Your vet heard a murmur. Your dog coughs at night. Your cat is breathing faster than usual. These are not things to wait out. Senior veterinarians — full cardiac examination, echocardiography, ECG, blood pressure and lab results in one visit.
"A murmur on a stethoscope is a signal, not a diagnosis. What it means — and what to do about it — requires looking inside the heart. That is what we are here for." — Dr. Davor, Head Vet, Best Pet Vet · 25+ Years Clinical Experience
What Brought You Here?
Most owners arrive here because something changed — or because another vet said something they need to understand. Click what applies to you.
Another vet heard a murmur — what does it mean and what happens next?
Persistent cough, especially at night or after rest — could this be the heart?
Pet breathing rapidly at rest or while sleeping — when is this serious?
Tires faster on walks, reluctant to play — could the heart be the cause?
HCM in cats — no symptoms until it's serious. What you need to know.
Cavalier, Dobermann, Boxer, Maine Coon — routine heart checks by breed.
A heart murmur is a sound — an audible turbulence in blood flow heard through a stethoscope. Your vet graded it 1 through 6. The grade tells you how loud it is. It does not tell you how serious it is.
A Grade 2 murmur from dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in a Dobermann may require immediate medication. A Grade 4 murmur in a young dog may be an innocent "flow murmur" requiring only annual monitoring. The only way to know which you are dealing with is echocardiography — a real-time ultrasound image of the heart chambers, valves and wall thickness.
At Best Pet Vet, murmur assessment includes: cardiac auscultation with full grading, echocardiography (heart ultrasound), ECG for arrhythmia detection, blood pressure measurement and cardiac blood markers — all in one visit. You leave with a clear written diagnosis and a specific management plan.
Book Murmur Assessment →A persistent soft cough — especially at night, after lying down, or after mild exercise — is one of the earliest signs of congestive heart failure in dogs. It is not a kennel cough. It is not a respiratory infection. As the left side of the heart weakens, fluid accumulates in the lungs (pulmonary oedema) and triggers a reflexive cough.
The key diagnostic question: is this a heart cough or a respiratory cough? A physical examination alone cannot reliably answer that. Echocardiography shows whether the heart is enlarged and whether lung congestion is present. Cardiac blood markers from our in-house lab — results in under 15 minutes — provide additional confirmation.
If your dog has been coughing for more than 2–3 days, or if the cough comes with faster breathing, reduced energy or reluctance to lie flat, book a cardiac examination. Do not accept "it's probably kennel cough" without a proper cardiac workup in any dog over 5 years old.
Book Cardiac Workup →Resting respiratory rate is one of the most useful things an owner can monitor at home. Count your pet's breaths per minute while they are fully relaxed or asleep. In dogs: more than 30 breaths per minute consistently is abnormal. In cats: more than 25–30 breaths per minute at rest warrants same-day assessment.
Fast resting breathing — especially in cats — is often the first visible sign of heart failure or pleural effusion (fluid around the lungs). By the time it is obvious to the naked eye, the condition may already be advanced. In cats, this can escalate to respiratory crisis very quickly.
If your pet's breathing seems faster than normal at rest, or you notice flared nostrils, open-mouth breathing in a cat, or visible chest movement during sleep, contact us the same day. This is not something to monitor for a week.
WhatsApp Us Now →A dog that tires earlier on walks than six months ago. A cat that no longer jumps to its favourite spot. An older pet that sleeps more. These are easy to attribute to age — and they may be age-related. But reduced exercise tolerance is also a classic sign of declining cardiac output.
When the heart cannot pump efficiently, the body compensates by diverting blood away from muscles. The result: fatigue at lower levels of effort, reluctance to exercise, sleeping more. In large and giant breed dogs — Great Danes, Irish Wolfhounds, Dobermanns — this can be the first and only sign of dilated cardiomyopathy for months before the disease becomes critical.
If your pet's energy has declined noticeably over the past 3–6 months, a full cardiac examination including echocardiography will determine whether the heart is involved — and if so, at what stage.
Book Senior Cardiac Check →Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common heart disease in cats. The heart muscle thickens abnormally, reducing the heart's ability to fill with blood. Most cats with HCM show no symptoms for years. The heart compensates, the cat seems normal, and then suddenly — respiratory distress, open-mouth breathing, or hind-limb paralysis (aortic thromboembolism, or "saddle thrombus").
That last scenario — a saddle thrombus — is one of the most acute emergencies in feline medicine. A blood clot forms in the heart and lodges at the aortic bifurcation, cutting off blood supply to the hind legs. It is extremely painful and has a guarded prognosis. Many of these cats had never shown a single symptom.
The only way to detect HCM before a crisis is echocardiography. Regular screening — particularly in predisposed breeds — is how outcomes are improved. At Best Pet Vet, cat cardiac examinations are performed with the same structured protocol as for dogs.
Book Cat Cardiac Screening →Breed-Specific Screening
If your dog or cat is on this list, routine cardiac screening is not optional — it is the responsible standard of care for that breed.
| Breed | Main Condition | When to Start Screening | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease (MVD) | Age 2.5 years (MVD Protocol) | Very High |
| Dobermann Pinscher | Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) | Age 3 years — annual echo + ECG | Very High |
| Boxer | Boxer Cardiomyopathy (ARVC) | Age 2 years — echo + ECG essential | Very High |
| Great Dane & Irish Wolfhound | Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) | Age 2 years — earlier than most breeds | High |
| Dachshund | Mitral Valve Disease (MVD) | Annual auscultation from middle age | Moderate–High |
| Maine Coon | Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) | Age 1–2 years — annual echocardiogram | Very High |
| Ragdoll | Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) | Age 1–2 years — annual echocardiogram | High |
| Sphynx | HCM — juvenile onset possible | From age 1 — more frequent checks | Very High |
| British Shorthair & Persian | Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) | Annual screening from early adulthood | Moderate–High |
| All dogs & cats 7+ years | Age-related cardiac disease | Annual cardiac check as part of senior wellness | Increases with age |
* This table reflects general breed screening recommendations. Your vet will advise a personalised schedule after the initial examination.
The Examination
Every component contributes to the complete picture. This is not a single test — it is a structured diagnostic examination that results in a clear, actionable plan.
Heart ultrasound (echocardiography) is performed only as part of this complete examination — not as an isolated procedure. This is the clinically correct approach and the only way to properly interpret what the images show.
We do not perform cardiac surgery. Our expertise is in diagnosis, medical management and structured long-term monitoring.
Step by Step
No surprises. Every step explained. You leave with complete clarity — not more questions.
"Most owners come in having been told 'your dog has a murmur' — and nothing else. That is not enough information to manage a patient properly. Our job is to tell you exactly what the murmur means, whether treatment is needed today or in six months, and what to watch for at home. That clarity is what we offer." — Dr. Davor, Head Vet · Best Pet Vet · 25+ Years Clinical Experience
Why Best Pet Vet
Most clinics in Abu Dhabi refer cardiac cases. We assess them here — with 25+ years of senior clinical experience and full diagnostic capability on-site.
Full heart ultrasound is available at your regular clinic appointment. No waiting weeks for a specialist slot. No extra cost of a separate hospital visit. The answer is available the same day.
Dr. Davor and Dr. Maya bring over 25 years of hands-on clinical experience and university training at respected European institutions. All doctors hold valid UAE licenses. This is a rarity in Abu Dhabi and directly affects the quality of cardiac interpretation.
In-house CBC, biochemistry up to 24 parameters, cardiac markers and hormones. We begin interpreting findings while you are still in the clinic. Not the next day. Not 48 hours later.
A diagnosis without a management plan is incomplete. You leave with a written summary: what was found, how serious it is, whether medication is needed, what to monitor at home and when to return. That structure is what long-term cardiac management requires.
Blood pressure and heart rate are directly affected by stress. A panicked animal in an unfamiliar environment gives different readings than a settled one. Our handling approach is designed to reduce that variable — because accurate readings lead to accurate diagnosis.
Free client parking — no stress before you even walk in
Al Raha Beach, Abu Dhabi — easy to reach from Khalifa City, Al Reem Island, Yas Island, Mussafah and Abu Dhabi City
Mon & Wed–Sun: 09:00–21:00
Tuesday: Closed
Echocardiography on-site — full heart ultrasound, no referral needed
In-house lab — cardiac markers, CBC, biochemistry in <15 min
Expat-friendly — senior veterinarians who understand international standards and owner expectations
WhatsApp: +971 58 511 7557
Serving All of Abu Dhabi
Al Raha Beach location with free parking — straightforward to reach from every part of Abu Dhabi.
Get a Clear Answer
Same-day and next-day appointments available. When you contact us, tell us your pet's breed, age and what symptoms or findings prompted you to reach out — our team will prioritise accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions