What’s the latest evidence on diagnosing, treating, and monitoring a canine patient with a heart murmur and cough? While many veterinarians instantly associate heart murmurs and coughs with pulmonary edema, differentiating a true “cardiac cough” from other causes of heart and respiratory diseases is essential for successful clinical outcomes.

Dr. Ernie Ward, VerticalVet’s Chief Veterinary Officer, is joined by Colorado State University cardiologist, Dr. Lance Visser, to discuss the latest research and findings about leftsided heart enlargement, myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), and “cardiac cough” in dogs.

Vetmedin (pimobendan) usage with or without diuretics (e.g., furosemide), performing a vertebral heart score (VHS), and vertebral left atrial score (VLAS) are also reviewed.

Some of the topics covered include:

What is a "cardiac cough,” & what causes the cough?
Are there characteristics from the history or physical exam that are specific to a "cardiac cough"?
What are the common causes of chronic cough in dogs, and what's the recommended approach in dogs with murmurs?
When should cardiac medications (e.g., pimobendan, furosemide trial) be started in coughing dogs with a murmur?
What are some key clinical features that help differentiate leftsided congestive heart failure secondary to MMVD from MMVD+airway disease?

About Our Guest:

Lance Visser, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology) Associate Professor of Cardiology

Dr. Visser is from Grand Rapids, Michigan. He obtained a combined DVM/MS in 2010 from Michigan State University. He then completed a small animal rotating internship at NC State University in 2011, followed by a combined residency/MS program in cardiology at The Ohio State University in 2014. Dr. Visser is currently an Associate Professor of Cardiology in the Department of Clinical Sciences at Colorado State University. Dr. Visser is an awardwinning educator and has a passion for helping veterinarians with the clinical management of patients with heart disease.