What is a Board-Certified Veterinary Cardiologist?

To become a Board-Certified Veterinary Cardiologist, a veterinarian usually completes a one year internship followed by extensive specialized training in a residency training program approved by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (usually for 3-4 years). Board-certification is only obtained after passing two rigorous exams in both general internal medicine and veterinary cardiology. This is the highest level of veterinary cardiology specialization. 

 

Veterinary cardiologists focus on diagnosing and treating conditions and diseases of the heart and circulatory system, including: 

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• Heart murmurs

• Congestive heart failure (CHF)

• Heart muscle disease (such as dilated cardiomyopathy or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy)

• Age-related changes to the valves of the heart (degenerative mitral and tricuspid valve disease)

• Coughing and other breathing problems

• Congenital (present at birth) heart defects

• Cardiac arrhythmias (problems with the rate and/or rhythm of your animal’s heart)

• Diseases of the pericardium (sac surrounding the heart)

• Cardiac tumors

• High blood pressure (hypertension)

• Pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs)

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Working together with your primary care veterinarian, a board-certified veterinary cardiologist can provide the highest level of cardiac care for your pet. In fact, it was demonstrated that dogs in congestive heart failure live 75% longer when co-managed by a board-certified veterinary cardiologist and their primary care veterinarian.

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Dr. Jonathan Lichtenberger is the only board-certified veterinary cardiologist based on Vancouver Island and one of a handful of veterinary cardiologists in Western Canada.