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Specialized Heart Care: Meet Our On-Staff Cardiologist

At Clifton Ave Animal Hospital, we know that receiving a heart-related diagnosis for your pet can be overwhelming. Just like humans, dogs and cats can suffer from a variety of cardiovascular conditions that require specialized attention.

To provide your companion with the highest level of comprehensive medicine, we are proud to offer expert cardiac care right here at our clinic. With our dedicated, on-staff veterinary cardiologist, your pet has direct access to advanced diagnostics and personalized heart health management without the stress of being referred to an unfamiliar facility.

Comprehensive Cardiac Services

Veterinary cardiology focuses on diagnosing and treating diseases of the heart and lungs. By having an expert in-house, we can quickly identify the root cause of your pet’s symptoms and build an effective treatment plan.

Advanced Echocardiography

The gold standard for diagnosing heart disease. An echocardiogram is a painless, non-invasive ultrasound of the heart. It allows our cardiologist to look inside the heart in real-time to measure chamber sizes, evaluate valve function, and assess the heart’s overall pumping ability.

Electrocardiography (ECG/EKG)

This essential diagnostic tool records the electrical activity of your pet’s heart. An ECG is critical for identifying arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) and ensuring that the electrical impulses coordinating the heart’s rhythm are functioning correctly.

Long-Term Heart Health Management

From adjusting critical heart medications to monitoring blood pressure, our cardiologist works closely with your primary veterinarian to ensure your pet’s condition is managed effectively, optimizing their comfort and quality of life.

Why Choose an In-House Specialist?

When a pet is diagnosed with a heart condition, time and communication are of the essence. Having an on-staff cardiologist means your primary care veterinarian and the specialist are reviewing your pet’s chart together. This ensures seamless continuity of care, faster adjustments to treatment plans, and the comfort of bringing your pet to the team they already know and trust.

Red Flag Checklist: Signs of a Heart Condition

Heart disease can sometimes develop silently. If your pet exhibits any of the following symptoms, please schedule an evaluation as soon as possible:

Persistent Coughing: Especially at night, after resting, or following mild exercise (most common in dogs).
Difficulty Breathing: Rapid, labored, or shallow breathing, even when completely relaxed.
Exercise Intolerance: Tiring much faster on normal walks, sitting down frequently, or refusing to play.
Fainting or Collapse: Sudden loss of consciousness or weakness, particularly in the hind legs (syncope).
Swollen Abdomen: A bloated, pot-bellied appearance caused by fluid buildup (often related to right-sided heart failure).
Pale or Blue Gums: Indicating poor oxygen circulation to the body’s tissues.

Our Commitment to Your Pet’s Heart

We value the trust you place in us to care for your family members. Our goal is to provide the most advanced, compassionate cardiac care so you can share many more happy, healthy years with your pet.

Have concerns about your pet’s heart health?

Call us at Clifton Ave Animal Hospital today to schedule an appointment with our cardiology team. Early detection and intervention are the most powerful tools in managing heart disease.