SkySoaringMagpie Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 (edited) As the title suggests, looking for recommendations for a good cardiac specialist vet Edited to add some context in case my asking the question on DOL sets the breed rumour mill going. I am asking because a visit to a heart clinic yesterday has confirmed that I am right to question a diagnosis of cardiomyopathy that my retired girl was given two years ago. I booked the appointment because she has shown no clinical signs over the last two years and her pulse etc has remained good and totally steady over that period of time too (it was "diagnosed" during a routine yearly checkup). The vet yesterday suggested a follow up ultrasound by an Australian specialist to confirm either way but thinks she just has a very mild non-degenerative grade 1 murmur. He also commented that sighthounds are often "over" diagnosed when it comes to heart conditions so I am looking for someone who is sighthound experienced and REALLY knows their stuff. Will travel on the east coast to see the best as it's been a very unpleasant roller coaster ride for me and the breeder and we'd like some closure. Any information people can give me about Australian cardiac specialists would be very welcome - PMs also gratefully received. Edited November 8, 2009 by SkySoaringMagpie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 (edited) Dr Russell Mitten (actually, I think the correct title is "Mr") at Melbourne University Vet Clinic (Werribee). That's if he's still there. When I needed him about 4 years ago, he was semi-retired then. Although I found that he was there more often than he wasn't. He lectures as well though, so his time is pretty 'tight'. Edited November 8, 2009 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elfin Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 (edited) I can personally recommend Dr Richard Woolley Cardiology Specialist at Southern Animal Referral Centre (248 Wickham Rd, Highett, ph 03 9532 5261) Excellent vet and a lovely, caring man as well. It is obvious he really loves his job, and will patiently answer all the questions you have. (And he has a big new fancy colour ultrasound!) He is helping the Deerhound Club of Victoria begin a DCM screening process for our dogs and has a good knowledge of sighthounds. I could not recommend him highly enough. ETA: contact details Edited November 8, 2009 by Elfin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
periannath Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 Good Cardiac Specialist at North Ryde .Very caring Veterinary Specialist Centre Local: 1300 730 963 It is also easy to find for us country folk. They may be one in Canberra? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jigsaw Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 Brad Gavaghan, cardiology specialist works mainly around Brisbane, but every couple of months he goes to Sydney. The number is 0414 620 710. I haven't used him but he was highly recommended to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cvs Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 (edited) wish this was asked last week... The Canberra Cav Club just ran a two day heart clinic with Richard Lucy in conjunction with their specialty last weekend :D The Cav Club try and get a cardiologist to come to Canberra once a year and it is open for all breeds... At last count I think Richard checked 135 dogs.... Edited November 9, 2009 by cvs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 (edited) Whoops! I could have sworn I read "in Melbourne" at the time I posted (must have been dreaming), but now see you probably looking for NSW. Sorry. Good luck - I hope the end diagnosis is a positive one for you . Edited November 9, 2009 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkySoaringMagpie Posted November 9, 2009 Author Share Posted November 9, 2009 Erny - you were right, I was asking for Melbourne. I edited back to the East Coast so as not to narrow inquiries too much. I think I will be going to Melbourne, I spoke to Richard Woolley's clinic today. Thank you Elfin and everyone else for your suggestions. cvs - it was Richard Lucy I saw at the Cav Club clinic yesterday and it's on his advice that I'm looking for someone to do the ultrasound. If I could take her to him to ultrasound I would, he was super sensible, but New Zealand is a bit far away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cvs Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 just a tad... maybe ring a few vets and see when the next cardiologist will be in town so you can arrange an xray... I know there is one that sometimes go to All Creatures in Calwell Richard is lovely Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinbcs Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 I believe the Specialist Centre at Strathfield in Sydney has a good cardiac specialist that visits. Just ring and enquire. That would only be about 3 or 4 hours from Yass depending on traffic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bully Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 So sorry to hear about your girl. My darling Jessie (Bull Terrier), now at the "Bridge" battled DCM for 3 years. It's a shitty disease. Wishing you all the best for a positive prognosis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkySoaringMagpie Posted November 10, 2009 Author Share Posted November 10, 2009 So sorry to hear about your girl. My darling Jessie (Bull Terrier), now at the "Bridge" battled DCM for 3 years. It's a shitty disease. Wishing you all the best for a positive prognosis Actually, I think she doesn't have it. The original diagnosis was over two years ago and she is still only showing a minor murmur and no clinical symptoms. Hence the ultrasound to establish either way the heart clinic vet's suspicion that she was wrongly diagnosed. Sorry to hear about your Jessie, when I was in the big research phase a few years ago I spoke to a few people whose dogs had it, and had died from it. It sounds really terrible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 (edited) ... she was wrongly diagnosed. My avatar girl was diagnosed with a very enlarged heart and congenital heart failure. I even had those same Vets run an ECG and they informed me the results reflected their findings in the xrays and which is why I turned to Mr. Russell Mitten at Werribee. Turned out the previous Vet did the xrays wrong and that my girl's heart was perfectly fine. Hope your second opinion findings prove the same. Edited November 10, 2009 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redangel Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 Melbourne Veterinary Specialist Centre in Glen Waverley Melbourne at was very helpful to me re cardiac examination/testing. They were very comprehensive and informative, welcomed all enquiries/concerns that I had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radish Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Erny - you were right, I was asking for Melbourne. I edited back to the East Coast so as not to narrow inquiries too much. I think I will be going to Melbourne, I spoke to Richard Woolley's clinic today. Thank you Elfin and everyone else for your suggestions.cvs - it was Richard Lucy I saw at the Cav Club clinic yesterday and it's on his advice that I'm looking for someone to do the ultrasound. If I could take her to him to ultrasound I would, he was super sensible, but New Zealand is a bit far away. Clare1234's great dane stella who recently passed from DCM was under Dr Woolleys care i know she has nothing but the highest praises of him, he even called her whilst he was O/S to see how stella was going when she had her lateset episode and he wasnt around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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