Regular veterinary visits are very important for early detection of heart disease or to monitor the treatment of a dog with heart disease. A thorough physical examination will provide clues to any heart-related problems. Listening to your dog’s heart with a stethoscope will allow a veterinary surgeon to pick up a murmur if it is present. The heart rate and rhythm can also be assessed using a stethoscope. Radiographs (X-rays) will detect fluid on the lungs and increases in heart size that might be present. Electrocardiograms (ECGs) can record the electrical activity of the heart and can be used to diagnose rhythm problems. Lastly, ultrasound - the same technique as is used to assess babies in the womb - can be used to assess the heart whilst in action. The heart’s walls, chambers, valves and blood vessels can be accurately observed in 3D. Whilst ultrasound is the most accurate method of diagnosing heart disease, it may not be necessary in some of the more straightforward heart disease cases.