Did you know we now offer puppy and kitten heart murmur investigation? Contact us for info
Here at Cedar Referrals, our cardiology team cares for dogs and cats with all types of heart conditions, including congenital and acquired conditions as well as rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias or dysrhythmias). In most cases, these conditions can be diagnosed by echocardiography, electrocardiography (ECG) and radiographic evaluation of the cardio-respiratory system (thoracic radiographs). Heart conditions are treated either by medication or by performing “key-hole” interventional procedures called catheter interventions.
Luca graduated with honours in 1992 from the University of Bologna. After 3 years research in endocrinology at the BBSRC Institute in Cambridge, he was awarded his PhD in 1996. Following 3 years as Assistant Professor at Padua University, Luca moved to Bristol University, where he taught cardio-respiratory medicine of the dog and cat for 7 years. In 2005-2007, he was Associate Professor in Cardiology at the University of Minnesota. He returned to the UK in 2008 working in various referral institutions, as well as offering telemedicine service and post-graduate teaching. He obtained the RCVS certificate in cardiology in 2001, the certificate in Teaching & Learning in Higher Education in 2002, the ECVIM diploma (cardiology) in 2004 and a Certificate in Business & Professional Studies in 2011. In 2019, Luca was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for his Meritorious Contributions to Clinical Practice. Luca has also vastly contributed to the veterinary literature with articles, abstracts, and book chapters, including the chapter on coughing in the latest edition of Ettinger’s textbook of Internal Medicine. He also acted as chairman of the ECVIM examination committee and was member of the RCVS examination board and BSAVA congress committee. Luca is a regular speaker worldwide. His main professional interests include feline cardiology, exercise physiology, as well as investigation and management of syncope and coughing.
Heidi graduated from the University of Bristol (UK) in 2005. After a number of years working in mixed general practice in Surrey and Kent, Heidi joined a large multi-departmental clinic in Berkshire in 2009, where she worked for three years. Having always had a special interest in cardiology, Heidi studied towards the RCVS Certificate in Veterinary Cardiology, which was awarded in 2010 and for which she won the Veterinary Cardiovascular Society prize for the best casebook. She has participated in a significant number of international research projects relating to both canine and feline cardiology and canine exercise studies and has contributed to the veterinary literature with numerous publications within these fields. Heidi is an experienced cardiologist. In early 2019, Heidi joined the team as a cardiology clinician at The Ralph Veterinary Referral Centre, a busy, state-of-the-art, independent, compassionate and ethical-practice focused veterinary referral centre for dogs and cats located in Marlow, Buckinghamshire. She also runs a visiting cardiology consultancy service throughout Hampshire and the surrounding areas. Heidi is actively involved in the teaching and mentoring of post-graduate veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses in the fields of cardiology and echocardiography.