Because I learned this the hard way, I wanted to post this thread so others could learn from my experience should they be interested. I'm currently one year out, completing a small animal rotating internship. Lately I've spent a lot of time with a couple cardiologists and have learned a few things.
Early into my first year at vet school a very wise Littman Stethoscope sales rep hit up our entire class with a convincing monologue about how their brand of stethoscope was the greatest in all the universe. Not only that, but they were also going to cut us a huge, never before unheard of deal! Only for today, we could get the greatest of the great Littman Cardiology III stethoscope for a mere $180, a huge savings from their usual price of $220.
Naturally, that rep sold about 80 stethoscopes that day to 80 very happy and uneducated veterinary students. And life went on, I was very happy with my brand spanking new Littman Cardiology III. That is until recently…
I have gotten to work closely with two cardiologists lately, one of whom used to be faculty for Tufts University. Neither of them uses a Littman. In fact, I was amazed at the things I could pick up with both of their stethoscopes that I couldn’t even come close to hearing with mine, especially in the smaller patients and cats in particular. I would always auscult first. On multiple cats I couldn’t hear a murmur at all with my stethoscope, and could plain as day with theirs.
Now, one of them used a stethoscope that is no longer produced and currently sells for over 2K, that’s obviously out of my price range currently (and let’s be honest, probably permanently!). But the other actually sells for ½ of the price my Littman Cardiology III sells for. It was a Welch Allyn. The pediatric bell is essential for differentiating what valve a murmur is being produced by. And the shorter the tubing, the less distance the sound has to travel through and the better the auscultation achieved. While these shorter tubes are more annoying to hang around your neck, 25” is much more ideal, and come on, you’re not supposed to wear your stethoscope as an accessory, ruins the tubing right?
Now Littman definitely seems to have taken over the veterinary profession, at least everywhere I’ve practiced, but apparently it’s less than ideal compared to others in the eyes of a cardiologist. I’m currently looking into ordering mine own Welch Allyn, and my Littman Cardiology III will soon hang desolate from my wall.
Early into my first year at vet school a very wise Littman Stethoscope sales rep hit up our entire class with a convincing monologue about how their brand of stethoscope was the greatest in all the universe. Not only that, but they were also going to cut us a huge, never before unheard of deal! Only for today, we could get the greatest of the great Littman Cardiology III stethoscope for a mere $180, a huge savings from their usual price of $220.
Naturally, that rep sold about 80 stethoscopes that day to 80 very happy and uneducated veterinary students. And life went on, I was very happy with my brand spanking new Littman Cardiology III. That is until recently…
I have gotten to work closely with two cardiologists lately, one of whom used to be faculty for Tufts University. Neither of them uses a Littman. In fact, I was amazed at the things I could pick up with both of their stethoscopes that I couldn’t even come close to hearing with mine, especially in the smaller patients and cats in particular. I would always auscult first. On multiple cats I couldn’t hear a murmur at all with my stethoscope, and could plain as day with theirs.
Now, one of them used a stethoscope that is no longer produced and currently sells for over 2K, that’s obviously out of my price range currently (and let’s be honest, probably permanently!). But the other actually sells for ½ of the price my Littman Cardiology III sells for. It was a Welch Allyn. The pediatric bell is essential for differentiating what valve a murmur is being produced by. And the shorter the tubing, the less distance the sound has to travel through and the better the auscultation achieved. While these shorter tubes are more annoying to hang around your neck, 25” is much more ideal, and come on, you’re not supposed to wear your stethoscope as an accessory, ruins the tubing right?
Now Littman definitely seems to have taken over the veterinary profession, at least everywhere I’ve practiced, but apparently it’s less than ideal compared to others in the eyes of a cardiologist. I’m currently looking into ordering mine own Welch Allyn, and my Littman Cardiology III will soon hang desolate from my wall.
