Heart murmurs
A murmur can have several causes. Echocardiography helps assess the heart valves, chambers and blood flow so the cause can be better understood.
Veterinary Cardiology Adelaide
Veterinary Cardiology and Echocardiography in Adelaide
Cardiac assessment for dogs and cats, provided in collaboration with your regular veterinarian.
SAVMR provides echocardiography, ECG and Holter monitoring support to help investigate heart murmurs, suspected cardiac disease, arrhythmias and signs linked to heart failure.
Cardiac assessment
What veterinary cardiology can help assess
Cardiac assessment helps your vet understand whether a pet’s signs are linked to heart structure, heart function or heart rhythm. The findings can guide treatment, monitoring and longer-term care planning.
Suspected heart disease
Cardiac ultrasound can help assess structural and functional heart disease in dogs and cats.
Arrhythmias
ECG and Holter monitoring can help assess abnormal heart rhythms and guide treatment decisions.
Heart failure concerns
Cardiology assessment can help investigate signs such as coughing, breathing changes, collapse, exercise intolerance or fluid-related concerns.
Echocardiography
Echocardiography for dogs and cats
Echocardiography, also called cardiac ultrasound or echo, uses sound waves to assess the heart’s structure and function. It can show the heart chambers, valves, wall movement and blood flow.
This information helps the referring veterinarian understand whether a pet has structural heart disease, how advanced the changes may be, and what treatment or monitoring may be suitable.
Heart murmurs
Suspected valve disease
Suspected cardiomyopathy
Congenital heart disease
Signs of heart failure
Collapse or fainting episodes
Pre-anaesthetic cardiac assessment where appropriate
Monitoring known cardiac disease
Book or refer an echocardiography appointment
ECG
ECG and heart rhythm assessment
Electrocardiography, or ECG, records the electrical activity of the heart over a short period. It can help identify common rhythm disturbances and support decisions about treatment or monitoring.
Arrhythmia assessment
ECG can help assess abnormal rhythms such as atrial fibrillation, ventricular premature contractions and other rhythm changes.
Treatment monitoring
Repeat ECG assessment may help monitor the response to cardiac medication where rhythm control is part of the treatment plan.
Used with echocardiography
ECG is often considered alongside echocardiography so the heart’s structure, function and rhythm are reviewed together.
Holter monitoring
Holter monitoring for intermittent rhythm concerns
A Holter monitor records the heart rhythm over a longer period, often around 24 hours. It may be useful when rhythm changes are intermittent or when a short ECG does not capture the problem.
Collapse or fainting episodes
Holter monitoring may help investigate whether intermittent rhythm changes are contributing to collapse or fainting.
Breed-related rhythm risks
Some breeds are more likely to develop rhythm disturbances. Holter monitoring can help assess risk and guide monitoring.
Medication monitoring
Holter recordings can help assess whether anti-arrhythmic treatment is controlling rhythm changes over time.
When cardiology may help
When your vet may recommend cardiology assessment
Your regular vet may recommend cardiology assessment when they detect a heart murmur, hear an abnormal rhythm, or need more information about your pet’s heart before choosing a treatment plan.
A newly detected heart murmur
Echo can help assess whether the murmur is linked to valve disease, congenital disease or another structural change.
Breathing or exercise changes
Cardiac assessment may be recommended if your pet has coughing, faster breathing, exercise intolerance or signs that could be linked to heart disease.
Abnormal heart rhythm
ECG or Holter monitoring may be used when your vet detects an irregular rhythm or your pet has episodes of weakness or collapse.
Known cardiac disease
Follow-up assessment can help monitor disease progression and guide medication changes.
Appointment process
What happens during a cardiology appointment
The appointment process depends on the reason for referral and the diagnostic tests requested. SAVMR reviews the clinical information from your regular veterinarian and performs the appropriate cardiac assessment.
Clinical history is reviewed
The referring vet provides relevant history, examination findings, medication details and previous test results.
Your pet is assessed
The assessment may include echocardiography, ECG, blood pressure measurement or Holter monitoring depending on the case.
Findings are interpreted
The results are considered with your pet’s signs, physical examination and previous diagnostic information.
Recommendations are sent to your vet
SAVMR provides findings and recommendations to the regular veterinarian so ongoing care can be planned.
For referring vets
Information for referring veterinarians
SAVMR supports general practice veterinarians with cardiac assessment, echocardiography, ECG interpretation and Holter monitoring pathways. The aim is to provide clear findings and practical treatment guidance.
Helpful information to provide with a cardiology referral
Relevant clinical history
Current medications and doses
Physical examination findings
Heart rate and rhythm findings
Murmur grade and location, if known
Recent blood pressure readings, if available
Recent blood and urine results
Thoracic imaging reports, if available
Main clinical question
Preferred contact details
Related services
Related referral services
Cardiology assessment may sit alongside other diagnostic or medical services when a pet has complex signs or multiple health concerns.
Veterinary Ultrasound
Abdominal, urinary tract and focused ultrasound for dogs and cats with internal medical concerns.
View veterinary ultrasoundInternal Medicine
Referral support for complex medical conditions, chronic illness and diagnostic planning.
View internal medicineAdvanced Imaging
Support for advanced imaging pathways where further diagnostic investigation is required.
View advanced imagingQuestions
Veterinary cardiology FAQs
Echocardiography is an ultrasound examination of the heart. It helps assess the heart chambers, valves, wall movement and blood flow.
Your vet may recommend a heart ultrasound if they detect a murmur, suspect heart disease, need to assess heart function, or want more information before choosing a treatment plan.
SAVMR works closely with general practice veterinarians. In most cases, your regular vet will recommend cardiology assessment and provide the clinical information needed for referral care.
No. Echocardiography is not usually painful. Your pet may need to lie in a specific position while the ultrasound probe is used to assess the heart.
ECG records the electrical activity and rhythm of the heart. Echocardiography uses ultrasound to assess the heart’s structure and function. Some pets need both tests.
Yes. SAVMR provides findings and recommendations to the referring veterinarian so they can guide your pet’s ongoing care.
Next step
Need to arrange veterinary cardiology assessment?
Submit a booking or referral request and the SAVMR team will help guide the next step for your patient or pet.
For urgent appointment enquiries, please contact the team directly by phone.