Diagnostic testing and treatment for animals often require general anaesthesia.
Veterinary Specialist in Cardiology, Dr. Samantha shares that anaesthesia can put stress on the cardiovascular system, and animals with underlying cardiac conditions may be at higher risk of complications. However, the risk can be minimised when anaesthesia occurs under optimal conditions. Our cardiology team offers pre-anaesthesia cardiac screening to enhance patient safety.
Pre-anaesthesia cardiac screening is an essential step to ensure the safety of animals during procedures that require anaesthesia. The primary goal is to identify cardiac abnormalities or conditions that could impact the animal’s ability to tolerate anaesthesia. If any cardiac abnormalities or risks are identified, our cardiologist might prescribe cardiac medications to your animal and our anaesthesia team will adjust the anaesthesia protocol and take necessary precautions to minimize the risk of complications during the procedure.
Common components of pre-anaesthesia cardiac screening in dogs:
Echocardiography allows the visualization of the heart’s structures and function in real time. It helps diagnose heart diseases, valve abnormalities, and other structural issues.
Electrocardiogram (ECG) records the electrical activity of the heart. It helps detect irregular heart rhythms and other electrical abnormalities.
Chest x-rays can reveal the size and shape of the heart and assess the presence of any cardiac enlargement or lung abnormalities.
Blood pressure measurement can screen for the risk of hypertension or hypotension.