For Pet Owners

Dr. Saelinger is not available for phone or email consultation with pet owners due to veterinary client patient relationship (VCPR) laws.

If you are a pet owner, please contact your primary care veterinarian to have them schedule a cardiac evaluation in their hospital with the Cardiac Vet team. We are a referral-only based service and only schedule through your primary care veterinarian.

Please direct medical questions regarding your pet that has had diagnostic studies performed and/or interpreted by the Cardiac Vet team, to your primary veterinarian. The Cardiac Vet team consults with veterinarians only.

You can make an in-person evaluation with your pet with Dr. Saelinger, by contacting VCA ASEC.

PLEASE DO NOT call the teleconsulting/referring veterinarian phone number for in person visits with Dr. Saelinger or questions. She cannot be reached by pet owners in this manner.

Visit our Frequently Asked Questions for commonly asked questions.

For Appointments

  • Dr. Carley sees appointments only at the Animal Specialty and Emergency Center (ASEC) In Los Angeles, CA.
  • Please call ASEC at 310-473-5906, option #2 to make an appointment
  • Dr. Carley is normally scheduled to see appointments beginning at 9:00 am Monday – Wednesday.

PLEASE DO NOT call the telemedicine phone number (323-393-0616) for in person appointments with Dr. Carley – she cannot be reached in this manner for appointments.

Primary appointments, appointments by referral, and second opinions are seen Monday – Saturday by the ASEC Cardiology Service.  Breed-related certifications for congenital heart disease are also available.

After hours, a veterinarian is on duty to accept, triage and manage emergency cases that present to the ASEC.  Emergencies are seen 24 hours a day.  Dr. Carley is always available for ER phone consultation through ASEC about new and existing patients/clients.

Services for pet owners

Dr. Saelinger Evaluates Veterinary Patients in person at Animal Specialty and Emergency Center (ASEC) in Los Angeles, CA

All services are available at ASEC – make an appointment today!

The cardiology department of Animal Specialty and Emergency Center (ASEC) provides state-of-the-art referral and consultation services for veterinarians and pet owners seeking diagnostics and therapy for veterinary patients with cardiac disease. The department is staffed by only board-certified cardiologists who are trained in advanced electrocardiography, echocardiography, and interventional cardiology (such as artificial cardiac pacemaker implantation).

Services offered include:

  • 10-Lead & Signal-Averaged ECG
  • 24-hour Holter & Trans-Telephonic Event Monitoring
  • Doppler Manometry Blood Pressure Evaluation
  • Full Hemodynamic Evaluation (O2, CO2, and Cardiac Parameters)
  • GE Vivid E95 Cardiovascular Ultrasound unit with Multi-Dimensional, Tri-Plane, 4D
  • Tissue Synchronization Imaging and blood flow imaging
  • Comprehensive Doppler Tissue Mapping
  • Digital Fluoroscopic Angiography
  • Pacemaker Implantation (single and dual chamber)
  • ICD implantation
  • Pericardiocentesis and Pericardial Surgery
  • Endomyocardial Biopsy
  • Vectorcardiography
  • Balloon Valvuloplasty
  • PDA Occlusion
  • Minimally invasive complex congenital heart disease surgery
  • Heartworm embolectomy
  • 10-Lead & Signal-Averaged ECG
  • 24-hour Holter & Trans-Telephonic Event Monitoring
  • Doppler Manometry Blood Pressure Evaluation
  • Full Hemodynamic Evaluation (O2, CO2, and Cardiac Parameters)
  • GE Vivid E95 Cardiovascular Ultrasound unit with Multi-Dimensional, Tri-Plane, 4D
  • Tissue Synchronization Imaging and blood flow imaging
  • Comprehensive Doppler Tissue Mapping
  • Digital Fluoroscopic Angiography
  • Pacemaker Implantation (single and dual chamber)
  • ICD implantation
  • Pericardiocentesis and Pericardial Surgery
  • Endomyocardial Biopsy
  • Vectorcardiography
  • Balloon Valvuloplasty
  • PDA Occlusion
  • Minimally invasive complex congenital heart disease surgery
  • Heartworm embolectomy

Explanation of services

Evaluation of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems via a hands on examination and complete auscultation.

Accurate blood pressure measurement is performed via Doppler unit.

Basic 6 or 12-lead ECG, continuous ECG and ambulatory ECG (Holter or event recorder) monitoring are utilized for the diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmias. Some heart rhythm abnormalities can be detected on a surface ECG; however, some can only be detected with ambulatory ECG. These portable ECG systems are also useful for monitoring response to treatment of arrhythmias. 

Chest X-rays are the gold standard diagnostic source for detecting left-sided congestive heart failure. X-rays evaluate the heart size, pulmonary vasculature (lung vessels) and the lung tissue and airways.

For diagnosing heart disease, we use echocardiograms with advanced real time 2D and 3D imaging with basic and advanced Doppler evaluation (this includes traditional and tissue Doppler). This modality helps determine exactly what type of heart disease is present. It can measure intracardiac pressures non-invasively, evaluate the systolic function of the heart and rule in/out pulmonary hypertension.

Including, but not limited to artificial pacemaker and/or cardio-defibrillator implantation, medical and direct-current intervention for cardiac tachyarrhythmias (such as atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia), cardio-angiographic evaluation, balloon valvuloplasty, PDA occlusion and heartworm embolectomy.

Heart failure is a condition where fluid builds up either within the lungs or in a body cavity (chest, abdomen and pericardial space). ASEC provides a 24-hour staff for optimal patient care and treatment of congestive heart failure. 

Removal of fluid from body cavities such as pericardial sac, chest cavity and abdominal cavity. These techniques are both lifesaving and therapeutic in patients with heart disease.

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