At Middle Brighton Vet, we offer echocardiography - a safe, non-invasive ultrasound that allows our veterinarians to see your pet's heart in real time.
This advanced diagnostic tool helps us assess how your pet's heart is functioning, detect disease early, and guide the best possible treatment plan. Whether your pet has a known heart condition or you have noticed symptoms like coughing, fatigue, or breathing changes, echocardiography provides vital insight.
What is echocardiography?
Echocardiography uses high-frequency sound waves to create moving images of the heart. It allows us to measure how effectively the heart is pumping blood, visualise valve movement and identify leaks or narrowing, detect enlargement or structural abnormalities, and assess overall cardiac function without surgery or anaesthesia. The procedure is gentle, quick, and completely pain-free.
When your pet might need an echocardiogram
Your vet may recommend an echo if your pet has a heart murmur detected during examination, shows breathing changes or reduced exercise tolerance, displays signs of fainting or collapse, or requires monitoring for an existing heart condition. Echocardiography is also valuable for pre-anaesthetic assessments in senior pets.
FAQ
Is echocardiography safe?
Yes - it’s non-invasive, painless, and does not expose your pet to radiation.
Does my pet need sedation?
Usually not. Most pets tolerate the procedure well with gentle handling and minimal restraint.
How soon will I get results?
Our vets will discuss the findings immediately after the scan. If a specialist cardiologist is consulted, a detailed report typically follows within 24–48 hours.
Can you perform follow-up scans?
Absolutely - we often recheck heart health every 6–12 months to monitor disease progression or medication effectiveness.
What if my pet needs specialist care?
We collaborate closely with board-certified veterinary cardiologists who can review scans, visit the clinic, or provide surgical or interventional recommendations when required.
Echocardiography
Our team of professionals are here to help make pet care easy. If you have any questions or concerns about your pet's health, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
If you would like to make an appointment you can book online or give us a call to arrange a suitable time.
