Ceva launches new training module on feline heart murmurs

Ceva Animal Health has announced the launch of a new module for its Cardio Academy training service, covering the clinical significance of heart murmurs in cats.

The online seminar will provide guidance as to how to decide which heart murmurs are significant and work out which are more likely to lead to complications such as congestive heart failure or aortic thromboembolism.

Hosted by Virginia Luis-Fuentes, professor of veterinary cardiology at the Royal Veterinary College, the 20-minute seminar will allow delegates to receive a continuous professional development certificate by answering questions relating to the session.

Heart murmurs are extremely common and affect up to 40 percent of cats at some point in their life. However, these animals are often clinically normal at presentation, making the condition hard to detect.

There are many possible causes for the problem, including stress, heart disease, hyperthyroidism and hypertension. More than 50 percent of congestive heart failure cases do not involve heart murmurs at all, creating additional diagnostic challenges.