Cardiology at the hospital
Cardiology is one of the areas the hospital includes in its care for dogs and cats in Guadalupe, San José. It is led by Dr. Joaquín Chacón López. When you contact us, we confirm availability and the appropriate assessment for your case.
To arrange an assessment, call 2224 8176 and tell us the reason for your visit. You can also send a message on WhatsApp at 8792 6433, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
If you are coming from far away, it helps to know that the hospital is in Guadalupe, Goicoechea, San José, and that we receive referred patients. Emergency care is available 24 hours a day, with a veterinarian present at the hospital. Call 2224 8176 before you arrive. Please ask about language assistance when you call.
Who provides cardiology care
Dr. Joaquín Chacón López is a veterinarian who graduated from the Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel) in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. He is the hospital's responsible veterinarian (regente) and director.
He served as president of the Heartworm Society of Costa Rica (Sociedad del Gusano del Corazón de Costa Rica), which is affiliated with the Colegio de Médicos Veterinarios de Costa Rica, the country's professional association of veterinarians.
When to schedule a visit
Consider asking for a heart assessment if your dog or cat:
- Has a heart murmur or an irregular rhythm that your veterinarian heard.
- Coughs often, especially at night or at rest.
- Gets tired faster on walks or no longer wants to play the way they used to.
- Breathes faster than normal while sleeping or resting.
- Has fainted or had sudden weakness.
- Is scheduled for anesthesia and your veterinarian asked for a heart check first.
In cats, heart problems can show few signs until they advance. Breathing fast at rest, hiding or not eating are also reasons to schedule a visit.
Heartworm disease (dirofilariasis) is spread by mosquitoes and can affect the heart and lungs. If you have questions about your dog's or cat's risk, or about how to prevent it, that is also a reason to schedule a visit.
These signs can have other causes and do not, on their own, confirm a heart problem. That is why an assessment makes sense: the team confirms during the visit whether your pet's case calls for it.
When it is an emergency
If your dog or cat faints, breathes with great effort (a cat, with its mouth open) or has pale or purple gums, do not wait for an appointment: call 2224 8176. The emergency line is available 24 hours a day, with a veterinarian present at the hospital. Describe what is happening and follow the team's instructions for your arrival. For more information, see emergency care.
What a cardiology assessment is
It is a visit to check your dog's or cat's heart. It starts with what you have noticed and your pet's history, continues with a physical exam (for example, listening to the heart and lungs) and, when clinical judgment indicates, is supported by diagnostic tests.
In general, tests used to evaluate the heart include echocardiography (an ultrasound of the heart), an electrocardiogram, blood pressure measurement and chest X-rays. Not every case needs every test: the team confirms during the visit which ones fit your pet's case and which are available at the hospital.
The hospital has diagnostics and imaging, which brings together diagnostic imaging and clinical laboratory testing.
What to expect at the first visit
We listen to your observations and review your pet's history: when you first noticed the changes, what medications they take and what tests they have had. The team explains the findings and discusses assessment or treatment options with you.
Before deciding, ask about the purpose of the tests, the alternatives, the estimated cost and the recovery steps. We want you to have the information you need to decide. Also ask whether your assessment or test requires any specific preparation.
Thoracic surgery
When the case calls for it, the team can assess thoracic surgery: correction of patent ductus arteriosus, lobectomies, chest seal placement, pericardiectomy and diaphragmatic hernia repair. The indication for and availability of each procedure are confirmed during the consultation. See the thoracic surgery area on our surgery page.
If your pet already has a veterinarian
We work with referring veterinarians when a case needs diagnostic or specialized support. When requesting an assessment, provide your veterinarian's name and contact details, and bring their referral and any test results you already have.
If you are a veterinarian, see how to refer a case.
What to bring to your appointment
- Previous test results and reports, on paper or on your phone.
- A list of the medications they take now, or a photo of the packaging.
- Your observations: when you first noticed the changes, what time of day they cough, how they do on walks.
- A video, if you recorded an episode of coughing or fainting. It can help us see what does not always happen during the visit.
- Your veterinarian's referral, if you have one.