FAQs
Kardia Vet Care is an independent, peripatetic veterinary cardiology referral service based in Devon and Cornwall. We bring expert cardiology services directly to your practice, providing comprehensive diagnostics and treatment without the need for your clients and their pets to travel to distant referral centres. This not only reduces travel time, but also ensures continuity of care, as you remain involved in ongoing treatment. We understand the complexities of working in first opinion practice and would like to work closely with veterinary teams to provide advice and assistance in managing patients.
We offer a fully mobile service, equipped to perform a range of diagnostic procedures at your practice, including:
- Full Colour Doppler Echocardiography (GE Vivid IQ model 2023)
- Digital Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Ambulatory Holter ECG monitoring
- Pericardial effusion drainage
We can assist with a range of conditions from innocent heart murmurs to patients with advanced and complex disease.
Yes! We understand how challenging it can be keeping up with CPD whilst working in a busy practice. That's why we also offer in-house seminars and training sessions for all members of the veterinary team.
If you are a practice that regularly refers cases, please send the patient history to info@kardiavetcare.com with details of the time and date you would like us to see the case. If the case is urgent please contact Fiona directly (email or phone: 07901561321).
If your practice does not have a regular scanning day booked, please send the history of the patient to info@kardiavetcare.com with any relevant details (or fill in the contact section on the website). We will arrange an initial visit appointment to introduce the ourselves and services to the team.
A price list, detailed information on the suggested 'timetable' for the day, owner information leaflet and Kardia Vet Care poster for the practice can be sent upon request.
When you refer a patient to us, on the day of the examination we will:
1. Consult with the client to assess the patient's potential cardiac disease and discuss the best diagnostic approach. A sensible and considered approach will always be taken to assess each individual case and owner circumstances and a range of flexible options will be given wherever possible.
2. If necessary and in the patient's best interest, they will be admitted to the practice to undergo diagnostic tests. For example, an asymptomatic murmur investigation would usually involve a consultation and an echo; a symptomatic patient may need a consult, echo, ECG, additional blood tests or a Holter monitor; a patient with an arrhythmia may need a consult, echo, ECG, Holter and/or blood test.
For particularly challenging cases, we can offer additional advice or referral to specialists as needed (for example some congenital defects may require interventional surgery). Please note that these additional services may incur extra costs.
3. A detailed report of clinical findings, results of diagnostic tests, an ongoing care plan and information for the owner will be provided to the practice and client.
4. Follow up advice, guidance and management is available for all cases to ensure you feel confident managing the patient's ongoing care.
If you would like to discuss how we can help your patients or if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out directly. We're always happy to collaborate to ensure the best care and service is provided. We look forward to working with you and your team!
