Surrey, BC – February is recognized as Heart Month, a time when Boundary Bay Veterinary Specialty Hospital in Surrey highlights the importance of cardiovascular health for dogs and cats. Pet heart health plays a significant role in lifespan, comfort, and quality of life, particularly as animals age.
In Surrey and across the Lower Mainland, BBVSH’s board-certified veterinarians are seeing growing awareness of the importance of early detection and management of heart conditions in pets. Veterinary cardiology focuses not only on treatment, but on identifying subtle changes before serious complications develop.
Heart Disease in Dogs and Cats Is More Common Than Many Pet Owners Expect
Heart disease in cats and dogs generally falls into two categories:
• Congenital heart disease, present at birth
• Acquired heart disease, which develops over time and is more common in adult and senior pets
While congenital defects affect a small percentage of pets, acquired conditions are far more frequent. Advances in veterinary cardiology now allow many pets with heart disease to live longer and more comfortable lives when diagnosis occurs early.
How Heart Disease Affects Your Pet’s Body
The heart functions as a pump, delivering oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. When disease interferes with this process, organs and tissues are affected.
Common conditions evaluated by Boundary Bay Veterinary Specialty Hospital’s veterinary cardiology team include:
• Degenerative valve disease
• Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), most commonly seen in cats
• Congenital defects such as patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) or pulmonic stenosis
Many of these conditions begin without obvious symptoms. A heart murmur, abnormal rhythm, or subtle change in breathing may be the earliest sign that further evaluation by a dog cardiologist or cat cardiologist is needed.
Early Signs of Heart Disease in Pets
Heart disease symptoms in dogs and cats often develop gradually. Pet owners may notice:
• Reduced interest in exercise or play
• Fatigue during routine activities
• Coughing or changes in breathing
• Faster breathing at rest
• Weakness or collapse
• Subtle behaviour changes in cats, such as hiding
Cats, in particular, may mask illness until the disease is more advanced. Regular veterinary exams remain one of the most effective ways to identify early heart changes.
Diagnostic Testing Used in Veterinary Cardiology
When heart disease is suspected, referral to the cardiology department at Boundary Bay Veterinary Specialty Hospital may be recommended. Diagnostic tools commonly used include:
• Chest X-rays to assess heart size and lung health
• Electrocardiographs (ECG) to evaluate heart rhythm
• Echocardiograms to visualize heart structure and blood flow
• Cardiac CT imaging
These diagnostics allow cardiology teams to determine disease type, severity, and appropriate management strategies.
When Surgery or Intervention Is Part of Care
Not all heart disease requires surgery but, in some cases, veterinary cardiology surgery or interventional procedures may be recommended, including:
• Surgical correction of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
• Balloon valvuloplasty for pulmonic stenosis
Care planning typically involves collaboration between the hospital’s cardiology specialists, surgical teams, emergency clinicians, and primary veterinarians.
Why Early Detection Matters
Early identification of heart disease allows for timely intervention, improved medication response, reduced risk of emergency heart failure, and better long-term outcomes. Subtle changes in activity or breathing may represent the earliest opportunity for intervention.
Heart disease in pets does not always present dramatically. Early attention can significantly influence quality of life.
About Boundary Bay Veterinary Specialty Hospital
Boundary Bay Veterinary Specialty Hospital is an independent, family-owned specialty, emergency and critical care hospital in Surrey, BC. Open 24/7/365 and equipped to handle even the most critical emergencies and trauma, they support pets across Metro Vancouver and throughout BC from their convenient location just off Hwy 1 – 10436 173rd Street in Surrey.
On-site services include animal rehabilitation, veterinary behaviour medicine, veterinary cardiology, veterinary dentistry, veterinary diagnostic imaging, veterinary internal medicine, veterinary oncology, veterinary neurology and veterinary surgery. Boundary Bay Veterinary Specialty Hospital is located at 10436 173 St, Surrey, BC V4N 5H3.
Source: Boundary Bay Veterinary Specialty Hospital, via AB Newswire.
Related Reading
Heart Health for Natural Pets (with Meatloaf Recipe for Dogs)
Last Updated on February 19, 2026 by Digital Manager: Melody McKinnon
