Tell me about yourself. Where did you attend veterinary school?
I'm Riley Ellis, a veterinary cardiologist here at TruVet Specialty & Emergency Hospital. I grew up in Sonoma and attended veterinary school at UC Davis.
What inspired you to pursue veterinary medicine?
I grew up around a lot of animals, so I've always loved them. I actually started shadowing at a veterinary clinic in fourth grade, so I knew from a young age that I wanted to help animals.
As I continued through school, I also developed a love for science and medicine. Veterinary medicine was the perfect combination of those interests.
What inspired you to pursue cardiology?
One of the biggest reasons I pursued cardiology is how impactful the treatments can be.
Pets with advanced heart conditions can experience serious symptoms, but the medications we use can often provide relief relatively quickly. That's incredibly rewarding.
I also love that we can often find answers right away through diagnostic testing. An echocardiogram, which is an ultrasound of the heart, allows us to see what's happening inside the heart and often reach a diagnosis during the appointment.
From there, we can develop a treatment plan to help the pet feel better.
What would you recommend to pet owners managing their pet's heart condition?
If your pet has been diagnosed with a heart condition, one of the most important things you can do is stay in touch with us.
Monitor your pet closely at home, and if you notice any changes or have concerns, don't hesitate to reach out.
I also encourage pet owners to ask questions, especially if they're unsure why we're recommending a particular treatment or diagnostic test.
Managing heart disease is a team approach, and communication is an important part of helping your pet.
What is the biggest misconception about veterinary cardiology?
One of the biggest misconceptions is that a diagnosis of heart disease or a heart murmur automatically means a pet has limited time left or can no longer enjoy their normal activities.
In many cases, pets with heart conditions can continue living their normal lives and enjoy a good quality of life for years. Some pets never even develop symptoms.
Of course, some pets do develop symptoms as their condition progresses, but even then, medications can often help manage those symptoms and improve their quality of life.
What diagnostic tests do you use in veterinary cardiology, and what do they tell you?
Every cardiology appointment starts with a physical examination, including carefully listening to the heart and lungs.
We often perform a blood pressure assessment to determine whether a pet's blood pressure is abnormally high or low. High blood pressure can place additional strain on the heart, so that's something we want to identify.
One of our most important diagnostic tools is an echocardiogram, which is an ultrasound of the heart.
This allows us to examine the heart in real time, including how effectively it's pumping, the size of the heart, the condition of the valves, and how blood flows through the different chambers.
An echocardiogram is especially useful for diagnosing heart conditions and identifying what may be causing a heart murmur or other symptoms.
Depending on what we find, we may recommend additional testing.
An electrocardiogram, or ECG, measures the heart's electrical activity and helps us determine whether the heart rhythm is normal or abnormal.
We may also take chest X-rays to examine the lungs and check for fluid accumulation, which can sometimes occur with more advanced heart disease.
These diagnostic tools help us understand what's happening and develop an appropriate treatment plan for each pet.
What would you like pet owners to know about you personally?
I have two cats at home, Jerry and Petunia. I also love dogs and grew up around them, so my husband and I will probably be getting a dog soon.
I grew up in this area, and I love being back after spending some time living in Colorado.
Outside of work, my husband and I enjoy spending time outdoors, camping, and exploring local restaurants.
If you’re looking for veterinary care you can trust, call us at (707) 940-8444 or email [email protected]. We’re here to keep your pet healthy, happy, and thriving!