Get to know: Dr. Kristin Macdonald– A Heart to Heart with a Veterinary Cardiologist
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Renowned Veterinary Cardiologist Dr. Kristin MacDonald has been making waves in the world of animal health since earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Auburn University in 1998. With a career defined by passion, precision, and groundbreaking work in cardiology, Dr. MacDonald continues to inspire peers and students alike.
We had the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. MacDonald to explore her remarkable journey in veterinary medicine - from her early days in the field to the expertise she brings today. She also gave us a sneak peek into her upcoming session series at the Wild West Vet Show - a must-attend for anyone looking to expand their knowledge and stay at the cutting edge of veterinary cardiology.
Find Dr. MacDonald’s series of five sessions details here:
https://wildwest.vetshow.com/wwv-2025-program/session-delivered-by-prn
https://wildwest.vetshow.com/wwv-2025-program/ecg-rescue-diagnosis-and-management-of-arrhythmias
Q: Can you tell me a bit about yourself and what led you to pursue a career in veterinary cardiology?
A: I am a second-generation veterinarian, and my father is a veterinary dermatologist and Professor Emeritus at Auburn University. As a child, I spent every summer hanging out at Auburn University in clinics and always knew that being a veterinarian was my calling. I realized as a veterinary student and intern, that I loved cardiology due to the interesting diagnostic imaging, excitement of intense clinical presentations, the ability to have both medical and interventional practice, and that I enjoyed and understood the field. This was cemented during my residency at UC Davis, where I could learn and grow in clinical cardiology as well as participate in clinical research. I was given the opportunity to earn a PhD studying feline HCM and the effect of ramipril as well as other cardiac medications assessed by cardiac MRI and echocardiography.
Q: What is the most challenging part of being a veterinary cardiologist?
A: There aren’t many of us out there! I love that people are recognizing the benefit of having a veterinary cardiologist help diagnose and manage cardiac patients, and I love the challenge of helping bring animals back to their happy, younger self with medications and sometimes surgical procedures. Schedules are jam-packed, so sometimes it is difficult to see every patient in the time frame that people are hoping for. My cardiology team and I have learned ways to save spots for those patients needing more expedited appointments. My cardiology team including a masterful coordinator optimize clinical efficiency and still provide a personal, compassionate experience. However, as we see many animals with severe diseases, we also have to coach their parents about when it is time to help their pet cross the rainbow bridge and end suffering. The bonds we make in helping clients and their beloved pets navigate through the stages of heart failure can be so rewarding, but also sad at the end, as we feel like we are part of their families.
Q: Can you share a memorable case that was particularly complex or rewarding?
A: This case is very personal and near and dear to my heart, because it is the story of how I met and adopted my current black lab, Thad. I work with an assistance dog institute to screen their dogs for heart problems prior to professional training. It is always a fun and relaxing time spent with these happy, adorable dogs. In the lineup of dogs for auscultation, Thad stood out because he had a heart rate of 350 bpm, triple what it should be. I worked with the emergency department at my clinic, and we hospitalized him to treat supraventricular tachycardia. With further assessment, I identified he had orthodromic AV reciprocating tachycardia due to an accessory pathway. This can cause death, syncope, or development of severe myocardial failure and heart failure. I knew that this would make him likely unadoptable, and my family begged to adopt him. I placed Thad on sotalol but felt that he might be a good candidate for an uncommon ablation procedure to permanently stop the conduction across the accessory pathway and allow him to live an active life without medications and risk of reversion of the tachycardia. I contacted the Cornell University Cardiology department who works with a world-renowned cardiac electrophysiologist from Italy, Dr. Roberto Santilli. We coordinated the ablation procedure and my daughter, and I flew Thad across the country from California to Ithaca, New York, while Dr. Santilli flew in from Italy. Thad had successfully ablated the accessory pathway, and he has had a full and active life with us, enjoying Northern California from the beach to the mountains.
Q: Can you give us a sneak peek of your session on “Current Perspectives on Management of Feline Heart Disease" at Wild West Vet?
A: Feline heart disease is an elusive but serious disease that is challenging to diagnose and manage. The most common feline heart disease is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which affects 1 in 7 cats, with a higher prevalence in older cats. I will discuss diagnosis of feline cardiomyopathies with emphasis on HCM and medical management at different stages of disease. The novel medication for preclinical HCM, Felycin, will be introduced including the ongoing large clinical trial. Heart failure diagnosis and treatment will also be discussed, with applicability to the general practitioner. Prevention of arterial thromboembolism will be outlined, including dual therapy of clopidogrel and rivaroxaban.
Q: What advice would you give to a veterinary student aspiring to pursue a career in veterinary cardiology?
A: Keep your eyes and mind open along your veterinary education journey. Being a strong, well-rounded veterinarian first gives you a good foundation to launch in cardiology. Don’t give up if you don’t succeed at first, as I know many board cardiologists who did not get accepted into residency on their first try. While you are in school, remember there will be many years of advanced education and pressures of internship and residency training. Take time to explore opportunities that unfold to you, even if they do not lead directly to cardiology or the area you intend to study in. When I was a senior veterinary student, I had an opportunity to work during a 3-month preceptorship with a cardiologist at a busy practice in New York, but my father (a veterinary dermatologist who knew the vigors and stresses that lay ahead) encouraged me to take a different opportunity to work in a clinic in Kailua, Oahu. I had an enriching experience including working with green sea turtles with a renowned turtle researcher, meeting clients from different cultural backgrounds, and making new friends with the warm and welcoming veterinary staff. I was reinvigorated and ready to launch my cardiology career by starting my internship at Michigan State University where my mentor, George Eyster, exposed me to cardiac surgeries and the wonders of the field of cardiology.