Kardia Vet Care is an independent, peripatetic veterinary cardiology referral service based in Devon and Cornwall. We bring expert cardiology services directly to your practice, providing comprehensive diagnostics and treatment without the need for your clients and their pets to travel to distant referral centres. This not only reduces travel time, but also ensures continuity of care, as you remain involved in ongoing treatment. We understand the complexities of working in first opinion practice and would like to work closely with veterinary teams to provide advice and assistance in managing patients.

We offer a fully mobile service, equipped to perform a range of diagnostic procedures at your practice, including: - Full Colour Doppler Echocardiography (GE Vivid IQ model 2023) - Digital Electrocardiogram (ECG) - Ambulatory Holter ECG monitoring - Pericardial effusion drainage We can assist with a range of conditions from innocent heart murmurs to patients with advanced and complex disease.

Yes! We understand how challenging it can be keeping up with CPD whilst working in a busy practice. That's why we also offer in-house seminars and training sessions for all members of the veterinary team.

If you are a practice that regularly refers cases, please send the patient history to info@kardiavetcare.com with details of the time and date you would like us to see the case. If the case is urgent please contact Fiona directly (email or phone: 07901561321). If your practice does not have a regular scanning day booked, please send the history of the patient to info@kardiavetcare.com with any relevant details (or fill in the contact section on the website). We will arrange an initial visit appointment to introduce the ourselves and services to the team. A price list, detailed information on the suggested 'timetable' for the day, owner information leaflet and Kardia Vet Care poster for the practice can be sent upon request.

When you refer a patient to us, on the day of the examination we will: 1. Consult with the client to assess the patient's potential cardiac disease and discuss the best diagnostic approach. A sensible and considered approach will always be taken to assess each individual case and owner circumstances and a range of flexible options will be given wherever possible. 2. If necessary and in the patient's best interest, they will be admitted to the practice to undergo diagnostic tests. For example, an asymptomatic murmur investigation would usually involve a consultation and an echo; a symptomatic patient may need a consult, echo, ECG, additional blood tests or a Holter monitor; a patient with an arrhythmia may need a consult, echo, ECG, Holter and/or blood test. For particularly challenging cases, we can offer additional advice or referral to specialists as needed (for example some congenital defects may require interventional surgery). Please note that these additional services may incur extra costs. 3. A detailed report of clinical findings, results of diagnostic tests, an ongoing care plan and information for the owner will be provided to the practice and client. 4. Follow up advice, guidance and management is available for all cases to ensure you feel confident managing the patient's ongoing care. If you would like to discuss how we can help your patients or if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out directly. We're always happy to collaborate to ensure the best care and service is provided. We look forward to working with you and your team!

A mobile (or peripatetic) veterinary cardiologist is a veterinary surgeon with advanced qualifications in Cardiology. They visit different veterinary clinics, offering expertise, diagnostic imaging and treatment options beyond what is normally offered at most first opinion practices. They will liaise closely with veterinary teams to ensure the best ongoing care for the patient.

You may want to consult with a veterinary cardiologist if your primary care vet suspects your pet has a heart condition. Common signs include: - Heart murmur - Arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) - Collapsing or fainting - Breathing difficulties -Abdominal fluid build up (ascites) Even if your pet seems healthy, these symptoms could indicate an underlying heart condition that needs professional attention.

A veterinary cardiologist has advanced knowledge and training in diagnosing and treating heart conditions in animals. They can perform diagnostic tests like echocardiograms (heart scans), which are gold standard for evaluating heart health. Early diagnosis can help in managing and treating heart disease more effectively, potentially extending your pet's life and improving their quality of life.

A heart scan is an ultrasound scan of your pet's heart (echocardiogram). It allows us to look at the structure and function of the heart in detail. A small patch of fur will be clipped on each side of your pet's chest. In order to perform the scan, they will be gently positioned on their side on a padded table and cared for by a nurse. The scan takes about 20-30 minutes.

Most patients can be scanned without sedation. However, for particularly anxious or restless animals, a light sedation may be necessary. In some cases, especially cats, sedative tablets may be helpful to reduce anxiety and can be given prior to the appointment. If you think your pet would benefit from this, please contact your primary care vet.

Depending on the individual case, additional tests and investigations may be required. While an ultrasound scan provides valuable information about the heart, other tests may be necessary to fully evaluate the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. These could include blood tests, an electrocardiogram (ECG), a Holter monitor (a portable ECG that the patient wears at home), blood pressure measurements and chest x-rays. In some cases, we may not be aware that additional tests are needed before the ultrasound scan is performed but we will discuss these with you before proceeding.

The results of the scan will be discussed with you by the cardiologist during a consultation on the same day. They will explain the diagnosis in detail and address any questions you may have, including any ongoing medication or management plans. A written report will be emailed to both you and your primary care vet shortly after the appointment.

Due to the guidelines set by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), we are unable to accept referrals directly from pet owners. If you believe your pet would benefit from seeing a cardiologist, please discuss this with your primary care vet. They can then make the necessary referral and arrange an appointment with the cardiologist at the most convenient local clinic for you.

For particularly complex cases, the cardiologist may need to consult with other colleagues and Specialists, or refer your pet to a different service provider. This ensures your pet receives the most appropriate and comprehensive care possible. Please note that additional advice or referral may incur additional costs, depending on the level of care provided. It is important to understand that RCVS Advanced practitioners are not European Specialists (Diplomates) and there may be cases where referral to a tertiary referral centre is more appropriate.