
The Cardiology Department at LeadER Animal Specialty Hospital in Cooper City provides advanced diagnostic evaluation of heart disease. Our animal hospital has extensive experience in treating acquired and congenital heart disease as well as pericardial disease.
The most common acquired heart diseases in dogs and cats include degenerative valvular heart disease and cardiomyopathy. The term congenital refers to developmental defects in the heart that are typically present in patients since birth. The term pericardial refers to changes in the sac, or pericardium, that surrounds the heart. Most pericardial diseases involve the formation of fluid within the pericardial sac.
Using echocardiography, x-rays, and electrocardiography (EKG) as well as fluoroscopy for intervention in cases requiring surgical management such as pacemaker implantation or balloon valvuloplasty, the veterinary cardiologist at our animal hospital in Cooper City can determine the best course of therapy for your pet.
With a wide variety of emergency vet therapies available, we can perform many different types of procedures utilizing both non-invasive and invasive techniques which help patients avoid large incisions leading to shorter recovery times.
Our animal hospital in Cooper City offers a range of cardiology services including:
- Transthoracic and contrast-enhanced echocardiography
- Bubble studies to rule out cardiac defect, ex. shunts
- Cardiac clearances for breeders and owners
- Heartworm treatment
- Electrocardiography
- 24-hour Holter and event monitoring
- In-house telemetry monitoring
- Thoracic radiographs
- Thoracocentesis and pericardiocentesis
- Abdominocentesis
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Ultrasound guided-fine needle aspirate and true-cuts
- Atropine-response test
- Management of hospitalized cardiopulmonary patients
- Oxygen therapy
- Rhinoscopy and nasal biopsy/flushing with computed tomography
- Thoracic computed tomography
- Transtracheal wash/brochoalveolar lavage
- Bronchoscopy
- Fluoroscopy
- PDA ligation
- Transvenuous pacemaker placement
- Balloon valvuloplasty
- Subtotal pericardectomy
- Cardiac catheterization
Special interests include:
- Arrhythmias
- Congestive heart failure
- Pulmonary disease
Cardiology FAQs
Cardiology Prescriptions and Refill Requests
We will be happy to take requests for refills on prescriptions Monday-Thursday 8:00AM-5:00 PM, and Fridays 8:00AM-11:00AM. Please call the front desk, and ask to leave a message on Diana’s voicemail. Leave your name, your pet’s name, the medication and quantity. You may also leave the request with the receptionist. Kindly allow us 48 hours to fill the prescription. Most of the time, they will be ready within 24 hours, however requests coming in on Fridays may not be ready until late Monday evening. They will be ready for you to pick up at the discharge desk, and we can call you when they are ready to be picked up. If you would like a written prescription, just let us know.
PLEASE, do NOT run out of medications, especially furosemide. Think ahead, and call in a request at least 1-2 weeks BEFORE you will run out. If your pet is completely out of medication, and it is after hours, weekends or a Friday afternoon, the emergency doctors are only allowed to fill a few day’s worth of medication. We cannot promise the medications will be filled the same day, as these hours are spent dealing with emergencies. This facility is NOT a 24 hour pharmacy. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE YOUR PET DOES NOT RUN OUT OF MEDICATIONS.
Generally speaking, patients on heart failure medications, (i.e. furosemide, enalapril, digoxin, pimobendan, etc.) should have bloodwork at least every 6 months to monitor kidney values. You may have this bloodwork done here or with your regular veterinarian, in which case they need to fax us the results. It is ILLEGAL for us to prescribe or dispense medications for a patient that we have not seen for over 1 year. If your pet does not need to come here yearly for a recheck for whatever reason, you must have your regular veterinarian fill their medications.
We can FedEx medication to your house if need be. We will need to get a credit card on file for this, and the receptionist can help you with this.