Veterinary Cardiology Course

Lesson 1 • Cardiac Physiology Essentials

Explains the cardiac cycle, pressure-volume relationships, and Frank-Starling mechanics. Provides the physiological framework needed to interpret clinical findings.

Lesson 2 • Hemodynamic Principles

Covers blood pressure regulation, vascular resistance, and venous return. Links circulatory mechanics to clinical signs of cardiac disease.

Lesson 3 • Electrophysiology and Impulse Conduction

Introduces action potentials, ion channels, and the conduction pathway from SA node to Purkinje fibers. Underpins later ECG interpretation and arrhythmia recognition.

Lesson 1 • Signalment and Cardiac History

Teaches breed predispositions, age-related risk factors, and targeted questioning for cardiac complaints. Accurate history guides diagnostic prioritisation.

Lesson 2 • Pulse and Perfusion Assessment

Covers arterial pulse quality, mucous membrane evaluation, and capillary refill time. These findings reflect cardiac output and peripheral perfusion status.

Lesson 3 • Respiratory and Thoracic Evaluation

Integrates respiratory rate, effort, and lung auscultation into cardiac assessment. Pulmonary signs often reflect left-sided heart failure and guide urgency decisions.

Lesson 4 • Abdominal and Peripheral Findings

Addresses ascites, hepatomegaly, and peripheral edema as indicators of right-sided failure. Connects systemic findings to cardiac pathophysiology.

Lesson 1 • Conduction Disturbances and Blocks

Addresses AV blocks, bundle branch blocks, and sick sinus syndrome. Links conduction abnormalities to underlying structural or systemic disease.

Lesson 2 • Normal ECG Waveform Analysis

Teaches measurement of P, QRS, and T waves plus intervals across species. Establishes normal reference ranges as the baseline for abnormality detection.

Lesson 3 • Supraventricular Arrhythmia Recognition

Identifies atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia, and atrial premature complexes. Distinguishes supraventricular from ventricular origin using ECG criteria.

Lesson 4 • Ventricular Arrhythmia Recognition

Covers ventricular premature complexes, ventricular tachycardia, and fibrillation. Emphasises urgency stratification and immediate clinical decision-making.

Lesson 1 • Doppler Echocardiography

Introduces pulsed-wave, continuous-wave, and colour-flow Doppler for velocity and flow assessment. Doppler data quantifies valve function and intracardiac pressure gradients.

Lesson 2 • Ultrasound Physics for Echocardiography

Reviews acoustic principles, transducer selection, and image optimization relevant to cardiac imaging. Physical understanding enables artifact recognition and image quality control.

Lesson 3 • Diastolic Function Assessment

Covers mitral inflow patterns, pulmonary venous flow, and tissue Doppler E/e' ratio. Diastolic dysfunction is a key feature of hypertrophic and restrictive cardiomyopathies.

Lesson 4 • Standard Echocardiographic Views

Teaches right parasternal, left apical, and subcostal window acquisition. Systematic view acquisition ensures complete cardiac evaluation.

Lesson 1 • Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Addresses systolic dysfunction, chamber dilation, and breed predispositions in DCM. Distinguishes occult from overt disease to guide screening protocols.

Lesson 2 • Systemic Hypertension and Cardiac Effects

Links systemic hypertension to left ventricular hypertrophy and target organ damage. Integrates blood pressure measurement into routine cardiac assessment.

Lesson 3 • Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease

Covers pathology, staging criteria, and natural history of the most common canine cardiac disease. Staging guides treatment initiation and owner communication.

Lesson 4 • Pericardial Diseases

Diagnoses pericardial effusion, cardiac tamponade, and constrictive pericarditis. Identifies hemodynamic compromise requiring urgent intervention.

Lesson 1 • Embryology and Defect Classification

Reviews cardiac embryological development and how developmental errors produce specific defects. Classification by anatomical location guides diagnostic and therapeutic planning.

Lesson 2 • Vascular Ring Anomalies

Identifies persistent right aortic arch and other vascular rings causing esophageal compression. Distinguishes cardiac from non-cardiac causes of regurgitation in young animals.

Lesson 3 • Patent Ductus Arteriosus

Covers PDA pathophysiology, continuous murmur recognition, and volume overload consequences. Early closure prevents irreversible pulmonary hypertension.

Lesson 4 • Septal Defects and Complex Lesions

Covers atrial and ventricular septal defects, tetralogy of Fallot, and other complex malformations. Shunt quantification and cyanosis assessment guide management decisions.

Lesson 1 • Heart Failure Pathophysiology and Targets

Explains neurohormonal activation, RAAS, and sympathetic overdrive as therapeutic targets. Understanding compensatory mechanisms justifies drug class selection.

Lesson 2 • Diuretics and Fluid Management

Covers furosemide, spironolactone, and torasemide mechanisms, dosing, and monitoring. Diuretics are the primary agents for relieving congestive signs.

Lesson 3 • RAAS Inhibitors and Vasodilators

Addresses ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and pimobendan as cornerstone therapies for cardiac disease. Covers initiation criteria, dose titration, and renal function monitoring.

Lesson 4 • Antiarrhythmic Drug Therapy

Covers Vaughan-Williams classification, drug selection by arrhythmia type, and proarrhythmic risks. Matches drug mechanism to the electrophysiological basis of each arrhythmia.

Lesson 1 • Surgical Cardiac Procedures Overview

Reviews pericardiectomy, PDA ligation, and cardiopulmonary bypass principles. Cardiologists must understand surgical options to make appropriate referral decisions.

Lesson 2 • Pericardiocentesis and Thoracocentesis

Teaches ultrasound-guided fluid drainage from the pericardial and pleural spaces. These life-saving procedures relieve tamponade and respiratory compromise.

Lesson 3 • Transcatheter Interventions

Addresses balloon valvuloplasty, PDA occlusion devices, and ASD closure techniques. Minimally invasive approaches reduce surgical morbidity in appropriate candidates.

Lesson 4 • Cardiac Pacing and Defibrillation

Covers pacemaker indications, lead placement, and programming for bradyarrhythmias. Includes external defibrillation protocols for ventricular fibrillation.