10/22/2026
Case Study Thursday with Dr. Miller! 🩺🐾
Today, sweet Pidda visited us for an echocardiogram (a specialized ultrasound of the heart) with our visiting internal medicine specialist, Dr. Miller!
During Pidda’s routine wellness exam, our doctors detected a progressive heart murmur. Normally, a heartbeat sounds like a crisp “lub-dub.” When heart valves don’t close completely tightly—often due to age-related changes—blood creates turbulent flow that sounds like a soft “whoosh.”
To get a complete picture, the next diagnostic steps are chest X-rays and an echocardiogram. This ultrasound lets us see the heart valves in real time, pinpoint the exact cause, measure severity, and determine whether medications are needed.
Pidda’s Diagnosis: Mitral Valve Disease (MVD)
MVD is the most common heart condition in senior pets, particularly smaller breeds. The mitral valve acts like a one-way door to keep blood moving forward. When it starts leaking, the heart must work harder to pump blood efficiently. Over time, pets may develop signs at home like coughing or slowing down on walks.
MVD is categorized into four stages (A, B, C, and D) to guide treatment.
The Great News: Pidda was an absolute rockstar during her scan! Even better, her condition was caught in an early stage where no medication is needed right now. We will simply keep a close eye on her with yearly checkups.
Having Dr. Miller come directly to our hospital makes advanced diagnostics so seamless for our patients and their families. ❤️🐶
