Introduction

Dear Readers,

The following information was gleaned from a variety of reliable sources, including but not limited to: published articles accessed online, home veterinary books, and personal communication with veterinarians and veterinary cardiologists. (For specifics, check our References page). It is updated and maintained by our Veterinary Advisory Board, specifically Dr. Justin Allen, the Veterinary Cardiologist at VCA Bay Area Veterinary Specialists in San Leandro, California.

It is my sincere hope that you will find this information useful and informative, thereby alleviating any stress you might feel when struggling to understand your pet’s diagnosis. I will never forget how I felt when I was told that my dog Lucy, at that time a 6-month old Labrador puppy, had severe Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia. My regular vet could tell us very little about how to care for her and how long she might live, and what to expect her life (and consequently, ours!) to be like. With the following information, I have sought to create the website I wished had existed when I first found out about Lucy’s diagnosis.

That being said, please let us know if you have any questions about what is written here and we will do our best to get back to you and answer your questions. Or, better yet, check out our Resource section and contact a Veterinary Cardiologist near you!

Best of luck to all of you just beginning this overwhelming journey.

Yours,
Christy