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** Echocardiography (cardiac ultrasound):  

a state of the art ultrasound machine is used to gather information in various modes: 2-dimensional (2D), M-mode, continous (CW) and pulse wave (PW) Doppler, color flow Doppler and tissue velocity imaging (TVI).

** Electrocardiography (ECG or EKG):  

10-lead ECG is used to assess the electrical activity of the heart for potential arrhythmias (dysrhythmias).

** Holter Monitors:  

they are a 24-hour, ambulatory ECG that allow us to diagnose arrhythmias that are intermittent, or that only occur during specific activities, such as exercise. This lightweight device is attached to a harness and worn as an animal goes through its normal daily routine usually at home with you.

** Event Monitors:  

similar to Holter monitors, but has to be activated to record an event when one is noted.  We currently have two options for Event monitors: 1) small recorder that stays on up to 4 weeks in a vest, or until an event is recorded. 2) Small device is implanted under the skin and lasts up to 1 year.  This allows the potential to assess heart rhythm at any time when recorded (activated) by a remote contoller.  This is provided by the gracious people of Medtronic USA and is amazing technology working for your pet.

** OFA Heart Certification:  

1.  

One without a cardiac murmur -or-

2.  

One with an innocent heart murmur that is found to be otherwise normal by virtue of an echocardiographic examination which includes Doppler echocardiography.

** Thoracic radiograph interpretation:  

performed by a boarded cardiologist

** Therapeutic and diagnostic pericardiocentesis:  

(removal of fluid from the pericardial sac surrounding the heart), thoracocentesis (chest tap) and abdominocentesis (belly tap) performed by a board-certified cardiologist.  Of course, biopsies and aspiration of masses is performed as needed in a case by case basis.