Specialist Veterinary Cardiology Referral Service by Dr Luca Ferasin and Heidi Ferasin

What we do

Cedar Referrals is proud to introduce our specialist-led Veterinary Cardiology Referral Service. Our experienced veterinary cardiologists are highly trained in dealing with challenging cardiac cases and offer the highest standard of care to both patients and owners alike. Our cardiology team offers a comprehensive outpatient service for diagnostic investigations, providing a written report with results and recommendations directly to the referring veterinary surgeon to allow them to discuss the clinical management of the patient directly with their client. We believe that communication and collaboration are key in ensuring optimal care for our patients, which is why we work hand-in-hand with our referring veterinary surgeons to deliver continuity and quality of cardiac care.

Here at Cedar Referrals, our cardiology team cares for dogs and cats with all types of heart conditions, including congenital and acquired diseases as well as rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias or dysrhythmias). In most cases, these conditions can be diagnosed by echocardiography and/or electrocardiography (ECG). We also offer an ambulatory ECG (Holter) monitoring and analysis service with 24h, /48h, /72 hour monitoring capability, complimented by the provision of management recommendations on a case-by-case basis. Heart conditions are treated either by medication or by performing “key-hole” interventional procedures called catheter interventions.

Additionally, our Cardiology team runs a dedicated outpatient service for the investigation of heart murmurs in asymptomatic puppies and kittens up to six months of age, comprising full echocardiographic assessment for only £195.

At Cedar Referrals, our Veterinary Cardiology Service provides investigation of all types of congenital and acquired canine and feline heart diseases. These include, but are not limited to:

• Diagnosis and management recommendations in patients with congestive heart failure
• Congenital disorders (including patent ductus arteriosus, aortic and pulmonic stenosis, dysplasia of the mitral and tricuspid valves, ventricular septal defects and other anomalies)
• Chronic degenerative valvular disease in dogs (e.g mitral valve disease)
• Canine and feline myocardial (heart muscle) disorders (e.g cardiomyopathies and myocarditis)
• Pericardial diseases (i.e. pericardial effusions) and cardiac neoplasia
• Cardiac arrhythmias
• Recurrent falling and fainting ("collapse")

Our Cardiology Service is facilitated by an extensive range of advanced diagnostic equipment, including colour and spectral Doppler Echocardiography, 6- and 12-lead digital ECG recording and 24/48/72 hour ambulatory ECG (Holter) monitoring.

We can facilitate and perform interventional cardiology services (advanced specialist procedures) including pacemakers, implantable loop recorders, PDA occlusion, balloon valvuloplasty and pulmonary arterial stenting.