What is an echocardiogram and why does my veterinarian recommend it?

Ultrasound is especially great to evaluate the heart for many types of heart diseases and to monitor the progression once heart disease is diagnosed. This study is typically called echocardiogramand involves not only 2-D imaging of the heart and measurements of the chambers and wall thickness but also assesses blood flow across valves and through the chambers, the function of the heart muscle and pressure gradients between chambers and the peripheral blood vessels with various additional imaging techniques. Follow this link to learn more about the common types of heart diseases found in cats and dogs.

Presenting clinical signs, exam findings, radiographic or laboratory abnormalities that often lead to the recommendation for an echocardiogram:

- heart murmur on exam
- clinical concern for heart disease such as coughing, increased respiratory rate and effort, and collapsing events, and weakness
- radiographic abnormalities such as an enlarged heart or abnormal shape/silhouette of the heart, fluid in the chest, enlarged blood vessels in the lungs, pulmonary edema (water in the lungs)
- elevated BNP (blood test for heart disease)