Diagnosing Cardiac Disease Without a Cardiologist

Referral to a cardiologist is not always possible or necessary in patients with suspected cardiac disease. The first half of this session will discuss the usefulness and limitations of the most available diagnostic tests for cardiac disease in first opinion practice. The second half will discuss how to use these diagnostic tests in the most common cardiac conditions seen in dogs and cats.

Learning Objectives:
1. Recognise the importance of history-taking and physical examination in diagnosing and staging cardiac disease in dogs and cats.
2. Outline the usefulness and limitations of cardiac biomarkers, thoracic radiographs, ECG and ultrasound in diagnosing and staging cardiac disease in dogs and cats.
3. Create an appropriate plan for diagnosing and staging myxomatous mitral valve disease, dilated cardiomyopathy and feline cardiomyopathy in first opinion practice.

Rachel Blake
MVB MScR DipECVIM-CA (Cardiology) MRCVS