In some cases, the veterinarian performs diagnostic imaging to diagnose heart disease in your pet. One type of imaging that helps identify the cause of the disease is echocardiography. You may wonder whether echocardiography for pets is similar to medical science in humans, or how a heart echo is taken from your small dog or cat?
If the veterinarian suspects heart disease based on observed symptoms, they will prescribe an echocardiogram for your pet. In this article, we will discuss when the veterinarian turns to echo, what clues they are looking for in the echocardiography of pets, and how echo helps your beloved animal.
Heart Echo for Pets
The process of conducting echocardiography for your sick dog or cat is no different from that of a human heart echo. In this type of imaging, the veterinarian uses ultrasound waves to observe the function of the patient’s heart in real time, examine the structure of the heart, and identify the cause of the disease.
Echocardiography is often referred to as cardiac sonography; the most important difference between a heart echo and sonography is the size of the probe used to view heart tissue. The probes used for the heart echo are smaller compared to those used in sonography.
The heart is located behind the rib cage, and the ultrasonic waves, which are not very strong, cannot pass through the rib bones. Therefore, the veterinarian uses a smaller probe to direct the waves from the space between the ribs to the heart, allowing a clear image of the patient’s heart to be observed.
When Does the Veterinarian Prescribe a Heart Echo for Your Pet?
Now you may wonder when echocardiography becomes necessary for your pet. The veterinarian considers the echo necessary when your pet reaches middle age and has lived half of its life. For example, a veterinarian may prescribe an echo for a 7 to 8-year-old dog because heart diseases are those that manifest with increasing age.
Animals are similar to humans in many ways, and as age increases, diseases become apparent. The veterinarian monitors the health status of the heart in the pet using echocardiographic techniques. However, in some cases, heart diseases appear at a young age or even at birth in pets. In these cases, the veterinarian will prescribe a heart echo to assess the severity and type of the disease.
If your pet is awaiting surgery, the veterinarian will also prescribe echocardiography to evaluate its cardiac and respiratory health before the operation.
The Process of Conducting Echocardiography for Pets
The veterinarian uses a small probe to guide the ultrasonic waves through your pet’s ribs. The veterinarian will use a high-frequency device to achieve a clear image of the animal’s heart. It is important to know that ultrasonic waves are not dangerous for your small friend.
Eventually, the veterinarian obtains a clear image of the pet’s heart, which contains very valuable information regarding the health status of the heart. We will explore what information the veterinarian gathers by observing the heart image.
What Information Does Echocardiography Include?
The veterinarian prescribes a heart echo to gain insights into the details of the heart’s performance and structure of your pet. Valuable information is obtained from this imaging, providing insights into the architecture of the heart for the veterinarian and identifying causes and effects.
Thickness of Heart Walls in Different Areas
Initially, the veterinarian checks the wall’s thickness to determine whether it is normal or increased. Enlargement of heart muscles or thickening of the walls can lead to increased pressure or narrowing of the aortic valve. The thickening of the walls is referred to as hypertrophy.
Size of Heart Chambers
Next, the veterinarian examines the size of the heart chambers. There are four chambers in the heart. The two upper chambers are called atria, and the two lower chambers are called ventricles. The size of the chambers should be normal; enlargement or constriction of the chambers indicates disease.
Examination of the Valves
After examining the walls and chambers, it is time to examine the heart valves. These valves exist in the heart and require evaluation:
- The mitral valve, located between the left atrium and the left ventricle.
- The aortic valve, which connects the left ventricle to the aorta (the main artery).
- The tricuspid valve, located between the right atrium and the right ventricle.
- The pulmonary valve, which connects the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery.
Using the images obtained from the echocardiography, the veterinarian closely examines the function, condition, and thickness of each of these valves. Since the heart echo is performed in real time while the heart is beating, the veterinarian can observe whether the valves are functioning properly or if there are any disturbances.
Blood Flow Velocity
Other valuable information obtained from echocardiography relates to the velocity and pressure of blood in the various sections of the heart.
Final Steps in Echocardiography
The veterinarian prepares a comprehensive report for the surgeon by examining the heart’s architecture and the function of each part. To complete this report, the veterinarian sequentially examines all parts of the heart and monitors their relationships, ultimately reporting whether any issues in heart function are detected. If there are any problems, the veterinarian describes them in the final report.
Finally, the surgical team and the veterinarian review the results obtained regarding treatment methods and come to a consensus on the quality of life.
Your pets improve your life.
In some cases, a pet owner can control heart disease by taking environmental care measures at home. The veterinarian will discuss these cases with you. Since respiratory health is directly related to heart health, measures such as proper ventilation, avoiding the use of cleaning products and fragrances may be suggested to you as environmental care. If necessary, the veterinarian will consider medication treatment to control your pet’s illness to enhance their quality of life and ensure your peace of mind.
Sources: ncbi–medvetforpets–veterinarypartner–hoegemeyeranimalclinic
