Pet Cardiology

Annual wellness exams play a bigger role in heart health than most pet owners realize. During a routine exam, our Wilsonville veterinary team listens closely for the subtle signs of developing heart disease — an irregular heartbeat, a new murmur, changes in breathing — often before you’d notice anything at home. Catching these early indicators during a standard checkup is one of the simplest ways to protect your pet’s long-term health, which is one more reason we take annual (or twice-yearly, for seniors) exams so seriously.

Some symptoms are worth a call to our office right away. These include a cough that lasts more than a few days, difficulty settling or sleeping at night, shortness of breath, wheezing, or rapid breathing, sudden changes in behavior or a tendency to isolate, fainting or unexplained collapse, and visible swelling in the abdomen. None of these symptoms mean something is definitely wrong, but they’re worth having evaluated, and earlier is always better than later.

When we suspect a heart or lung condition, diagnostic imaging and testing help us understand exactly what’s going on before we recommend a treatment path. Depending on your pet’s symptoms, this may include blood pressure monitoring, bloodwork to check hormone levels associated with heart function, X-rays to evaluate heart size and check for fluid in the lungs, an EKG to monitor heart rate and rhythm, and ultrasound to get a detailed, real-time look at the heart’s chambers and how they’re functioning. We’ll walk you through which tests make sense for your pet and why.

A cardiology diagnosis isn’t the end of the conversation — it’s the start of a plan. Many heart and lung conditions in pets can be managed successfully for years with the right combination of medication, monitoring, and lifestyle adjustments. We’ll talk through what we’re seeing, what the treatment options look like, and how often we’ll want to recheck your pet’s progress, so you always know what to expect and what we’re working toward together.

Some cardiac cases benefit from the involvement of a board-certified veterinary cardiologist, particularly when advanced procedures or complex conditions are involved. When that’s the case, we’ll be honest with you about it, help coordinate the referral, and stay involved in your pet’s care alongside the specialist. Our goal is always to make sure your pet gets the right level of care, whether that’s here with us or through a trusted partner.