Veterinary Cardiology

Expert heart care for dogs and cats.

VMC is a full-service animal hospital with a board-certified cardiologist on staff. Dr. Alix Saavedra provides treatment for a wide variety of heart conditions, from a murmur found at a routine checkup to more advanced disease.

When something is wrong with your pet's heart, and you want answers quickly, you can trust VMC to provide excellent care.

Call (941) 739-1800 to Schedule
Meet Our Cardiologist

Specialized Heart Care

A Deeper Level of Cardiac Expertise

A board-certified veterinary cardiologist trains for years beyond veterinary school, focused specifically on the heart — from reading small changes on an echocardiogram to adjusting medication for complicated cases.

Because everything is under one roof at VMC, our cardiologist works with other specialists in the hospital along with our emergency and critical care teams. If a murmur turns up at a checkup, or your pet is coughing, tiring easily, or having trouble breathing, we can take a closer look and walk you through the options.

Need Guidance? Call us.

Diagnosis & Ongoing Care

Answers On-Site, Explained Clearly

Cardiac care comes down to good imaging and careful interpretation. Our cardiologist runs and reviews your pet's diagnostics herself, then goes over what she found with you, usually on the same visit. Our cardiology service includes:

  • Echocardiography (Heart Ultrasound)

    A detailed, non-invasive look at the heart's chambers, valves, vessels, and function. It is the core of a cardiac workup, and it is painless and usually needs no sedation.

  • Echocardiogram (ECG)

    Checks the heart's electrical activity to catch abnormal rhythms.

  • Blood Pressure Measurement

    Screens for high blood pressure, which affects the heart and other organs.

  • Digital radiographs (Chest X-rays)

    Done on-site through our imaging team to look at heart size and the lungs.

  • Ongoing Management

    Long-term medication adjustments and rechecks tailored to your pet's condition.

  • Holter and Event Monitoring

    A portable ECG your pet can wear on the go, recording the heart's rhythm over a day or more to catch irregular beats a short in-clinic reading can miss.

  • Cardiac Blood Testing

    Bloodwork, including markers like proBNP and troponin, can flag strain on the heart and help tell a heart problem apart from a lung problem.

  • Pre-anesthetic Heart Evaluations

    For pets with a murmur or a known heart condition, we check the heart before anesthesia or surgery so procedures are as safe as possible.

  • Second Opinions and Referral Support

    We work alongside your regular veterinarian, reviewing diagnostics and building the plan together.

What to Expect at a Cardiology Visit

We know a heart diagnosis is scary, so here is how a visit actually works.

Your pet's first appointment starts with a conversation and a physical exam. Dr. Saavedra reviews your pet's history and any records from your regular veterinarian, then does the diagnostics your pet needs, usually an echocardiogram and an ECG, right here.

Because she captures and reads the images herself, you are not waiting days for outside results. In most cases, she will go over the findings and the plan with you the same day. The echocardiogram is gentle. Most pets just rest on a padded table while it is done, with no downtime afterward. Your pet goes home on the same visit and can get back to normal right away.

From there, we set up a plan that fits your pet, and we keep your regular veterinarian in the loop so everyone is working from the same information.

Conditions We Diagnose and Manage

  • Heart Murmurs & Valve Disease

    Heart murmurs are one of the most common findings on an echocardiogram. We sort out how serious a murmur is and whether it needs treatment or just monitoring.

  • Cardiomyopathies

    Cardiomyopathies are diseases of the heart muscle. There are several types, including dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in cats. These are often quiet until they are advanced, so catching them early matters.

  • Congenital Heart Defects

    These are conditions pets are born with, like patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) or pulmonic and aortic stenosis. Some can be corrected when they are caught early.

  • Arrhythmias

    These are irregular heart rhythms that can cause weakness, fainting, or trouble with exercise. We diagnose them with an ECG and manage them with a specific plan.

  • Congestive Heart Failure

    When the heart cannot keep up, we work to stabilize your pet, ease the symptoms, and keep them comfortable.

  • Pericardial Effusion

    This is when fluid builds up in the sac around the heart. It needs prompt attention, so we use ultrasound to find it and decide what to do next.

  • Systemic Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

    High blood pressure is common in older cats and often tied to kidney or thyroid disease. Left alone, it can affect the heart, eyes, and kidneys, so we carefully monitor for changes.

  • Pulmonary Hypertension

    High pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs, which makes the right side of the heart work harder. We look for it in pets with a cough, trouble breathing, or fainting.

  • Heartworm-Associated Heart Disease

    Over time, heartworms damage the heart and lungs. We assess the strain on the heart and help coordinate care.

  • Fainting & Exercise Intolerance

    When a pet faints, collapses, or tires unusually fast, we evaluate whether the heart is the cause and what to do next.

Alix Saavedra, DVM, MS, DACVIM

Board-Certified Veterinary Cardiologist

Dr. Alix Saavedra is VMC’s board-certified veterinary cardiologist. Board certification through the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (DACVIM) reflects years of advanced training focused on diagnosing and treating heart disease in dogs and cats. She works closely with the rest of the VMC team to make sure your pet gets the comprehensive care they need.

  • Courtney, CVT

    Cardiology
    Veterinary Technician Specialist

  • Mel, CVT

    Cardiology
    Veterinary Technician

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Not necessarily. VMC is a full-service animal hospital, so we see pets referred by their regular veterinarian and pets who are already patients here. If your veterinarian is somewhere else, we will send them our findings.

  • Yes. Dr. Saavedra performs the echocardiogram herself and reviews the results with you directly, usually the same day.

  • It is not painful, and most pets do not need any sedation. They rest on a padded table while the ultrasound is done.

  • In most cases, yes. Because the images are read in-house, there is no waiting for an outside lab.

  • Our emergency team is here 24/7 in the same hospital, and in certain cases, our cardiologist can provide guidance on call so we can handle cardiac emergencies promptly.

Concerned About Your Pet's Heart?

If your veterinarian heard a murmur or your pet is coughing, tiring quickly, or having a hard time breathing, our cardiology team can help you figure out what is going on and what to do next.

Veterinary Medical Center at Lakewood Ranch

15205 Garnet Trail, Bradenton, FL 34211
Phone: (941) 739-1800
Hours: Open 24 hours a day

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