Small Animal Cardiology and Veterinary Medicine bridges the gap between human cardiovascular science and veterinary practice by focusing on heart disease in dogs, cats and other companion animals. As pets increasingly live longer and receive advanced medical care, clinicians and researchers recognise the importance of applying rigorous cardiology principles to veterinary patients. Many professionals therefore look for specialised learning opportunities in Small Animal Cardiology and Veterinary Medicine when they explore continuing education or multi-disciplinary tracks at a cardiology conference that welcomes collaboration between human and animal health specialists. This session also highlights how insights from comparative cardiology and veterinary cardiac disease models can inform translational research and ultimately benefit both animal and human patients.

The session begins by reviewing common cardiac conditions in dogs and cats, including myxomatous mitral valve disease, dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, congenital shunt lesions and heartworm-associated disease. Participants examine species-specific clinical signs such as cough, exercise intolerance, syncope, tachypnea and abdominal distension, and learn how these differ from typical human presentations. Physical examination techniques—auscultation, pulse assessment and respiratory evaluation—are discussed within the context of different breeds, temperaments and body sizes.

Diagnostic imaging and testing form a core theme. Echocardiography, thoracic radiography, ECG and blood pressure assessment are explored as cornerstone tools for defining anatomy, ventricular function and hemodynamic status in small animals. The session also touches on biomarker testing, including natriuretic peptides and cardiac troponins, and how reference ranges must be interpreted carefully across species. Participants gain a practical framework for staging disease, assessing prognosis and determining when to initiate medical therapy or interventional procedures.

Treatment strategies cover pharmacologic therapy with diuretics, ACE inhibitors, inodilators, antiarrhythmic agents and pulmonary hypertension medications tailored to veterinary patients. The session explores how owner education, adherence, nutritional support and exercise management influence long-term outcomes. Interventional and surgical options—including patent ductus arteriosus closure, balloon valvuloplasty and pacemaker implantation—are reviewed with emphasis on case selection, anaesthesia planning and peri-operative monitoring.

Finally, the programme highlights the role of small animal cardiology in translational research. Naturally occurring heart diseases in dogs and cats can serve as valuable models for understanding genetic cardiomyopathies, valve degeneration, arrhythmias and heart-failure progression. The session discusses ethical considerations, study design and collaborative opportunities between veterinary and human cardiology centres. By integrating clinical practice with research perspectives, participants will appreciate how veterinary cardiology contributes to a broader One Health approach that recognises the interconnected health of people, animals and the environment. In addition, attendees will consider communication strategies for supporting pet owners through diagnosis, chronic management and end-of-life decisions, recognising the emotional bond between families and their animals. This compassionate perspective reinforces the idea that excellence in veterinary cardiology requires not only technical skill, but also empathy, clear explanation and long-term partnership with caregivers.