Cardiology

We recommend planning for your pet to remain with us for the majority of the appointment day, particularly for new patient evaluations. The Cardiology Service primarily operates as an outpatient service, and our goal is to discharge patients seen in the morning by mid- to late afternoon. You will be contacted promptly once your pet has been evaluated and is ready for discharge.

Please be assured that all VMTH personnel are committed to the health and well-being of animals. Your pet will receive attentive, compassionate, and professional care throughout their time with our team.

Cardiac procedures are not typically performed on the same day as the initial consultation. However, exceptions may be made for urgent cases, such as patients with third-degree AV block requiring emergency pacemaker placement. Patients being evaluated for a cardiac procedure must undergo a comprehensive assessment to determine whether surgery is appropriate and safe. This evaluation generally includes a complete physical examination, laboratory testing, cardiac imaging (echocardiography, with or without ECG evaluation), and thoracic radiographs (x-rays). Findings from these tests may identify conditions that could increase surgical risk. If surgery is recommended, the procedure is generally scheduled for the following day. This timing allows the Anesthesia Service adequate opportunity to review your pet’s case and prepare appropriately for the procedure.

The Cardiology Service has on-call clinicians available to assist with urgent patient needs. Pets experiencing an emergency can be evaluated through the Emergency Service, which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays.

We kindly ask that you call us at 979.845.2351 before arrival so we can prepare for your pet’s admission and anticipate your arrival time. Please note that patients seen through Emergency Services are evaluated according to the severity of their condition using a triage system. During especially busy periods, patients with less urgent conditions may experience longer wait times

Yes, continue administering current heart medications the day of the appointment unless directed otherwise by TAMU cardiology or your veterinarian. Your pet can continue to receive routine vaccinations and should continue routine parasite preventatives, including heartworm prevention.

• Acquired canine heart disease: MMVD & DCM
• Acquired feline cardiomyopathies
• Predictive modeling for diagnosis & staging canine & feline heart disease
• Congenital heart disease imaging & therapies
• Advanced imaging: transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography, CT, MRI
• Heritable channelopathies
• Myocarditis including Chagas disease
• Biomarkers
• Education
• One Health