Chloe Block

DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology)

Veterinary Specialist

Cardiology

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At a Glance

Practicing Since:

2013

Board Certified:

Cardiology

Specialties Include:

Complex arrhythmias
Refractory heart failure
Effects of systemic disease on the heart

My Pets:

Oliver - Cat

Chloe Block, DVM, DACVIM was born in England, but moved at a young age and grew up in California. She completed her undergraduate training and veterinary degree at UC Davis before moving to the east coast for her internship and cardiology residency at the University of Pennsylvania. She then established a cardiology service at a busy specialty hospital in Washington D.C., where she provided medical and surgical treatments, taught interns, and engaged in clinical research as the sole cardiologist.

She is very excited to return home to California to join the BAVS team, and collaborate with this wonderful group of doctors with different backgrounds and specialties. Chloe knows that having a pet with heart disease can be scary, and she aims to provide compassionate care and clear communication about diagnostic and treatment options while keeping your primary veterinarian involved and informed. She also recognizes that every family has different needs and expectations for their pets' treatment, and uses the most up-to-date resources and publications to tailor therapies for individual patients. She is an author of 10 scientific papers, with an additional 2 currently under peer review.

Chloe's areas of clinical interest include complex arrhythmia's, refractory heart failure, and the effects of systemic disease on the heart. She looks forward to meeting you and your pet, and working together to create a treatment plan that is right for your family.

Papers Authored

ECG of the Month

Authored: Block, CL
Published: J Am Vet Med Assoc 2019; 254(2):206-8

Echocardiographic and biomarker evidence of plasma volume expansion after short‐term steroids administered orally in cats

Abstract: Steroids administered PO and intramuscularly are associated with development of congestive heart failure in cats without prior signs of heart disease, but criteria to identify cats at increased risk for steroid-induced heart failure are not established.
Authored: Block, CL and Oyama, MA
Published: J Vet Intern Med 2020; 34:29–34

Effect of Prespecified Therapy Escalation on Plasma NT-proBNP Concentrations in Dogs With Stable Congestive Heart Failure Due to Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease

Abstract: Treatment targeted to achieve reduction in N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) improves outcomes in human congestive heart failure (CHF) patients.
Authored: Hezzell, MJ, Block, CL, Laughlin, DS, Oyama, MA
Published: J Vet Intern Med 2018;32:1509-16

Pulmonary artery banding in a kitten with a partial atrioventricular septal defect

Abstract: A 9-month-old kitten with increased resting respiratory rate and exercise intolerance was diagnosed with a congenital partial atrioventricular septal defect causing pulmonary over circulation and presumed pulmonary hypertension based on echocardiogram. Invasive pressure measurements and contrast angiography confirmed this diagnosis. The cat underwent pulmonary artery banding under general anesthesia. Findings of echocardiogram 10 days postoperatively suggested reduced left-to-right shunt volume. Echocardiographic findings were static 4 months postoperatively.
Authored: Block, CL and Glassman, MM
Published: J Vet Cardiol 2019; 24:20-7

Cardiology

Veterinary Cardiologists Help Solve Canine and Feline Heart Problems

Like humans, dogs and cats can suffer from a variety of problems related to their heart and lungs.

Cardiac problems are common in both young and old animals. Symptoms may include lethargy, respiratory difficulty, cough and weight loss. With proper treatment most cardiac problems can be managed or resolved.

VCA Bay Area Veterinary Specialist's Cardiology service features a full service interventional cardiology suite capable of minimally invasive procedures. These include pacemaker implantation and treatment of congenital heart diseases.

VCA Bay Area Veterinary Specialist's Cardiology service utilizes radiography, echocardiography with Doppler, fluoroscopy, ECG, Holter monitoring and event recording for diagnosis. Treatment options include medical, interventional, and surgical therapies for heart and vascular diseases.

What Is Veterinary Cardiology?

Veterinary Cardiology is the branch of medicine that treats diseases of the canine and feline cardiovascular system, which includes the pet's heart and blood vessels. This encompasses such problems as canine and feline congestive heart failure, hypertension, dilated and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and valvular disorders. Because the function of the pet's heart and lungs are interrelated, veterinary cardiologists are also knowledgeable about lung disease as well as diseases of the chest cavity. A board certified veterinary cardiologist is a licensed veterinarian who has obtained intensive, additional training in veterinary cardiology and has been certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM).

While your general practitioner veterinarian can diagnose and treat many health problems, certain diseases and conditions require the care of a doctor who has had specialized, intensive training in veterinary cardiology in order to provide the very best outcome for your pet.

Symptoms of Canine or Feline Heart Problems

Weakness
Exercise intolerance
Shortness of breath or apparent difficulty in breathing (due to fluid in the lungs or chest cavity)
Fast breathing at rest (although don't confuse this with normal panting)
Collapse
Fainting spells
Cough
Elevated heart rate

What Can Be Done if My Pet Has A Heart Problem?

Many of the same types of diagnostic tools and treatment options that are used to help keep human heart patients alive and healthy are also available to pets. For example, sophisticated diagnostic options (see box below) can help determine whether heart problems are present and, if so, assess their severity. Depending on your pet's particular problem, cardiac catheterization, angioplasty, pacemaker implantation, and cardiac surgery to repair heart defects have all become relatively commonplace. In addition, many of the medications used in pets are similar to those that are also used in humans.

Will My Regular Veterinarian Still Be Involved?

In most cases, your regular veterinarian will still supervise your pet's veterinary care. In other cases, your referral doctor may take over the majority of your pet's medical care. It depends on your pet's particular disease and condition.

Did You Know?

According to the AVMA, one out of every 10 dogs and cats has heart disease. Many pets with heart disease are asymptomatic.

If you suspect that your dog or cat has a heart problem, contact the veterinary cardiologists at VCA today.

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