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Pet Cardiology

Specialist heart care for dogs and cats at Castle Vets

What is veterinary cardiology?

Veterinary cardiology focuses on the diagnosis and management of heart conditions in pets. Heart problems can affect dogs and cats of all ages, and signs are not always obvious at first.

Your vet may recommend further heart investigations if your pet has any of the following symptoms:

  • Coughing or breathing changes
  • Fainting or collapse
  • Tiredness or reduced exercise tolerance
  • A heart murmur
  • An irregular heartbeat

Specialist echocardiograms at Castle Vets

As part of this service, your pet can have a specialist echocardiogram – also known as a heart ultrasound – at our practice.

An echocardiogram allows the heart to be assessed in detail, helping identify many common heart conditions and guiding the best treatment plan for your pet.

Additional heart tests available

Alongside echocardiography, we may recommend other tests to build a clearer picture of your pet’s heart health.
Blood tests
To assess overall health and detect markers associated with heart disease.
Blood pressure checks
High blood pressure can both contribute to and result from heart conditions.
ECG heart rhythm assessment
Records the electrical activity of the heart to identify rhythm abnormalities.
Holter monitoring
(24–48 hr ECG)
Particularly useful when an irregular heartbeat is suspected but may not appear during a standard appointment.

Specialist guidance, local care

Once your pet’s tests have been carried out, we receive guidance from a veterinary cardiology specialist through Virtual Veterinary Specialists.

Your pet remains under the care of the familiar Castle Vets team, while benefiting from specialist input without the need for unnecessary long journeys.

Book a Cardiology Appointment

If your pet has been diagnosed with a heart murmur, is showing possible signs of heart disease, or needs further cardiac assessment, our team can advise whether our cardiology service may be appropriate.