How to maximise your auscultation technique

Abstract

Auscultation is a cheap and easy diagnostic tool available in veterinary practice. Yet it often creates uncertainty, prompting both nurses and veterinary surgeons to seek second opinions amongst colleagues. The purpose of this article is to explore the best techniques for auscultation, and discuss the different sounds that can be heard in dogs and cats when listening to the heart. The starting point of auscultation is to identify normal heart sounds. This will then help recognise abnormal heart sounds, which can then be split into loudness, timing, and point of maximal intensity.