Outpatient Veterinary Cardiology Service
*(Mt. Laurel, NJ & Twin Cities, MN locations only)
Meet Our Cardiologists
In support of our promise to provide the safest and most advanced dentistry and oral surgery for dogs and cats, we are pleased to offer comprehensive cardiology services to our Mt. Laurel, NJ and Twin Cities, MN locations. Patients with suspected or diagnosed heart disease can now be seen by a board-certified veterinary cardiologist.
Outpatient cardiology appointments vary by location. Patients DO NOT need to receive dentistry or oral surgery services to be cared for by our cardiologists. Our veterinary cardiology services are open to the community.
Dentistry or oral surgery patients with cardiac concerns can now be seen by a board-certified veterinary cardiologist on the day of their procedure to assess heart health [if necessary] prior to general anesthesia. Along with our cardiologist’s assessment, one of our board-certified veterinary anesthesiologists will design and monitor an anesthetic protocol tailored to each patient’s needs, leading to safer procedures and better outcomes.
Veterinary cardiologists are specialists that have obtained board certification from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in the subspecialty of Cardiology. This means they have advanced training in the heart, lungs, and circulatory system. They focus on diagnosing and treating diseases, which include but are not limited to:
- Cardiac arrhythmias
- Cardiac tumors
- Congenital or acquired heart defects
- Congestive heart failure
- Coughing and other breathing problems
- Diseases of the pericardium
- Heart muscle disease (Dilated cardiomyopathy or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy)
- High blood pressure
- Pulmonary hypertension
Common Signs of Cardiac Disease
- Chronic cough
- Exercise intolerance
- Fainting
- Fluid accumulation in chest or abdomen
- Heart murmur
- Irregular heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
Heart Health and Anesthesia
Because the drugs used in sedation and anesthesia can change a patient’s blood pressure and heart rate, our anesthesiologists need to be sure their patients’ hearts are safeguarded for the duration of the procedure. Therefore, if a cardiac condition is present, it is imperative that a cardiologist, anesthesiologist, and dentist work closely together to ensure a positive outcome. Our Mt. Laurel and Twin Cities locations have this unique combination of expertise on staff who work together on all patients. As a team, they will carefully select the types and dosages of sedative and anesthetic drugs and monitor the patient’s breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate before, during, and after the procedure.
What’s Included
Blood Pressure Monitoring
Blood Work
Breed Screening and OFA Certification
Echocardiography
Electrocardiography (ECG or EKG)
Holter and Event Monitoring
Pre-Anesthetic Evaluation
Thoracic Radiographs
Megan King, VMD, DACVIM (Cardiology)
Dr. Megan King leads the cardiology services at the Mt. Laurel, NJ location. In collaboration with VDS’s board-certified dentists and anesthesiologist, she is dedicated to helping patients with heart disease achieve an improved quality of life through comprehensive monitoring, targeted medications, and tailored lifestyle management.
Michelle Rose, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology)
Dr. Michelle Rose partners with the VDS® Twin Cities team through her practice, Twin Cities Veterinary Cardiology, bringing more than 17 years of cardiology experience. She is passionate about advancing patient outcomes and dedicated to improving the quality of life of every animal in her care.
