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). It runs over a nine-week period and takes around 11 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
- 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
- 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
- Develop a rational approach to anaesthesia in patients with heart disease.
Meet the speakers
Liz Bode
Director, Cardiology Specialist
Matt Gurney
Anaesthesia Specialist