To treat or not to treat?

Treatment and management of feline heart disease.

Heart disease is quite prevalent in the general cat population.

Many cats with heart disease remain asymptomatic for prolonged periods of time, however some of them go on to develop heart failure resulting in both decreased quality of life and life expectancy.

Illustrated by case examples as they commonly present in general practice, treatment and management of both symptomatic and asymptomatic feline heart disease will be discussed. The lecture is intended for general practitioners and experienced nurses.

The aim of the session is to understand the goal of treatment, the evidence or lack of evidence we base our treatment on and how to manage expectations in cats with heart failure.

Your Instructor


Mark Dirven DVM, Dipl. ECVIM-CA
Mark Dirven DVM, Dipl. ECVIM-CA

Mark graduated from Utrecht University The Netherlands in 2004.

He gained experience as a clinician in both (first-opinion) private practice and academia.

In March 2017 he passed his certifying exam to become a European specialist in cardiology. Having a background in private practice and academia helps him his clinical work, but also in his way of lecturing and teaching.

He is valued for his pragmatic approach to translating science into practice.

In January 2019 he moved from the Netherlands to Sweden where he joined the team of AniCura Albano and Bagarmossen animal hospitals where he is mainly involved in tutoring, clinical work and research.

Furthermore he is involved in development of post graduate education in cardiology for the AniCura group in Sweden.

His interests are among others evidence based treatment of heart disease, (echocardiography of) feline heart disease and cardiopulmonary parasites.


Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
The course starts now and never ends! It is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish.
Is it free?
Yes. Absolutely free! But only for AniCura employees.
Who is it for?
The course is for experienced nurses and vets with basic knowledge in this field.
How do login?
Go to the top right corner to find "login". Use your AniCura email address and enter the password you received via email.
How do I enroll in this course?
You will automatically be enrolled this course whe it is released. In other words: You don't have to do anything.

AniCura employees will automatically be enrolled in relevant courses.
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