Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Atrial fibrillation in dogs causes irregular heartbeat and heart
By Saunders, Ashley et al.·Published in Compendium (Yardley, PA)·2009·Texas A&M University., United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Canine atrial fibrillation.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 9-year-old Golden Retriever was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, a heart condition that causes an irregular and often rapid heartbeat. The dog showed signs of heart failure, like weakness and difficulty breathing, due to the heart not pumping effectively. The veterinarian treated the dog with antiarrhythmic medication to help control the heart rate and improve its condition. While the treatment helped manage the symptoms, the overall outlook depends on any underlying heart disease, which can complicate recovery.
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Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most commonly diagnosed supraventricular tachyarrhythmia in dogs. It typically develops when atrial enlargement occurs secondary to underlying cardiovascular disease. Electrocardiographically, AF is characterized by disorganized atrial electrical activity resulting in an absence of P waves and a rapid, irregular ventricular rate. The hemodynamic consequences of AF include decreased cardiac output and the development of clinical signs of heart failure. Therapeutic management focuses on controlling ventricular rate or restoring and maintaining sinus rhythm using antiarrhythmic medication and, in some cases, biphasic transthoracic electrical cardioversion. The prognosis varies and is especially guarded in the presence of significant underlying cardiac disease, such as dilated cardiomyopathy.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20180218/