Pulse - April 2022 - 14

UC DAVIS UPDATE
UC Davis Cardiology Referrals
Available in Southern California
Rob Warren, UC Davis VMTH Communications & Marketing Officer
diagnose diseases of the heart. He is also interested in interventional
cardiology, including pacemaker implementation,
balloon valvuloplasty, and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
occlusion. Dr. Orvalho's research focuses on pulmonary
hypertension, as well as interventional and medical therapies
for heart disease.
The service offers an array of medical and interventional
cardiology procedures, as well as live three-dimensional echocardiography
and transesophageal echocardiography. Live 3-D
echocardiography is an ultrasound modality that allows better
imaging of the cardiac structures and provides a more sophisticated
method of quantifying cardiac function. Transesophageal
echocardiography uses a special ultrasound probe that is
placed in the esophagus to provide a more detailed image of
cardiac structures and is especially useful when performing
interventional cardiac procedures such as PDA occlusion and
balloon valvuloplasty.
Jessie and Cricket are two pets who recently benefitted
from the cardiologists' care:
Jessie, a 24-year-old female miniature donkey, has been a
UC Davis cardiologist Dr. Joao Orvalho with Cricket, who underwent a
procedure for occlusion of a patent ductus arteriosus.
C
ardiology referrals for Southern California veterinarians
are available through the UC Davis
School of Veterinary Medicine at its clinical
satellite facility, the UC Veterinary Medical Center
- San Diego (UCVMC-SD). As a specialty referral
center, UCVMC-SD will work closely with your
clinic to complement the excellent care and service
you provide for their patients and clients. UC Davis
cardiologists are available to all pets in need of specialized
veterinary intervention.
Cardiology services are led by Drs. Timothy Hodge and
Joao Orvalho, both diplomates of the American College of
Veterinary Internal Medicine (Cardiology).
Dr. Hodge's expertise lies in diagnosing and treating cardiomyopathy,
valvular disease, arrhythmias, and repairing congenital
defects in small and large animals. He has particular
interests in arrhythmia management, minimally invasive interventional
procedures, and myocardial diseases.
Dr. Orvalho applies non-invasive techniques such as echocardiography,
electrocardiography, and cardiac angiography to
14
patient for many years. Originally diagnosed with a thirddegree
atrioventricular (AV) block, Jessie had a pacemaker
implanted at another veterinary facility more than a decade
ago. Dr. Orvalho has been her primary cardiologist since
2011. Pacemaker batteries need to be routinely replaced,
generally every five years. Dr. Orvalho replaced the batteries
in 2013 and 2018 and annually examines her. Jessie's activity
level has remained good over the years, and she tolerates
exercise well.
Cricket, a 10-month-old Pomeranian, was diagnosed with
a PDA as a puppy, which was causing moderate left heart volume
overload. At risk for developing heart failure, she was
closely monitored for a few months until finally undergoing
surgery for occlusion of the PDA. A metallic coil was placed
successfully, and she recovered well without complications.
Following the procedure, an echocardiogram was performed
and showed no blood flow through the PDA. There was no
longer a shunt from the aorta to the pulmonary artery, and
her heart had decreased in size. Recheck radiographs the following
day revealed that the coil remained in place, and there
were no signs of heart failure. P
UCVMC-SD's main facility is at 10435 Sorrento Valley Road in San
Diego and can be reached by calling (858) 875-7505. Learn more about
UC Davis' Southern California veterinary services at ucvmcsd.vetmed.
ucdavis.edu.
APRIL 2022
PULSE
http://www.ucvmcsd.vetmed.ucdavis.edu http://www.ucvmcsd.vetmed.ucdavis.edu
Pulse - April 2022

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