There is something rather reassuring about listening to a dog or cat’s heart. We place the stethoscope on the chest, listen to the familiar lub-dub, and often know quite a lot from what we hear. But sometimes there is an extra sound, a heart murmur, or an irregular rhythm that tells us there may be more going on beneath the surface.

A heart murmur does not necessarily mean that an animal has serious heart disease, but it is a reason to investigate further. This is where cardiac ultrasound can be incredibly useful.

A cardiac ultrasound is a non-invasive examination that allows us to look at the heart as it is actually working. We can assess the heart chambers, valves and the way blood is moving through the heart, as well as taking measurements that help us understand whether heart disease is present and how advanced it may be.

One of the great advantages is that it can usually be performed without sedation or anaesthesia. This is particularly important when we are examining an animal that may already have heart disease. We can usually perform the scan with your pet in a comfortable position, keeping the experience as relaxed and stress-free as possible.

Results are available immediately, which means we can discuss what we are seeing and what it means for your pet at the time of the examination.

Early detection can be particularly valuable. In dogs with certain types of valve disease, for example, changes in the size of the heart can be detected before a dog develops any obvious symptoms. When the heart reaches certain criteria, medication such as pimobendan may be started, which can delay the onset of congestive heart failure by an average of around 15 months in appropriately selected dogs.

Cats are a little different. Some cats with heart disease show very few outward signs until they become seriously unwell. Cardiac ultrasound can help identify changes in the heart that are associated with an increased risk of blood clots, allowing us to consider preventive medication where appropriate.

We can also use ultrasound to look at the lungs. This can help us identify fluid associated with congestive heart failure and can sometimes detect it more sensitively than X-rays. Lung ultrasound can also occasionally reveal other abnormalities, including masses.

So, when should you ask about having your pet’s heart checked? Certainly, if a murmur or abnormal rhythm has been detected, but also if you notice coughing, faster or more laboured breathing, tiring more easily on walks, episodes of collapse or fainting, unexplained weight loss, reduced appetite or a general loss of energy.

A cardiac ultrasound is not the same as a full echocardiogram performed by a specialist veterinary cardiologist, and sometimes referral is the right next step. But it can give us a great deal of useful information about what is happening inside the heart and help guide treatment and prognosis.

And perhaps most importantly, heart disease is not necessarily the end of the road. With the right diagnosis, medication and monitoring, many pets with heart disease — including congestive heart failure — can enjoy a good quality of life for months or even years.

If your pet has been diagnosed with a heart murmur or cardiac disease, don’t just wait for symptoms to appear. Knowing what is happening inside the heart gives us the opportunity to act early, monitor changes and give your pet the best possible care. We are so fortunate in Bermuda to have the ultrasound skill of Dr Erin Jackson available to all pets, she is truly a life saver.

• Lucy Richardson graduated from Edinburgh University in 2005. She started CedarTree Vets in August 2012 with her husband, Mark. They live at the practice with their two children, Ray and Stella, and their dog and two cats. She is also the FEI national head veterinarian for Bermuda