must complete:- 144 weeks of intensive training in veterinary clinical cardiology
- 2 weeks each of clinical training with a board-certified specialist in:
- Internal medicine
- Clinical pathology and/or anatomic pathology
- Anesthesiology
- Advanced diagnostic imaging
- 500 echocardiograms in a variety of animal species
- At least 15 cardiac catheterization procedures, although most cardiology residents exceed this number
- Focused training in special cardiac procedures
- Advanced case management (start-to-finish diagnosis and treatment of cardiac conditions)
Once they complete these rigorous requirements, candidates must pass specific certification and licensing exams. Only then can they practice veterinary cardiology.
Our board-certified cardiologist at Virginia Veterinary Specialists is Dr. Anna Paling, Diplomate ACVIM. She’s been a board-certified cardiologist since 2008, treating countless animals every year. Dr. Paling works closely with our board-certified internal medicine and surgical specialists to give your pet the best possible care.
Whether your cat or dog needs heart surgery, medication, or ongoing monitoring and treatment, our cardiology team is here for you. Contact us today to learn more about our cardiac services.