Cardiology
Although heart problems tend to occur in geriatric pets, they can affect your pet at any age. When the heart is no longer able to pump blood around the body effectively it starts to fail (congestive heart failure). Congestive heart failure causes fluid to accumulate in the lungs and eventually the abdomen. Animals suffering from congestive heart failure often experience difficulty breathing and coughing.
Many heart problems can be identified on physical examination of your pet, though additional diagnostics such as electrocardiograms (EKG) and radiographs may be needed. Heart disease is a serious, potentially life threatening, condition but early diagnosis and appropriate therapy can extend and improve your pet's quality of life.