QUARTERLY BEAT
OCTOBER 2026
JULY 28, 2026
The Cardiology Tool Kit: Making Cardiology Practical for the General Practitioner Dr. Anna McManamey , DACVIM (Cardiology) • Start your cardiology workup with the basics: a
JULY 21, 2026
Beyond Pregnancy Checks: Investigating and Managing Open Cows in Beef Cattle Practice Dr. Katherine Maples • Never administer PGF 2 a without first ruling out pregnancy—it can terminate an existing pregnancy. • A freemartin heifer is a sterile female of a twin calving when the other calf is a male. Testing for a freemartin heifer includes a vaginal length test, chromosomal testing that looks for the presence of male genetic material and rectal palpation/ ultrasound examination to evaluate absent or underdeveloped reproductive structures • When investigating open cows, identify where reproductive loss occurs. Reduced exposure, conception, pregnancy, and calving rates point toward different pathways, including anestrus, repeat breeding, early embryonic loss, and abortion. • A cow “not seen in heat” may still be cycling normally. Rule out pregnancy and silent or unobserved estrus before diagnosing true anestrus or administering PGF 2 a, which can terminate an existing pregnancy. • For repeat breeders, evaluate the entire breeding system, not just the cow. Review estrus detection and AI technique, bull and semen quality, nutrition and body condition, uterine health, and herd patterns suggesting venereal disease.
thorough history and physical exam can tell you a lot about whether heart disease is likely present, and how urgently a patient needs further evaluation. Add to that initial workup thoracic radiographs, blood pressure, ECG, and NT-proBNP, which are key tools for diagnosing cardiac disease and generally available in private practice. • In a coughing or tachypneic patient, thoracic radiographs remain the gold-standard diagnostic test. POCUS can add useful information about pleural or pericardial effusion, B-lines, and left atrial enlargement, but it does not replace a complete echocardiogram performed by a boarded veterinary cardiologist. • Use the ACVIM staging guidelines to plan your next step. Staging cardiac disease helps determine when treatment should begin, which diagnostics are most useful, and how often the patient should be rechecked. • Bring the client onto the Care Team. Provide clear medication instructions, discuss potential adverse effects, establish a specific recheck plan, and, importantly, teach clients how to monitor resting respiratory rate at home. • Your client may be the most important cardiac monitor on the Care Team. Teaching them to track resting respiratory rate at home can help catch worsening left-sided CHF before the patient arrives in crisis.
22 VETGIRL BEAT EMAGAZINE
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