Pet Echocardiography

Images of a pet's functioning heart.

Here at Park Animal Hospital we utilize a mobile board-certified radiologist to perform veterinary echocardiograms for our patients. When pets experience heart issues, ultrasounds and x-rays are often used to make a definitive diagnosis. Echocardiography, put simply, refers to an ultrasound utilized for the heart.

When an ultrasound is performed on the heart, it shows us an image of the heart in real time, which is referred to as an echocardiogram. From there, the radiologist can evaluate the heart’s size and shape as well as the way it functions. Specifically, they’ll be able to measure wall thickness, examine the heart valves, and assess blood flow. 

Echocardiograms can be used to detect the following conditions:

• Birth defects
• Heart disease
• Cardiac tumors
• Some heartworm infections

Like other ultrasounds, echocardiograms are painless, non-invasive, and usually don’t require any form of anesthesia. The most your furry friend will need to worry about is getting a patch of their hair shaved prior to the procedure. 

If your pet has been diagnosed with heart murmurs or irregular heartbeats, call us at (303) 534-5440 to discuss whether an echocardiogram would be beneficial.