Frontline Strategies for Treating Heart Disease in General Practice Part I

After attending this lecture, participants will be able to develop individualized management plans for dogs with the most common forms of heart disease encountered in general practice by prioritizing diagnostic testing and therapeutic interventions according to clinical needs and client financial constraints.

• Describe the prevalence, risk factors, and breed predispositions for myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD).
• Recognize the typical clinical signs, physical exam findings, and diagnostic features of MMVD in dogs.
• Apply a staged approach to management of MMVD based on ACVIM consensus guidelines.
• Prioritize cost-effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies when resources are limited.
• Provide practical client education to optimize home care, monitoring, and quality of life for affected patients.