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NPV Contacts 01

Cardio-respiratory referrals 

INFORMATION FOR VETS FOR INVESTIGATION OF HEART, LUNG AND NASAL DISEASE

Cardio-respiratory referrals are seen at New Priory Vets Brighton by Gavin McAulay and Nuala Summerfield. 

Because heart and lung disease are closely related we recommend cases with airway and lung disease are seen by the cardio-respiratory service rather than simply imaged.

Services include:

  • Breed screening
  • Pre- anesthetic risk assessment
  • Assessment of murmurs and arrhythmias
  • Radiology and ECG reading for referring vets
  • Heart clinics for routine reassessment and management of long-term heart cases
  • Investigation of exercise intolerance, weakness or collapse.
  • Treatment of pericardial and pleural effusions
  • Investigation of nasal discharge and bleeding
  • Investigation of cough

If you wish to discuss a case please contact us on 01273 540 430 or cardio@new-priory.com for non-urgent enquiries. 

Heart testing

We offer heart testing by auscultation and echocardiography. Various heart-testing schemes exist. These apply to certain breeds that may have a higher incidence of congenital and potentially inherited heart disease (i.e. diseases which animals are born with and may be transmitted through families.)

Dog breeds commonly screened for heart disease include Boxers, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Newfoundlands.

Gavin also has a particular interest in Dogues de Bordeaux. The schemes aim to identify dogs and cats free from obvious cardiac abnormality and who are therefore less likely to pass heart disease on to their offspring. These schemes are generally run in conjunction with specific breed clubs. Advice can be discussed with the owner and the owner's veterinary surgeon if an abnormality is identified.

More details on screening schemes can be found here.

 

Cardio-respiratory referrals are seen at New Priory Vets Brighton by Gavin McAulay and Nuala Summerfield.

 

Heart disease in Dobermans (DCM)

Heart disease in DobermansHeart disease (DCM) is common in Dobermans and hard to identify in apparently well dogs with "occult" disease.

We know from Nualas study that treating Dobermans with preclinical DCM delays onset of clinical symptoms and extends survival. There is a currently project looking at the ability of blood tests (NT-proBNP and High sensitivity Troponin I) to screen Dobermans for occult DCM. These tests are available at a reduced price via vets and some Dobermans may be eligible for Holter and echo by us at greatly reduced price.

PDF Download:

Information The Cardiac Biomarker DCM Project

Nuala Summerfield, Specialist in Cardiology

Nuala Summerfield1Nuala Summerfield

BSc BVM&S DipACVIM(Cardiology) DipECVIM-CA (Cardiology) MRCVS
RCVS Recognised Specialist in Veterinary Cardiology

After graduating from the University of Edinburgh Veterinary School in 1998, Nuala undertook an internship and then a residency in Cardiology at the University of Pennsylvania, USA.

In 2002 Nuala obtained her ACVIM Diploma in Veterinary Cardiology. After returning to UK, Nuala was a Lecturer in Cardiology at the University of Liverpool until 2005, where she ran the clinical cardiology service. She was awarded RCVS specialist status in Cardiology in 2006 and became recognised as a European Specialist in Cardiology in 2010.

Nuala has been in specialty Cardiology referral practice since 2005. She has lectured both nationally and internationally and has published widely in the field.  Nuala has recently been involved in the ground breaking Protect drug trial. Click here if you would like to read more about this.

Nuala offers regular cardiology referral clinics at New Priory Vets Brighton with Gavin McAulay.

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