What to Expect: Initial Consultation & Benefits

Why CVCA is the best cardiology option for your pet

CVCA is the world’s largest veterinary cardiology service offering access to:

Board-certified veterinary cardiologists assess every patient directly
State-of-the-art pediatric echocardiography with the latest software and imaging technology
A collaborative partnership with your primary care veterinarian
Coordination of urgent and same day referrals
Echocardiograms and ECGs performed with you present to comfort your pet and aid in the explanation of your pet’s condition
Detailed visit summary with diagnosis, treatment plan, prognosis, and follow up care recommendations given at visit

Early, accurate diagnosis and collaboration between the cardiologist and primary care veterinarian result in the best outcome for your pet and peace of mind for you.

What can I expect during a visit?

Prior to the Appointment:

We encourage you to fill out a New Patient Registration Form ahead of time.

Most of the time, records can be faxed to us from your Primary Care Veterinarian prior to your appointment.

Please bring along a list of all medication strengths and dosages or the pill vials. You may follow your normal routine for medications and feeding that day, unless it has been arranged in advance that your pet will need to be sedated for the procedure (very few patients require sedation).

If your pet has had any X-Rays taken recently, please bring those with you as well, as they cannot be faxed.

Check-in for Appointment:

Arrive approximately 10 minutes early.

CVCA will verify, or provide you with, a New Patient Registration Form. Returning clients, CVCA will take a few moments to confirm your contact information.

Exam

A blood pressure reading may be performed by the veterinary nurse, depending on the age of your pet and his or her current medications.
The board-certified cardiologists or cardiology resident will perform a focused cardiac examination on your pet. Under most circumstances, owners will stay with their pets during the appointment.

After the Exam, the Echocardiogram

An echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) will be done. The echocardiogram is not painful and takes about 15 – 25 minutes in most cases.

The doctor will explain the echocardiogram as it is being performed and then further discuss the findings after the echo is completed. (Due to our doctor’s expertise and the latest level of technology with our equipment, the echocardiogram gives us valuable information on the location, type, and severity of heart disease.)
The exam involves your pet lying down on a table, with you present for comfort, and an ultrasound probe is placed on the chest against the heart through a hole in the table.

Note – very large dogs, or patients with respiratory distress, may have the procedure performed standing or sitting if they are more comfortable.

Completion of the Exam

You will be given a printed visit summary with the diagnosis, treatment recommendations and follow up care. A full report will be forwarded to your primary care veterinarian the same day.

After your appointment, we welcome progress reports, questions and concerns at any time and will maintain an ongoing relationship with your primary care veterinarian to ensure the best service for you and the best care for your pet.

FAQ
Get The Facts

Here are a few of the typical questions, with answers, that you may have about your upcoming appointment.

Can I be with my pet during the cardiac exam?

Yes! In fact, we encourage our clients to be with their pets during the entire appointment, including the exam and the echocardiogram. It helps the pet to have their person in the room with them, and you have an opportunity to see and understand more about your pet's cardiac health with the experience. You can talk directly with the cardiologist to answer any questions you have.

How long is a typical CVCA appointment?

A typical appointment is 1 hour for most appointment types. This allows us to get your pet checked in, take a blood pressure reading, examine your pet, and perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart).

Will the doctor have a treatment plan for me?

Yes. You will receive a detailed home care report to take with you.

What happens after the appointment?

You will receive a detailed home care report to take with you. It will have all the doctor’s findings and recommendations, in detail. A full report will be faxed over the same day to your primary care veterinarian, along with any other veterinarians who are involved in your pet’s care.

How does my primary care veterinarian know what is going on with my pet's cardiac care?

We send them a detailed report and keep them completely in the loop regarding cardiac care -- often the same day of your appointment. CVCA works with our partners in primary care through a co-managed care philosophy: as expert specialists in cardiac care, we provide all the information you and your primary care need on your pet's cardiology care. Your primary care is still the hub of your pet's healthcare and factors in this cardiology information with all the other healthcare your pet receives.

My pet really doesn’t like visiting a doctor. What can be done to reduce their anxiety?

Discuss this with your primary care veterinarian or the CVCA team in advance. They can discuss options to help make the pet less stressed, including sedatives. If your pet typically takes anti-anxiety medication prior to veterinary visits, you may give that medication to your pet before your CVCA visit.

What is an echocardiogram?

An echocardiogram is an ultrasound of the heart. It is considered the “Gold Standard” of diagnostics and is how our cardiologist obtains the best information regarding your pet’s heart. It is a painless procedure to your pet and lets you see and understand the pet’s heart function along with the doctor.

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