Diagnosis
Common diagnostic procedures for mitral valve disease include a CBC, or complete blood count, a serum chemistry panel, and urinalysis. X-rays of the chest are used to evaluate heart size and shape, and the status of lung fields. An electrocardiogram, or reading of the electrical impulses of the heart, may suggest heart enlargement and identify any arrhythmias that may be present. For a more accurate assessment of cardiac function and the severity of the disease, a dog may be referred to a veterinary cardiologist for an echocardiogram, or ultrasound examination of the heart.