A congenital heart disease are most often seen at a young age (under one year), sometimes with the general symptoms of heart disease mentioned above, possibly with developmental delay, but often without clinical signs. For the latter reason, a physical (including auditory) veterinary examination of dogs and kittens, e.g. at the time of first vaccination, is of paramount importance and absolutely necessary, as the majority of them are associated with heart murmurs. In such asymptomatic individuals, repeated eavesdropping examinations are justified. In the case of an initial strong murmur or persistent murmurs, even at lower levels, a detailed cardiological examination is recommended as soon as possible (see below). Congenital conditions include abnormal heart valves and abnormal connections between the two (left and right) sides of the heart, also known as shunts.) The early and definite diagnosis of these conditions helps to ensure that any necessary and possible treatment can be started early and, in some cases, that specific surgical or cardiac catheterisation procedures can be carried out.

A acquired heart disease the most common of these in dogs is atrioventricular valve insufficiency (insufficiency), which is caused by valve thickening and distortion due to permanent (chronic) degeneration of the heart valves. This disease is particularly common in older individuals of small dog breeds. As it can be asymptomatic for long periods of time, timely cardiological screening is very important, annually or even every six months in susceptible breeds. Indeed, timely diagnosis results in a significantly better outcome with medication, leading to an improvement in the quality of life of the patient and a prolongation of the life of dogs with heart disease in relation to the outcome of the disease. The second most common cardiological disease in dogs is dilated cardiomyopathy, which occurs mainly in middle-aged individuals of large breeds of dogs. This disease is also characterised by a prolonged asymptomatic (subclinical) period and thus warrants cardiological screening. The most common cardiac disease in cats is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy), which is a thickening of the myocardium. Early stages of this disease can often be detected by cardiological screening.

Acquired heart diseases include abnormalities of the heart rhythm (arrhythmias), which can occur independently or, more often, in association with other diseases. The existence of arrhythmias can usually be assessed by phonendoscopic auscultation, indicating the need for ECG testing, which is essential for an accurate diagnosis. Some cardiac arrhythmias may not require antiarrhythmic medication or may require such medication, even in addition to treatment of the underlying heart disease. In certain conditions (severe cases of so-called conduction disorders), a pacemaker (pacemaker) are implanted, as in these anthropological cases of pericardial diseases

Acquired heart diseases include not very common but mostly serious imputed pericardial diseases, the diagnosis and treatment of which are for pericardiocentesis we present.

One of the most common parasitological diseases in dogs today heartworm, of which the identification of the disease through screening tests and, of course, the treatment of individuals already suffering from heartworm disease and, last but not least, the prevention of the disease are of paramount importance.

Our detailed cardiological examination includes a physical (listening and palpation) examination of the respiratory and circulatory organs, an ECG examination and an ultrasound (UH) examination of the heart. The instrumental examinations are carried out using state-of-the-art equipment. One of the most important of these is cardiac echocardiography, without which it is not possible to make an accurate diagnosis and assess the severity of the heart disease. This procedure includes one-dimensional M-mode, two-dimensional and colour and spectral Doppler echocardiography). If necessary, we also recommend X-ray examination of the respiratory organs and, in the evening, blood pressure measurement based on the findings of the physical and cardiac UH examination. A written summary of the results of the tests and a detailed cardiac ultrasound report with the diagnosis and treatment recommendations are prepared. Based on the diagnosis made at the one examination, we will also recommend further follow-up examinations at a frequency that depends on the severity of the disease. The latter is used to ensure cardiological follow-up. These follow-up examinations help us to supplement or modify the treatment as necessary to ensure the longest possible survival of our patients. We also work with outside (local) veterinarians as part of the cardiological follow-up, if the owner of the animal requests this.

A cardiological examination is of course indicated in the case of these symptoms, which may indicate the presence of heart disease, and patients often come to our veterinary hospital for cardiological examinations before procedures involving anaesthesia (e.g. surgery, CT scans or endoscopy), with referral from outside veterinarians. The findings of the latter will allow the cardiological risk of such procedures to be assessed, thus helping to select and monitor the appropriate anaesthetic procedure.