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Scheduled an Echo for Stella

ultra_stella

ultra_stella

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I wasn't sure where to put this. . .

I scheduled an Echo for Stella for next Thursday. It was interesting to come across two new threads about echoes. I am so nervous, as any other Sphynx Parent would be, but I am keeping positive!
 
ultra_stella

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havingalook said:
I'm trying to find somewhere fairly local that scans. How did you find your place/ cardiologist?
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When I was taking Stella to the University Vet Teaching Hospital (I don't know if the name is in that exact order), I expressed interest in getting a scan. They told me they have a Cardiology department. I was taking her there for "general things" and for their Ophthalmology Clinic. I hope you are able to find someone near by!
 
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ultra_stella said:
When I was taking Stella to the University Vet Teaching Hospital (I don't know if the name is in that exact order), I expressed interest in getting a scan. They told me they have a Cardiology department. I was taking her there for "general things" and for their Ophthalmology Clinic. I hope you are able to find someone near by!
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Thank you.

Will check to see if there is anything fairly local. I don't mind traveling but my husband works odd shifts and I've only just got my driving license for the States, so would rather not drive too far.
 
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havingalook said:
Thank you.

Will check to see if there is anything fairly local. I don't mind traveling but my husband works odd shifts and I've only just got my driving license for the States, so would rather not drive too far.
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I understand. Hopefully there is a place close enough for comfort. :Smile:
 
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Brooke said:
Yay! Good luck on Thursday, Stella & Dani!! It's nerve-wracking having the scan done, but I just know she'll be perfect! :ThumbsUp: And, you'll feel so much relief after having it done.
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Thanks!!! It's actually next Thursday, which seems so far away! I'm certainly looking forward to that relief. I'm so thankful to be a member of Sphynxlair and having such wonderful support from wonderful people! :Smile:
 
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ultra_stella

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Since I have not been through one of these before, I'm wondering if any of you can tell me what occurred during the visit for your companion or any other information you know? The vet cardiologist over the phone described as much as he could about what will occur during this visit (and I know I'll be paraphrasing here, but please add to the information or correct any if anyone wants to or can). The Cardiology Department told me that they will first begin with a "Cardiology Office Call". It sounds like they have a couple of vets/techs do a physical examination on her such as listening to her heart. Then they will perform the echo-cardiogram. If they find anything odd or problems they feel they need to investigate, they will do chest radiographs. Does this sound right? He also mentioned that they MIGHT need to use a little sedation. He said it was just a little bit, if anything. . . is that normal?
 
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I have had them done on my other cats not sphynx before and they never were sedated at all.
The put gel on the cat then they scan.
They never sedate them at the shows either when they scan.
There is no pain involved.

 
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I do not like that he suggested that.
My Meeko has bit vets before and she has never been sedated for scans and she has a heart murmur.
Here you can go in the room hold the cat in postion why they scan.
Can you call another vet.
I can see sedation being used if the cat is crazy only.
 
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ultra_stella said:
Since I have not been through one of these before, I'm wondering if any of you can tell me what occurred during the visit for your companion or any other information you know? The vet cardiologist over the phone described as much as he could about what will occur during this visit (and I know I'll be paraphrasing here, but please add to the information or correct any if anyone wants to or can). The Cardiology Department told me that they will first begin with a "Cardiology Office Call". It sounds like they have a couple of vets/techs do a physical examination on her such as listening to her heart. Then they will perform the echo-cardiogram. If they find anything odd or problems they feel they need to investigate, they will do chest radiographs. Does this sound right? He also mentioned that they MIGHT need to use a little sedation. He said it was just a little bit, if anything. . . is that normal?
Click to expand...

When I had my 4 scanned, it was at the University of Florida Vet College, so the procedure may be slightly different, but I'll tell you exactly how it went down!

We're taken into a darkened room, the cat is first admired, hugged, weighed and then, in my case, the students take turns listening to the heart with a stethoscope. There's a professor/cardiologist in the room at all times. After they listen, the cardiologist listens to make sure nobody missed anything. Then they put the cat on the ultrasound/echo table (it's like a padded table with an opening in the bottom). They put the ultrasound gel on the cat's chest, and the students would hold the cat on it's side on the table so the cardiologist could use the wand (don't know what it's really called) to scan one side of the heart from under the hole in the table. You can see the scan in real time on the monitors and it looks much like a baby sonogram. The cardiologist will point out anything that looks suspicious (or in this case, anything that looks really good - after all, the students are still there to learn), they record the measurements and then flip the cat over and do the same on the other side.

That was it! The whole thing took less than 10 minutes. :ThumbsUp:

I'm not clear on why they would do radiographs, because an echo is more diagnostic for the heart than an x-ray. My cats were relatively well behaved, a little bit squirmy, but they had 4 people holding them down, and I was there talking to the cats and trying to distract them during the procedure - we never needed any sedation, nor was the option ever brought up! I've watched about 10-12 sphynx being scanned, and never once was there a need for sedation.


(Side note: I've read conflicting points of view on using sedation during an echo. Some say you get a more accurate read and some say you get a less accurate read...)
 
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I just wanted to add that I had to keep this phone call quick since I was at work. I am not for the sedation. I want to understand why he would even mention that and wanted to ask you all about it so I can gather even more questions when I call them back. Do they think the cats are going to go nuts during the echo?
 
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Thanks for your all's input, by the way.

I plan on telling them not to use sedation. He said "might", so I'm thinking he only brought that up because there's a chance the cat will be so timid and/or go nuts during this visit. It's just odd he would mention that.
 
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ultra_stella said:
I just wanted to add that I had to keep this phone call quick since I was at work. I am not for the sedation. I want to understand why he would even mention that and wanted to ask you all about it so I can gather even more questions when I call them back. Do they think the cats are going to go nuts during the echo?
Click to expand...

I'm sure there are cats that won't tolerate being held down onto a table. You wouldn't believe some of the wild cats we used to see when I worked for a vet. No doubt there are cases where an accurate echo is impossible without sedating the pet.

However, my girl, Helen, is almost impossible - it took 2 of us pinning her down to draw blood last time we were at the vet, I have to sit on her to put drops in her eyes and sneak up on her when she's asleep to clean her ears.(hard to believe, sweet little Helen) I thought she was going to be a nightmare for her echo, but she did great. I honestly don't think you need to worry about sedation even coming up as an option for Stella. I'm sure she'll behave! You can always make the decision to try, and if they decide to sedate her you can call off the scan and have it done elsewhere.
 
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