Veterinary Cardiology

Real-world cardiology for the vets and techs who see it first.

Dr. Hayley McDonald is a board-certified veterinary cardiologist. She breaks down real cases, the ECG and the echo, and the calls that carry risk, for the vets and technicians who handle cardiac cases without a specialist on site.

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Followed by 75,000+ vets, techs, and specialists.

The Rhythm Vet

Dr. Hayley McDonald

BVSc (dist.) · DECVIM-CA (Cardiology) · PhD · MRCVS

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Dr. Hayley McDonald in the procedure room

About

Most cardiac cases don’t happen in specialty hospitals.

They happen in general practice exam rooms, in emergency clinics at 3AM, under anesthesia during a routine dental. Dr. Hayley McDonald is a board-certified veterinary cardiologist who makes cardiology content for exactly those situations. Real cases, worked through clearly, the way Dr. Hayley would talk a colleague through them.

BVSc (dist.)DECVIM-CA CardiologyPhDMRCVS

The publications and features behind the teaching.

Beyond the feed, Dr. Hayley’s clinical case reports and cardiovascular research appear in peer-reviewed journals. She has also presented her work at international cardiology congresses, including ACVIM and ECVIM.

She was also featured on Vet Candy, the veterinary news platform, breaking down hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats for veterinary professionals.

More about Dr. Hayley

Dr. Hayley McDonald performing an echocardiogram

Work with Dr. Hayley

Speaking, media, and collaborations.

Dr. Hayley speaks, guests on podcasts, and works with brands and organizations across veterinary medicine. To talk about booking or a collaboration, get in touch.

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Published in

Veterinary Record Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia American Physiological Society Physiological Reports

For vets and techs

Cardiology you can use in the room.

Real cases and the reasoning behind them, for the next time it is you in the room.

Real cases, start to finish.

An actual patient from how they presented to the plan, through the ECG and the echo, so you know what to look for.

The structure underneath.

How to read a finding for what it means about the heart underneath, including what is missing from the strip.

Cases without a specialist.

Cardiology in general practice, in emergency, and under anesthesia, for when there is no specialist to call.

Anesthesia and monitoring safety.

The drug choices and monitoring calls that carry real risk, before they become a problem.

“Stop looking for what’s there and start noticing what’s missing.”

Dr. Hayley McDonald

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New case breakdowns and teaching, sent to your inbox so you do not have to rely on the feed to catch them.

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Latest

Recent cases and teaching.

A Doberman standing calmly in a clinic wearing a Holter ECG monitor vest

Rhythm

Atrial fibrillation in a Doberman.

A seven-year-old Doberman, weak and exercise-intolerant. Reading the rhythm, then what it says about the heart underneath.

Read the case →

A tabby cat sleeping curled up in a soft bed

Anesthesia

Why ketamine is risky in a cat with HCM.

What the drug does to an already obstructed heart, worked through step by step.

Read the case →

A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel resting on a couch

ECG

Premature atrial complexes in a Cavalier.

A Cavalier with a murmur and the occasional early beat. Reading the premature P wave, then what it says about the valve underneath.

Read the case →

Join 75,000+ vets, techs, and specialists who follow along.

New cases and teaching, most days. The latest from Instagram:

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@therhythmvetDr. Hayley McDonald

Breaking down blood flow in the heart.

What happens when the atria and ventricles stop talking?

Sinus rhythm P-QRS-T.

Why ketamine can be a risky anesthetic choice.

Heart blocks explained.

Don’t skip the P wave. Here is your quick cheat sheet.

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From the comments

You have no idea how badly I needed this visual. Going into med surg 3 and afraid of learning to read EKGs. This is helpful.

Gabbyon TikTok

Thanks for the clear explanation.

@kleintierpraxis_geisenfeld veterinary practice

This is amazing, thank you.

Sydon TikTok

Watched it five times.

Echo xon TikTok

You’re the best.

@dr.amanda.vet on Instagram

I’m learning a lot.

Xambassadoron TikTok

You’re the best at explaining ECGs. Thank you.

Nadaon TikTok

Love this. Even I can understand it.

@drelise_equineveton Instagram

Thank you for sharing. I have a much better understanding of the difference in rhythms now.

drob238on TikTok

Please do more of these. I love the visual aid.

kellyon TikTok

This is so helpful.

@casey_jacobson406on Instagram

A good lecturer explaining sinus rhythm.

عزالدين عبداللهon TikTok

Finally, a visual of what this meant. It makes so much sense now.

Izzon TikTok

Thank you for explaining this so well.

@dr.magda.veton Instagram

Such a brilliant way of showing what this all means. Can we have some more please.

smurfy66666on TikTok

Perfect. No one teaches like you. Such a great teacher.

Okashaaon TikTok

Thank you for the constant great education.

@muakmuak13on Instagram

This is a brilliant way of teaching.

Rachael Louise677on TikTok

Yes. I’m a visual learner, and this makes so much more sense.

HollyBethon TikTok

Very good explanation.

@theresacatalanoon Instagram

I’m a cardiac nurse and this is so helpful. Please do more.

jessigirlon TikTok

Please do this with all the other rhythms. Sincerely, a new grad who needs visuals to learn anything.

Sarahon TikTok

Great explanation.

@md_uzair_756on Instagram

You are brilliant. I never understood until now.

mabeljill20on TikTok

I love this. I can’t wait to show the people I train. I could never explain it this well.

Jamieon TikTok

Love this.

@dhaf.primeon Instagram

This helps me visualize so much. EKG strips just look like squiggly lines, and I’ve been a nurse for a year.

Jess28on TikTok

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