CVCA Cardiac Care for Pets

CVCA Cardiac Care for Pets CVCA Cardiac Care for Pets is dedicated to collaborating with your veterinarian to deliver compassionate, expert cardiac care.

CVCA is the leading choice for veterinary cardiology. Our team of board-certified veterinary cardiologists treats more patients with heart disease than any other practice worldwide. Our expertise and top-of-the-line echocardiography equipment ensure an accurate diagnosis and the best outcome for your pet. Entrust your pet's care to a board-certified cardiologist!

Today marks the first day of summer! 😎 How are you and your furry friends spending the first official day of the season ...
06/20/2025

Today marks the first day of summer! 😎 How are you and your furry friends spending the first official day of the season of sunshine? ☀️

Making sure your pets get the nutrition and care they need is important to us. That’s why you can get their food and med...
06/16/2025

Making sure your pets get the nutrition and care they need is important to us. That’s why you can get their food and meds delivered right to your door.

From your local vet team, to your doorstep. To shop our online pharmacy, visit our website!📱

Why leave the house when you can get your pet's food and meds delivered right to your doorstep? 🤷‍♂️📦Visit our website t...
05/29/2025

Why leave the house when you can get your pet's food and meds delivered right to your doorstep? 🤷‍♂️📦Visit our website to shop our online pharmacy!

With great sadness, we announce that our Founder, Thomas G. Saunders, VMD, Diplomate ACVIM–Cardiology, has passed away a...
05/29/2025

With great sadness, we announce that our Founder, Thomas G. Saunders, VMD, Diplomate ACVIM–Cardiology, has passed away after a battle with a chronic illness.

Dr. Saunders came to Maryland in 1982 with a vision to begin a private veterinary specialty at a time when specialty veterinary medicine was in its infancy. This blossomed into the Chesapeake Veterinary Referral Center in Annapolis, which has grown into multiple locations. Dr. Saunders completed his veterinary training and cardiology residency at the University of Pennsylvania and was part of the team that helped define some of the invaluable diagnostic and treatment procedures of veterinary cardiology today. He contributed to the early definitions and procedures in cardiac ultrasound, as well as being part of the team that performed the first balloon valvuloplasty in an English bulldog with pulmonic stenosis.

Dr. Saunders' vision has contributed to the expansion of private veterinary specialty practice and the growth of CVCA Cardiac Care for Pets, the largest veterinary cardiology group in the United States. While Dr. Saunders was at the forefront of new innovations in veterinary medicine, he was also an avid and accomplished sailor, photographer, and teacher.

Dr. Saunders, you will be dearly missed. Rest in peace.

On Memorial Day, we honor the courageous people and military dogs who gave their lives in service of our country. Their ...
05/26/2025

On Memorial Day, we honor the courageous people and military dogs who gave their lives in service of our country. Their bravery, loyalty, and ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten. ❤️

Over 6 million pets need a second chance each year. 🏠 This National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, consider adopting a pet in ...
04/30/2025

Over 6 million pets need a second chance each year. 🏠 This National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, consider adopting a pet in need, donating to your local shelter, or just share the love. If you’ve adopted, tell us: how did you rescue your pet? 💖

Bet you didn’t expect to see a camel from us, did you? Meet Lola! 🐪A few weeks ago, Dr. Sarah Holdt, Veterinary Cardiolo...
04/16/2025

Bet you didn’t expect to see a camel from us, did you? Meet Lola! 🐪

A few weeks ago, Dr. Sarah Holdt, Veterinary Cardiologist, and residents Dr. Panattoni and Dr. Whitney of CVCA visited Lola, who wasn’t feeling well.

The team diagnosed Lola with bacterial fibrinous pericarditis via echo, pericardial tap, and culture. They worked with the local large animal vet to systemically start her on antibiotics.

The team recently checked up on her and she’s feeling much better. “We repeated the pericardial lavage and antibiotics and will continue to monitor her. Her prognosis is still not certain but we are hoping for the best!” says Dr. Holdt. Shout out to the team at CVCA Leesberg for your teamwork!👏

Looking for a veterinary cardiologist? Find a CVCA location near you at https://www.cvcavets.com/locations/

Happy National Pet Day! Drop a pic of your pet in the comments so we can all appreciate their cuteness. 😍👇💗
04/11/2025

Happy National Pet Day! Drop a pic of your pet in the comments so we can all appreciate their cuteness. 😍👇💗

Let’s be real—you were going to online shop anyway. 😏 Why not grab your pet’s food and meds online too while you’re at i...
04/09/2025

Let’s be real—you were going to online shop anyway. 😏 Why not grab your pet’s food and meds online too while you’re at it? Shop our online pharmacy at https://cvcavets.com

It's national heart month! Support our amazing Portland team by clicking the photo below (Where's Waldo) and hitting LIK...
02/27/2025

It's national heart month! Support our amazing Portland team by clicking the photo below (Where's Waldo) and hitting LIKE!

Hey everyone!! CVCA Portland is coordinating a costume contest for employees, clients, and non-clients, come join the fu...
10/15/2024

Hey everyone!! CVCA Portland is coordinating a costume contest for employees, clients, and non-clients, come join the fun! 👻

Hey everyone! We are participating in a fun competition, winner gets a prize!!! Please vote (like) CVCA Portland! Thank ...
02/15/2024

Hey everyone! We are participating in a fun competition, winner gets a prize!!! Please vote (like) CVCA Portland! Thank yooooou!! 😘🤗❤

This happy boy is Oscar! 😍 He was referred to us by Cascade Animal Hospital due to a recently noted heart murmur. After ...
01/03/2024

This happy boy is Oscar! 😍 He was referred to us by Cascade Animal Hospital due to a recently noted heart murmur.

After his initial exam and echocardiogram with William Rausch, DVM, DACVIM, he was diagnosed with a heart condition called “dilated cardiomyopathy,” often abbreviated as “DCM.”

This is a condition in which the heart’s ability to contract is reduced, particularly affecting the main pumping chamber of the heart, the left ventricle. With more advanced disease, forward pumping of blood can become ineffective enough that pressure increases in the left atrium, the chamber behind the left ventricle in the cardiovascular system. Further back-up of pressure can lead to congestive heart failure or accumulation of fluid in the lungs.

The development of DCM for Oscar is likely related to the diet that he has been eating. While there are many unanswered questions on this topic, concerns have been raised about a possible association between certain diets and the development of DCM in dogs. You may see the term “BEG diets” online, an acronym used to include a group of diets that have raised concerns among some veterinary nutritionists and cardiologists. The “B” stands for so-called boutique diets, meaning diets manufactured by smaller pet food companies. The “E” refers to diets containing “exotic” ingredients; some examples include legumes (e.g., lentils or chickpeas) or potatoes that are often used to replace grains; other examples include unusual meats, fruits, or vegetables. The “G” refers to grain-free diets; these have received the most attention but do not account for all cases of diet-associated DCM, nor has the absence of grain been confirmed to be the culprit even in those diets that do not contain it (since these are the same diets which often contain legumes or potato as major ingredients to replace grain).

Due to these concerns and the potentially significant benefit of making a change, we strongly recommended transitioning Oscar to a diet that includes grain and one that does not include legumes (e.g., peas, lentils, or beans) or potatoes (white or sweet potatoes) as any of the first 10 listed ingredients.

While there is still much to be learned about the issue of diet-associated cardiomyopathy in dogs, feeding a diet that meets these guidelines appears to be the safest approach and this is what was recommended for sweet Oscar.

We will continue to monitor Oscar closely with his diet change to make sure he remains a healthy and happy pup! 🖤🤍

12/29/2023

Working with our wonderful patients and clients this past year has been a joy. 🥰 Thank you for your kind reviews and your continuous support of us!

❤ Getting cardiology care for my dog through CVCA was a great experience. Dr. Allen was not only incredibly knowledgeable, but also compassionate and personable in how she delivered the news about our dog’s diagnosis. She sat me down with a diagram she drew on while she carefully explained our dog’s condition, and sent me home with a detailed summary report as a reference. Email and phone contact with the office before the appointment and after for follow-up questions was easy and efficient. Our appointment was right on time and I was given accurate price quotes and time expectations beforehand. Overall, I was impressed by CVCA’s expertise and service and will be back.

❤ The doctors and staff at CVCA are compassionate, knowledgeable, and very communicative. They provide excellent care, and are prompt in answering all my questions, and addressing all the cardiac concerns I have for my pet. The support staff is very friendly, and my pet genuinely enjoys coming to see them for visits. So happy and thankful I found CVCA!

❤ Dr Allen was very kind and extremely thorough. She explained everything in terms I could easily understand and she couldn’t have been sweeter to Zoe. The members of the staff whom we encountered were also very kind and helpful. I can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that we are in excellent hands. Thank you.

❤ Dr. Meghan Allen and her team are exceptional — helpful, compassionate, patient, with expertise in veterinary cardiology. We were so impressed with all the time Dr Allen spent explaining our dog’s diagnosis and suggested treatment. She never appeared to be in a hurry and answered all our questions. Truly a rockstar in her specialty!

❤ My dog received a (very serious, but thankfully incorrect) heart-related cancer diagnosis from an internist at a different vet clinic in October, and was referred to CVCA to take a better look and confirm the diagnosis. Dr. Rapoport stayed late that same day so I that I wouldn't have to sit with the uncertainty. He took the time to walk me through my dog's x-ray and echocardiogram results so I could understand exactly what was going on (and why the initial diagnosis had been incorrect); and was incredibly kind on what was probably the longest and most emotional day of my life. He also was able to recommend and write a referral to a great oncologist, who has since treated my dog's thymoma. I'm very grateful for the experience at CVCA and would absolutely recommend them to anyone whose dog or cat family members need heart care.

❤ Really awesome experience. Every person who helped us was extremely welcoming. Dr. Allen was SO nice and knowledgeable - we got a very thorough evaluation of our dog’s heart condition and the next steps to take. 10/10 recommend this place, very happy with our experience!

❤ Wonderful place. Very professional and knowledgeable. They seem to love pets. Our Bolt loves them too.

❤ Our chocolate Labrador Retriever, Buster Brown, was seen to rule out an enlarged heart. Communication was top notch and they were very gentle with him. I would certainly recommend to any dog owner in need of a cardiac evaluation.

❤ They were very accommodating to schedule a last minute appointment for my dog. Staff was friendly and respectful. Dr Allen was kind, patient, and knowledgeable.

❤ You all are the absolute best in everything you do. Very knowledgeable, personable, caring and upfront in a professional but empathetic way with my pets and myself. My last dog, Lucy, and my current dog, Little Bit, have/had heart conditions. I brought my old little cat Lady, Hippo, for a recheck echo with Dr. Allen today and had a fantastic experience. Both Dr. Allen and the veterinary assistant, Cassie, were so kind and nice to me and Hippo. They were so genuine in their care that it made me feel relaxed and comfortable (as someone who gets bad anxiety bringing their loved one in to the hospital). Everything was thoroughly explained and the appointment itself went smoothly. Hippo is now happily snoozing at home, signs that she had a wonderful stress free experience too. I'm so grateful for the staff here and the care we both received was top notch!

❤ Given the best care possible by Dr. Rapaport and his Staff. I am so thankful for everything you do!

CVCA Portland is wishing you a HAPPY NEW YEAR! 🥳

‼️ Note: We will be closed Monday, January 1, 2024 and back to regular buisness hours on Tuesday, January 2nd.

Did you know⁉️ About 30% of Maine C**n cats have a genetic mutation that makes it more likely that they will develop hyp...
12/28/2023

Did you know⁉️ About 30% of Maine C**n cats have a genetic mutation that makes it more likely that they will develop hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – thickening of the muscle walls of the heart.

The best way to discover any early heart diseases is to get an OFA Certification from your local Cardiologist. This is a common test for many breeders, such as Hilary, who had “Simba” (as seen below) screened with Dr. Gregg Rapoport.

Fun facts about Maine C**ns:

🐱 Most domestic cats reach a height between 9 and 10 inches, but the average Maine C**n has a height between 10 and 16 inches!

🐱 While most cats grow to a length of 18 inches, Maine C**ns can reach an amazing 40 inches in length.

🐱 The average cat’s tail measures around 12 inches long, Maine C**n tails are usually around 16 inches long!

🐱 Maine C**ns were named the official state cat of Maine in 1985.

Check out Hilary’s page, 4PetsakeMaineC**ns.com for more information about adopting a Maine C**n!

"Cupcake" wanted to inform you that CVCA Portland will be closed on Monday, December 25th, and Tuesday, December 26th. W...
12/21/2023

"Cupcake" wanted to inform you that CVCA Portland will be closed on Monday, December 25th, and Tuesday, December 26th. We will be back to regular business hours on Wednesday, December 27th.

We hope everyone has a meow-velous holiday! 🐾

CVCA Portland wants to give a big THANK YOU to those who donated toward our local food drive. You helped make a differen...
12/07/2023

CVCA Portland wants to give a big THANK YOU to those who donated toward our local food drive. You helped make a difference to those in need in our community and we are forever grateful.🙏 "When we help people in need, our entire community is strengthened."

A sweet message from Chonk's caretaker: 🥰Chonk was given a steroid that didn’t agree with him. After Chonk's scary near ...
12/06/2023

A sweet message from Chonk's caretaker: 🥰

Chonk was given a steroid that didn’t agree with him. After Chonk's scary near death experience, CVCA Portland helped Chonk continue to live a long life. I am forever thankful for the folks at CVCA!

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2030 NE 42nd Avenue
Portland, OR
97213

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

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