Veterinary Heart Care (VHC) works with your local veterinarian to diagnose and treat your pet with heart disease.
Contact us
Traditional appointments are offered in Virginia Beach within the emergency and referral practice BluePearl. After examining your pet, Dr. Maisenbacher will discuss his findings with you to determine the best treatment plan for you and your pet. These are typically scheduled by pet owners directly.
Contact us
Mobile consultations are available at local veterinary practices across the Hampton Roads area. Dr. Maisenbacher reviews the findings with your veterinarian who will then discuss the results with you and manage the treatment plan. These must be scheduled by your veterinarian's office.
Dr. Herb Maisenbacher is board certified in veterinary cardiology by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and then completed an internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City and a residency in veterinary cardiology at the University of Florida.
Prior to founding VHC in 2013, Dr. Maisenbacher was a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine and was named Small Animal Clinician of the Year in 2012. He has authored many research articles on veterinary cardiology and has contributed to several veterinary textbooks.
Client services manager
Tina is the first person you're likely to meet when you contact VHC.
When Tina is not helping clients, she can be found assisting Julie and Dr. Maisenbacher.
She has worked in the veterinary field since 2002, earning a B.S. in Biology from ODU in 2001.
Patient services coordinator
Julie is an experienced veterinary assistant and is currently completing her veterinary technology degree.
Julie has worked in the veterinary field since 2002, holding positions from receptionist and assistant to veterinary services manager for the Norfolk SPCA.
Myxomatous valve disease is the most common type of heart disease in dogs. It is also sometimes referred to as endocardiosis and degenerative or chronic valve disease. It is caused by progressive, age-related degeneration of the heart valves. The mitral valve is most commonly affected, but other valves including the tricuspid and aortic valves may also be affected. The valves become abnormally thickened and no longer form a tight seal when they are supposed to be closed and preventing backflow of blood. This causes the valves to leak called “regurgitation” or “insufficiency”, which is a frequent cause of an abnormal sound called a heart murmur.
Dilated cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle in which the muscle is weakened and loses its ability to contract normally. In DCM, the heart's ability to pump blood is decreased and the main pumping chamber, the left ventricle, becomes enlarged or “dilated”. This is most common in certain breeds of dog such as Doberman pinschers, Great Danes, Irish wolfhounds, and Newfoundlands.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle in which the muscular walls of the heart become abnormally thickened. The thickened heart muscle cannot relax normally and the ability of the heart to fill is reduced. This decreases the amount of blood that can be pumped by the heart. HCM is the most common heart disease in cats.
Congestive heart failure is a chronic progressive condition that can be caused my many types of heart disease. In congestive heart failure, there is a decreased amount of blood pumped by the heart and blood backs up into the lungs with left heart disease or into the body with right heart disease. This leads to fluid building up in the lungs, chest, and/or abdomen.
BluePearl
364 S Independence Blvd,
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
Call us at (757) 605-1610 or fill out the form and we’ll get back to you soon