Heartfelt matters: Exploring heart disease in dogs and cats
This veterinary thought exchange online tutored course takes a more detailed look at the investigation and management of heart disease in dogs and cats.
Cardiac disease is a relatively common problem in both species, affecting approximately 3.5% of dogs in first opinion practice. However, it can be challenging to know when to worry. In this course we will cover a wide range of cardiac conundrums from those puppy and kitten murmurs to the collapsing patient with ventricular tachycardia. We will discuss new treatments and management strategies for congestive heart failure. There is a special session covering the principles of anaesthesia in animals with heart disease, presented by Matt Gurney (EBVS and RCVS Recognised Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia) from Zero Pain Philosophy.
The course is run by our very own Liz Bode (EBVS and RCVS Recognised Specialist in Small Animal Cardiology), Fabio Sarcinella (Cardiology Specialist) and Oscar Bautista Diaz-Delgado (Anaesthesia Specialist).
Fabio was appointed a Resident in Small Animal Cardiology at the University of Liverpool in 2016, and then went on to work as a Cardiology Clinician in a private referral practice before becoming a European Specialist in Veterinary Cardiology. Fabio joined Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service in 2021. Fabio enjoys all aspects of medical and interventional Cardiology. His main interest is in congenital heart disease and performing minimally invasive procedures to treat these defects, feline cardiomyopathies and arrhythmias.
Oscar started his European residency program in veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia at the Small Animal Teaching Hospital in Liverpool, earning his diploma as a European Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia in 2021. Currently, Oscar provides expert anaesthesia care to various hospitals in the UK. His key areas of interest include anaesthesia for critical patients, loco-regional anaesthesia, and pain management. He is particularly passionate about advancing postgraduate anaesthesia education, supporting new graduates and nurses, and improving clinical outcomes in anaesthesia.
This course runs over an eleven-week period and takes around 13 hours to complete. The course is delivered via video webinars and supplemented with a real-time discussion forum, giving you the opportunity to ask questions or discuss cases you may be facing in your practice.
Access to this course is for 12 months from the start of the course going live on our website. The discussion forum will be monitored for the course duration only.
Course Content
- Describe the pathophysiology behind innocent murmurs
- Identify when a murmur is likely to be innocent and when you need to worry
- Develop a logical approach to murmurs
- Understand the clinical signs of common congenital diseases
- Describe the most common congenital diseases in dogs and cats
- Develop a logical approach to diagnosis and management of common congenital diseases
- Gain an understanding of new interventional techniques in veterinary cardiology
- Identify the types of cases best suited for these procedures
- Review the primary complications and patient benefits associated with their use
- Describe the various feline cardiomyopathies and their presentations
- Identify suitable diagnostic tests for cats with heart disease
- Define treatment protocols for pre-clinical feline heart disease
- Describe the factors associated with development of feline aortic thromboembolism
- List the treatment options available and describe how these are utilised to the benefit of your patients
- Reflect on how you diagnose and manage these cases, using this lecture to adapt your thought processes to individual cases
- Learn about the most effective methods of diagnosing disease of the pericardial space
- Consider the indications and methods of pericardiocentesis
- Understand the most appropriate treatment options for these patients
- Identify acquired heart disease in your canine patients
- Develop a logical approach to diagnosis of these diseases
- Refine your treatment choices for dogs affected by pre-clinical heart disease
- Review treatment options for heart failure in dogs and cats
- Choose appropriate treatment strategies for acute and chronic heart failure
- Describe suitable monitoring processes for cats and dogs with heart failure
- Describe common causes of collapse in dogs and cats
- Identify cardiovascular causes of collapse
- Develop appropriate diagnostic strategies for these patients
- Basics of ECG diagnosis
- The use of clinical cases allows the development of a logical approach to ECGs
- Discuss guidelines to identify high risk patients
- Review cardiovascular physiology
- Review pharmacology of anaesthetics agents and their impact on the cardiovascular system
Meet the speakers
Liz Bode
Director, Cardiology Specialist
Fabio Sarcinella
Cardiology Specialist
Fabio graduated from Bologna University (Italy) in 2012. After graduation, he undertook a small animal Cardiology externship at the University of Liverpool. Fabio then went on to complete a 12-month rotating internship in small animal medicine at Rutland House Referrals. Following this, he worked in general practice for almost two years, further developing his interest in Cardiology. In 2016 he was appointed a Resident in Small Animal Cardiology at the University of Liverpool. Fabio then went on to work as a Cardiology Clinician in a private referral practice before becoming a European Specialist in Veterinary Cardiology. Fabio joined Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service in 2021.
Fabio enjoys all aspects of medical and interventional Cardiology. His main interest is in congenital heart disease and performing minimally invasive procedures to treat these defects, feline cardiomyopathies and arrhythmias.
DVM, MRCVS DipECVIM-CA (Cardiology)
Oscar Bautista Diaz-Delgado
Anaesthesia Specialist