At Stonebridge Veterinary Wellness, we offer advanced diagnostic imaging, cardiac ultrasounds, echocardiograms, and trusted cat surgery, dental care, and early disease detection for cats in Roseville, Lincoln, CA, and the surrounding areas — keeping your feline companion healthy, safe, and thriving close to home.
When your pet is diagnosed with a heart murmur, shows signs of breathing difficulty, or belongs to a breed with a known predisposition to cardiac conditions, it can feel overwhelming. Your veterinarian may recommend a cardiac ultrasound, also known as an echocardiogram, to get a clear picture of what is happening inside your pet’s heart. This non-invasive imaging tool allows veterinary professionals to evaluate the heart’s structure and function in real time, providing critical information that cannot be gathered through a physical exam alone.
At Stonebridge Veterinary Wellness, we understand how much your pet means to you and are committed to providing them with the thorough, compassionate veterinary care they deserve. Serving Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln, Granite Bay, Citrus Heights, and surrounding areas, our team takes a proactive approach to cardiac health. Cardiac ultrasound evaluations are performed on-site by a board-certified cardiologist, ensuring your pet receives high-level cardiac expertise right here at our practice.
A cardiac ultrasound, or echocardiogram, is a diagnostic imaging procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce real-time images of your pet’s heart. Unlike an X-ray, which offers a static snapshot, an echocardiogram allows the cardiologist to observe the heart in motion, assessing how well it pumps, how the valves open and close, and whether any abnormalities are present in the chambers or surrounding vessels. A complete echocardiogram provides detailed information about the heart’s anatomy and function, and the quality of the imaging unit and the sonographer’s skill are critical factors in obtaining accurate results.
The procedure is gentle and well-tolerated by most pets. Your pet will lie comfortably on a padded table while a small probe is placed against the chest wall to capture images. Most dogs and cats do not require sedation, and the entire exam is painless. Because our cardiac ultrasound evaluations are performed by a board-certified cardiologist on-site, you can feel confident that the findings are interpreted with a high degree of precision.
A cardiac ultrasound is typically recommended when there is a reason to investigate the heart more closely. Your primary care veterinarian or our team may suggest an echocardiogram in the following situations:
These are not the only reasons an echocardiogram may be recommended, and our team will help guide you based on your pet’s individual health history. Catching cardiac concerns early allows for more treatment options and better long-term outcomes, which is why proactive screening matters so much for at-risk pets.
Understanding the difference between a screening cardiac ultrasound and a full diagnostic echocardiogram can help you know what to expect when your veterinarian makes a recommendation. Each serves a distinct purpose in your pet’s cardiac care.
Our screening cardiac ultrasounds are specifically scheduled for pets at high risk of cardiac conditions. This includes certain dog breeds such as Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Doberman Pinschers, and Boxers, which have well-documented predispositions to heart conditions. Screening allows our team to detect early changes before symptoms appear, giving us the opportunity to monitor your pet over time and intervene when appropriate.
When a concern is identified, either during screening or during a routine wellness exam, a full diagnostic echocardiogram provides a more detailed look at the heart’s anatomy and function. If something is found during a standard ultrasound that requires closer evaluation, cardiac ultrasound evaluations are then performed by a board-certified cardiologist, offering a complete picture that supports accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.
The information gathered from a cardiac ultrasound is comprehensive. The cardiologist will assess chamber sizes to identify any enlargement, evaluate how well the heart muscle is contracting, evaluate valve function for thickening or leakage, and look for fluid accumulation around the heart. These findings are discussed with you directly following the evaluation, and a personalized care plan is developed based on the results.
For pets already receiving heart medications, follow-up echocardiograms are an important part of monitoring whether the current treatment is effective and whether any adjustments are needed. This ongoing oversight helps your pet maintain the best possible quality of life. Our team also recognizes that understanding your pet’s individual needs, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach, is what truly separates compassionate veterinary care from routine treatment.
At Stonebridge Veterinary Wellness, our mission is to provide exceptional, five-star, compassionate care to pets and peace of mind to their owners. Our team includes not just veterinarians and veterinary technicians, but true animal lovers who are devoted to the lifelong health of every patient we see. We are proud to offer on-site cardiac ultrasound evaluations with a board-certified cardiologist, giving pets in Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln, Granite Bay, Citrus Heights, and surrounding areas access to cardiac care that truly makes a difference.
Whether your pet has just been flagged for a potential cardiac concern or you are looking to be proactive with a breed at elevated risk, our team is here to help you take the next step with confidence. We welcome you and your pet as part of our extended family. To get started, contact us and let us know how we can support your pet’s heart health today.
Pain Management Specialist
Integrative Medicine Practitioner
Board-Certified Surgeon
Located at 254 Gibson Drive in Roseville, our family-owned veterinary clinic provides compassionate, five-star care to pets throughout Roseville and the surrounding areas. Led by board-certified surgeon Dr. Erin Paster with over 20 years of experience, our team treats every pet with the same love and respect we would our own.
The information provided on this website has been reviewed by our veterinarians but is for educational purposes only. It should not replace professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If your pet is experiencing a medical concern, please contact our clinic at (916) 773-8578 or seek immediate veterinary care.
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Give your furry family member the preventive care they deserve. Schedule your pet's comprehensive wellness examination at Stonebridge Veterinary Wellness for only $44.50 — a special rate exclusively for new clients.
Our wellness exams focus on preventive health care to keep your pet healthy and happy. During a wellness visit, our doctors perform thorough physical examinations, discuss your pet's nutritional needs, address any behavioral concerns, and recommend preventive treatments tailored to your pet's age and lifestyle.
