The Department of Cardiology at Oradell Animal Hospital was established in 2002 under the direction of Dr. Donald Schrope, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Cardiology). The department focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of the cardiopulmonary system in dogs and cats.
My veterinarian believes that my dog or cat has heart disease.
What should I do?
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Finding out that your pet may have a heart problem is always difficult news. It is important, though, to know as much about the problem as soon as possible. Many companion animals have heart disease that is mild and not a cause of concern. Other animals may have a heart problem in the early stages that may be controlled with medication. And if serious heart disease is present, early treatment can often improve your pet's quality of life and prolong it as well.
Evaluation of your pet's history and an exam by the cardiology department is the first step. If there is evidence of heart disease then an echocardiogram is often indicated. An echocardiogram is an ultrasound of the heart that allows the cardiologist to look inside the heart and find abnormalities. It is also very effective at assessing the severity of any heart disease that may be present. An echocardiogram is a very safe test and rarely requires sedation. Depending on the type and severity of heart disease, other tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG), blood pressure, and chest radiographs (x-rays) may also be indicated. The Oradell Animal Hospital Cardiology Department is fully equipped to perform whatever therapy is needed to improve the length and quality of life of your pet. This includes many types of cardiac surgery.
How do I arrange for my pet to be seen by the Cardiology Department?
First, have your pet examined by your family veterinarian. If your veterinarian feels that your pet needs to be evaluated by a cardiologist, then please call and make an appointment with our cardiology service. If your veterinarian believes that the problem is urgent and cannot wait for an appointment, then your pet may be admitted through our emergency service and stabilized. Your pet will then be evaluated by our cardiology service as soon as necessary.
Services include:
| Donald Schrope, DVM, DACVIM | |
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Dr. Schrope received
his veterinary degree from the College of Veterinary Medicine
at the University of Minnesota. He then completed a 1 year
internship and a 3 year residency program in cardiology at
the Animal Medical Center in New York City. After completing
his residency, he moved to New Jersey and began working at
Garden State Veterinary Specialists in Tinton Falls, New Jersey.
At that time he was the first full-time board certified cardiologist
in New Jersey. In August of 1996 he joined the staff at the
Veterinary Referral Center and Cardiopet in Little Falls,
New Jersey and in February, 2002 he joined the staff at Oradell
Animal Hospital. Dr. Schrope's special interests include the identification and treatment of feline and canine congenital heart disease. He is involved in research regarding the incidence of congenital heart disease in cats and dogs, the natural history of aortic and pulmonary stenosis in cats, atrioventricular block in dogs, ventricular tachycardia in dogs and advance echocardiographic techniques for identifying pericardial disease. |
Elizabeth Cole, DVM, Diplomate, ACVIM |
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| Dr. Cole graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed a one year internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. She then completed a three year residency in cardiology at The Animal Medical Center in New York City. Dr. Cole joined the cardiology department at the Oradell Animal Hospital in September of 2008. Her areas of interest include pathophysiology of congestive heart failure and feline cardiomyopathies. |  |
Jennifer
Mulz, DVM |
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Dr. Mulz graduated with a B.S.
in Biology from the University of Maryland. She received her
DVM from Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary
Medicine. She completed an internship in small animal medicine
and surgery at Cornell University. Dr. Mulz is now a team member of our cardiology department. She enjoys photography, hiking, and playing with her two cats, Lily and Sienna. |
