DOGS

All certifications are carried out using the standards established by the ACVIM and and the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals(OFA). Two programs are available -

• The Congenital Cardiac Exam / Database  
  • This program allows any veterinarian to perform the exam. The certification number will designate whether the exam was done by a cardiologist, a non-cardiologist specialist, or a general practitioner. Based on the current OFA standards, breed standards, and individual patient findings, either a physical examination alone or a physical examination and a focused echocardiogram will be performed. The dog must be older than 12 months of age for certification. Prelimenary certifications can be done in younger dogs.
     
•  Advanced Cardiac Exam / Database 
  •  This exam can be used to screen for congenital heart disease or adult-onset heart disease. This exam requires an auscultation and a focused echocadiogram in all patients and can only be performed by a board certified cardiologist. Holter monitoring is also required in selected breeds. Screening for congenital heart disease requires only one examination after 12 months of age. Screening for acquired cardiac disease requires annual exams. In selected breeds an annual Holter monitor, performed within 3 months of the echocardiogram, will also be required.

The appropriateness of either exam is determined by breed organizations and the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC). Recommendations for selected breeds can be found here.

If you are interested in a screening for congenital heart disease, please find more info here. 

If you are interested in screening for adult-onset heart disease, please find more info here. 

Please find all screening forms you may need below. 

CATS

Pre-breeding Screening exams in cats will require a focused echocardiogram to evaluate for occult hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Screening exams in cats are not (yet) registered through the OFA. Many breed groups use unique non-standardized forms without a formal registration process. There are currently two registries available for HCM in cats, listed below:

•  PawPeds; a European registry.
•  Veterinary Cardiovascular Society, a UK registry

There are currently no official US registries for HCM or other cardiovascular disease in cats. The ACVIM and the OFA are currently in a collaborative effort to provide a US registry for HCM screening in cats.

PawPeds HCM Screening form (PDF)

Please find all screening forms you may need below.