Dutton Referrals - Peripatetic veterinary cardiology

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Dutton Referrals - Peripatetic veterinary cardiology

We provide specialist-level veterinary cardiology support directly within primary care practices.

Offering a friendly, approachable and convenient in-house referral option, allowing you to deliver expert cardiology care without external referral.

26/05/2026

When your pet needs a cardiology referral, the last thing you want is hours of stressful travelling ❤️

Long car journeys, unfamiliar hospital environments and anxious pets can make an already worrying situation feel even harder.

That’s why at Dutton Referrals we provide specialist veterinary cardiology consultations within many local veterinary practices... helping keep your pet closer to home, in a familiar environment and surrounded by people they already know and trust.

For many owners, this means:
🐾 Less travel time
🐾 Less stress for anxious pets
🐾 Easier appointments for elderly or unstable patients
🐾 Continued care with your usual veterinary team
🐾 Access to advanced cardiology investigations without travelling long distances

We believe specialist care should feel accessible, supportive and as stress-free as possible for both pets and owners. Because sometimes the best place for your pet’s heart care… is closer to home ❤️

Speak to your veterinary practice about referral options with Dutton Referrals or visit our website for more information.
🌐 www.duttonreferrals.co.uk
📧 [email protected]
📞 07356 009 313

VeterinaryReferral VetMed PetCare DogOwner CatOwner HeartHealth DuttonReferrals

21/05/2026

What owners think heart disease looks like… vs reality 👀❤️

Many people imagine heart disease as a patient who is obviously unwell. Collapsed. Struggling to breathe. Unable to exercise. But the reality?
Some cardiac patients appear completely normal until disease has significantly progressed.

A slightly reduced appetite.
Sleeping a little more.
Subtle breathing changes.
Occasional coughing.
Becoming quieter on walks.

Signs can be incredibly easy to miss... especially in cats. In fact, recently we saw two separate feline cases that presented with nothing more than a slightly reduced appetite. Otherwise, both cats appeared well at home. However, during examination, an abnormal heart rhythm was identified and echocardiography revealed signs of heart failure requiring urgent treatment.

That’s why routine examinations, investigation of murmurs and listening to owner concerns are so important. Early diagnosis can make a huge difference to patient monitoring, treatment planning and quality of life. Not every patient with heart disease “looks cardiac”.

Have you ever diagnosed significant heart disease in a patient with only very subtle symptoms? 👇
📩 Interested in offering on-site cardiology at your practice?
🌐 www.duttonreferrals.co.uk
📧 [email protected]
📞 07356 009 313

13/05/2026

🫀 Monthly Cardiology Question – Answer Revealed

Thanks to everyone who took part 👏

The correct answer is:
👉 2) QIL1

This gene has been linked to a form of arrhythmic disease in Rhodesian Ridgebacks that can present in a very specific and sometimes unexpected way.

👉 Head to the carousel for the full explanation, including why this gene matters and why the other options are less likely.

📩 Interested in offering on-site cardiology at your practice?
🌐 www.duttonreferrals.co.uk
📧 [email protected]
📞 07356 009 313

08/05/2026

🫀 Monthly Cardiology Question

For cardiology residents and those with a keen interest in veterinary cardiology…

A mutation in which gene has been associated with the development of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death in Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs?

1. RBM20
2. QIL1
3. KCNQ1
4. RYR2

Drop your answer in the comments 👇

Answer will be revealed in the coming days…

📩 Interested in offering on-site cardiology at your practice?
🌐 www.duttonreferrals.co.uk
📧 [email protected]
📞 07356 009 313

04/05/2026

🫀 Medication Spotlight: Benazepril

A commonly used medication in veterinary cardiology, Benazepril plays an important role in supporting pets with heart disease 💛

💊 Why is Benazepril used?

Benazepril is an ACE inhibitor, meaning it helps to:
• Lower blood pressure
• Reduce the workload on the heart
• Improve circulation

This helps the heart work more efficiently, especially in chronic conditions.

🐾 What conditions does it help treat?

Benazepril is often used in pets with:
• Mitral Valve Disease (MMVD)
• Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
• Some cases of kidney disease (where heart and kidney health overlap)

It’s often part of a long-term treatment plan, working alongside other cardiac medications.

🦴 Tips for administering Benazepril

✔ Usually given once daily (or as directed by your vet)
✔ Can often be given with or without food
✔ Try to give at the same time each day for consistency
✔ If your pet struggles with tablets, ask your vet about hiding it in food or alternative options

💡 Always follow your vet’s guidance and never stop medication without advice.

🫀 At Dutton Referrals, we tailor every treatment plan to the individual patient — ensuring the right medications are used at the right time.

📩 Interested in offering on-site cardiology at your practice?
🌐 www.duttonreferrals.co.uk
📧 [email protected]
📞 07356 009 313

Image shown: Benefortin. Other brands of benazepril are available.

30/04/2026

🫀 Controversial Cardiology: Coughing & Heart Disease 🫁

Coughing in dogs with heart disease is something we all see but how often is it actually cardiac?

Here’s the controversial bit 👇
👉 Coughing ≠ heart failure

Pulmonary oedema occurs in the alveoli... and there are no cough receptors there. Studies show a poor correlation between coughing and heart failure, yet it’s still commonly used as a trigger for treatment decisions. So why do dogs with heart disease cough?

✔️ Often multifactorial:
• Airway inflammation
• Bronchomalacia
• Cardiomegaly causing bronchial compression

✔️ Up to 40% of dogs with MMVD cough but this doesn’t necessarily mean heart failure
✔️ And yes, furosemide may improve the cough…
but that doesn’t confirm CHF. It can act as a cough suppressant, bronchodilator, and reduce airway compression.

💡 Take-home approach:
• Don’t rely on coughing alone as evidence of heart failure
• Focus on objective markers (e.g. sleeping respiratory rate)
• Always consider non-cardiac causes
• Be cautious with starting lifelong diuretics without clear indication

⚖️ Why “controversial”?
Because not everyone agrees and that’s ok. Some clinicians may still treat empirically in certain cases. But continuing to question and refine our approach is how we improve patient care.

💬 How do you approach this in practice?
Do you treat the cough, the heart… or both?

📩 Interested in offering on-site cardiology at your practice?
🌐 www.duttonreferrals.co.uk
📧 [email protected]
📞 07356 009 313

27/04/2026

Hearing that your pet may have a heart condition can feel overwhelming and knowing what to do next isn’t always clear...

At Dutton Referrals, we’re here to make that process as simple, supportive and reassuring as possible 💛
Your pet will be seen by a highly qualified cardiology specialist, providing advanced diagnostics such as heart ultrasound (echocardiography) and detailed assessment... all delivered within your own veterinary practice.

That means:
✔ No long journeys to referral hospitals
✔ Less stress for you and your pet
✔ Faster answers and clear next steps
✔ Seamless communication with your vet

Most importantly, you’ll leave with a clear understanding of your pet’s condition, what it means, and how best to manage it moving forward.
We work closely with your veterinary team to ensure your pet receives the very best care, combining specialist expertise with the comfort of a familiar environment.

👉 If your vet has recommended a cardiology referral, you’re in safe hands with Dutton Referrals.
📩 Want to learn more?
🌐 www.duttonreferrals.co.uk
📧 [email protected]
📞 07356 009 313

23/04/2026

💛 Practice Spotlight: .vets

We’re proud to highlight Tari Vets, a practice that has been a strong supporter of the specialist-level care provided by Dutton Referrals.

Owner, Peter Tari, is incredibly passionate about ensuring his clients and patients have access to the very best veterinary care. His long-term vision is to collaborate with specialists across multiple fields... enabling in-house referral not only for his own team, but also for surrounding practices.

This approach creates a convenient, high-level option for pet owners in the area, without the need to travel to distant referral centres.

It has been a pleasure working alongside Peter and his team to advance cardiology provision at Tari Vets. So far, we’ve supported the care of over 25 patients, and we’re excited to continue building on this with regular on-site cardiology clinics.

We’re incredibly grateful to be part of this forward-thinking approach to patient care 🤝

📩 Interested in offering on-site cardiology at your practice?
🌐 www.duttonreferrals.co.uk
📧 [email protected]
📞 07356 009 313

20/04/2026

🫀 Monthly Cardiology Question – Answer Revealed

Thank you to everyone who took part 👏
The correct answer is:
👉 2) Carvallo’s sign
This is a key clinical finding that helps distinguish tricuspid regurgitation from mitral regurgitation, as the murmur typically becomes louder on inspiration.
But there’s more to it…

👉 Head to the carousel to see the full explanation, clinical reasoning, and how this applies in practice.

📩 Interested in offering on-site cardiology at your practice?
🌐 www.duttonreferrals.co.uk
📧 [email protected]
📞 07356 009 313

17/04/2026

🫀 Monthly Cardiology Question

For residents and those with a keen interest in veterinary cardiology…

Which of the following findings on physical examination can help distinguish tricuspid regurgitation from mitral regurgitation?
1. Austin Flint murmur
2. Carvallo’s sign
3. Positive Valsalva response
4. Loud S1 sound

Drop your answers in the comments 👇
Answer revealed in a few days…

📩 Interested in offering on-site cardiology at your practice?
🌐 www.duttonreferrals.co.uk
📧 [email protected]
📞 07356 009 313

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Cambridgeshire

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https://www.duttonreferrals.co.uk/

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