For Referring Veterinarians

  The heart is one of the hardest-working organs in the body. It contracts thousands of times a day to move blood and deliver oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. An adult dog’s heart beats between 60 and 140 times per minute. For a cat, it is typically between 140-180 beats per minute. When listening to a normal heartbeat, there are two sounds – a lub and…

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs is a primary myocardial disease characterized by enlargement and decreased function of one or both ventricles. The disease is progressive, resulting in worsening cardiac function, heart enlargement, and ultimately congestive heart failure. Other complications include arrhythmias, syncope, and/or sudden death. The classic form of DCM in dogs is naturally occurring and heritable, most commonly observed in breeds such as Doberman Pinschers, Great Danes, and Irish Wolfhounds. Patients with this form…

Electrocardiograms (ECGs) are commonly performed during routine anesthesia to monitor the heart rate and rhythm of your canine and feline patients. ECGs help assess the patient’s cardiovascular stability. Various arrhythmias can be encountered during an anesthetic event and ventricular arrhythmias are one of the more insidious types. Ventricular arrhythmias are abnormal, premature beats, originating from the ventricles. These beats can be differentiated from normal sinus beats because they are not associated with a p-wave, are…