Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Ventricular parasystole in a dog and a cat.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1991
- Authors:
- de Madron, E & Quagliariello, R M
- Affiliation:
- Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital · United States
Plain-English summary
In this study, a dog and a cat were found to have a heart condition called ventricular parasystole, which means their hearts were having extra beats that were not caused by any underlying heart disease. Both pets showed no signs of serious health issues and were otherwise healthy. Despite attempts to treat the condition, it did not respond to treatment, but the animals remained clinically normal, meaning they didn’t show any symptoms related to the arrhythmia. Recognizing this condition is important because it can help pet owners avoid unnecessary worry and treatments.
Abstract
In human beings, ventricular parasystole usually is a benign arrhythmia with an ectopic focus that fires independently from the rest of the heart. The specific electrocardiographic criteria used to diagnose this condition are variable coupling intervals with the preceding beat; interectopic intervals, all multiple of the same number; and fusion beats. Ventricular premature beats having those characteristics were identified in a dog and a cat, both free of detectable, structural heart disease. In these cases, the arrhythmia was refractory to treatment, but the animals were clinically normal. Recognition of this kind of arrhythmia is important because it may help in avoiding unnecessary concerns and treatment.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2004992/