Companion Animal Cardiology – Diagnostic Cardiology

A combination of theoretical lectures, demonstrations, hands-on practice and case-based practice. Case-study work.

Having completed the course, the student must be able to:
 
Knowledge

• Define, identify and discuss veterinary methodology and paraclinical tools in systematised reflective clinical decision making in companion animal clinical practice specifically within clinical cardiology.
• Explain the causes, hemodynamics and pathophysiologic mechanism involved in systolic and diastolic heart diseases/failure.
• Explain effects of anesthesia on the heart.
• Explain the role of biomarkers in heart diseases.
• Explain, reflect about and demonstrate overview of epidemiology and screening of heart diseases in companion animals.
• Give genetic counselling with those companion animal owners or breeders which animals are at an increased risk or either having a heritable disorder or of passing it on to their unborn offspring.
• Explain cardiopulmonary resuscitation – basic and advanced life support in companion animals.
• Give an insight into critically ill patients and hemodynamic disturbances.

 
Skills

• Apply the quantitative and qualitative methodologies such as performing and applying clinical cardiovascular examination and assess cardiovascular size and function and tools as well as master relevant skills such as intermediate clinical ECG, intermediate thoracic radiology and intermediate trans-thoracic echocardiography (i.e. understand physics, “knobology” and probe selection; practical and theoretical ultrasound sessions; M-mode and 2D diagnostics (anatomy/standard heart projections, principles); basic spectral and colour Doppler examination.
• Assess and interpret systolic and diastolic assessments.
• Make clinical decisions, arrive at a diagnosis and consider evidence based scientific approaches in order to plan and administer further appropriate diagnostics, patient therapy and management within the area of clinical cardiology.
• Communicate effectively in writing and pass on results to relevant parties.

 
Competences

• Evaluate companion animal diseases within clinical cardiology.
• Educate owners of chronic cardiovascular patients concerning long-term medical treatment.
• Work independently, take responsibility for, predict, prognosticate and make decisions within clinical cardiology at an advanced level.

You must meet the following criteria to be admitted to this course: 

The course responsible at the specialisation track in Companion Animal Cardiology is:

Associate Professor Jørgen Koch, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Section for Surgery, Neurology and Cardiology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Lecturers at the specialisation track in Companion Animal Cardiology is:

Associate Professor Jakob Willesen, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Section for Surgery, Neurology and Cardiology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.