Veterinary Cardiologists in Hawaii
2 board-certified veterinary cardiologists in Hawaii, across 2 cities.
Cardiology access in Hawaii
Hawaii has 2 board-certified veterinary cardiologists in this directory, spread across 2 cities — but 1 of them, roughly 50 percent, are in Honolulu alone. For owners in Honolulu that means genuine choice: you can compare wait times, ask for a specific cardiologist by name, or get a second opinion without travelling. For everyone else in Hawaii, it means the drive is the deciding factor.
All 2 of the Hawaii practices listed below were accepting new patients when we last checked. Check by phone before you drive: availability changes faster than any directory can track, and a cardiologist listed as accepting referrals may still have a six-week wait for a non-urgent echo.
Context for those numbers: fewer than 400 board-certified veterinary cardiologists (DACVIM-Cardiology) practise in the entire United States. Board certification requires a veterinary degree, a one-year internship, a three- to four-year cardiology residency, and passing the ACVIM cardiology examination. Scarcity, not indifference, is why the wait lists look the way they do.
Hawaii has no veterinary college, and its listings are split between Oahu and the Big Island. Inter-island travel — with the airline pet policies that come with it — is part of the plan for most Hawaii owners.
The nearest veterinary teaching hospital to Hawaii
Hawaii does not have an accredited college of veterinary medicine. That matters because teaching hospitals are frequently cheaper than private specialty practice, run most of the veterinary cardiology clinical trials, and often have capacity when private referral centres do not. The closest options for Hawaii owners are:
- UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine — Davis, California
- Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine — Pullman, Washington
Before you drive there, call and ask three things: whether the hospital currently runs a small-animal cardiology service (not every veterinary college does, and services open and close with staffing); whether they require a referral letter from your primary vet, which most teaching hospitals do; and whether any cardiac clinical trial is currently enrolling that your dog might qualify for — trial enrolment can cover the cost of echocardiograms and Holter monitoring that you would otherwise pay for.
Cardiologists in Hawaii by city
Listings are grouped by city. Each city links directly — you can share a link straight to a section.
Honolulu, Hawaii (1 cardiologist)
Dr. Satoko NishimuraDVM, DACVIM (Cardiology)
Veterinary Emergency + Referral Center (VERC)
1347 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 103
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii (1 cardiologist)
Dr. Deborah Fine-FerreiraDVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology)
Ali'i Veterinary Hospital
75-349 Hualalai Road
What a cardiology workup costs in Hawaii
Prices are set practice by practice, so nobody can quote you a Hawaii figure that holds everywhere. As a working range in the United States, a specialist cardiology consultation with an echocardiogram typically runs somewhere around $300–$600, and a 24-hour Holter monitor somewhere around $200–$500 including the analysis fee. Expect the top of those ranges in high-cost metros and the bottom in smaller markets.
Veterinary teaching hospitals are usually the cheaper end of the market — worth weighing against the extra mileage if you are driving out of Hawaii anyway. Ask for an itemised estimate when you book, and ask specifically whether the echocardiogram fee includes the consultation or is charged on top of it. That single question accounts for most of the surprise on the invoice.
If cost is the blocker, read our guides on financial help for cardiac treatment and pet insurance and heart disease, and ask the practice about clinical trial enrolment before you decline the test.
Mainland states Hawaii owners travel to
With so few specialists in Hawaii, some owners schedule a cardiology workup while travelling to the mainland. These states have board-certified cardiologists:
What happens at a cardiology consultation
A first cardiology visit in Hawaii typically includes a physical exam with auscultation, an echocardiogram (heart ultrasound), sometimes a Holter monitor fitting for 24-hour rhythm analysis, and a review of any prior imaging or bloodwork. The cardiologist will stage your dog's disease (typically using the ACVIM staging system) and outline a treatment and monitoring plan. Budget 45–90 minutes depending on which tests are done, and arrive 15–20 minutes early for paperwork if you are a new patient.
The diagnoses that bring most dogs to a cardiologist are dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). Depending on diagnosis and stage, the cardiologist may prescribe pimobendan or furosemide, and will usually set a recheck interval before you leave.
Preparing for your visit
- Bring any previous test results (Holter reports, echocardiograms, bloodwork)
- Write down all current medications and dosages
- Note any symptoms you've observed and when they started
- Track your dog's resting respiratory rate for a few days before the visit
- Print our 10 questions to ask your cardiologist
Directory disclaimer: Heart Dog Club provides this directory as a convenience. Inclusion does not constitute an endorsement. We do not verify the current status of any practitioner's license or board certification. Please verify credentials independently through the ACVIM or your state veterinary board.