Electrocardiographic Studies on Bradycardia and Its Management in Dogs

Navjeet Singh Brar; Neetu Saini; Sujata Turkar; Sushma Chhabra

Authors

Navjeet Singh Brar M.V.Sc Scholar, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab, INDIA
Neetu Saini Professor, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab, INDIA
Sujata Turkar Professor, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab, INDIA
Sushma Chhabra Principal Scientist, Directorate of Livestock Farms, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab, INDIA https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8016-401X

Keywords:

Atropine, Bradyarrhythmias, Dogs, Electrocardiography, Hypothermia, High Vagal Tone

Abstract

Bradyarrhythmias are defined as a heart rate of less than 70 beats per minute in large breeds& less than 60 beats per minute in small breeds without apparent variations in the R-R interval. Twenty-nine dogs of different breeds presented to the Small Animal Veterinary Clinics at GADVASU, diagnosed with bradyarrhythmia (36-65 bpm) on auscultation and affected by various disease conditions, were selected for the present study. Bradyarrhythmias were categorized into four groups: hypothermia-induced bradycardia (n = 6), vagal tone-induced bradycardia (n = 6), CNS-induced bradycardia (n = 8), and the other group (n = 9). Diagnosis was based on Physical examination, auscultation of the heart, blood pressure monitoring, electrocardiography, hematological and biochemical analysis to identify the underlying cause of the bradycardia. Treatment of Dogs with Bradycardia was initiated with different protocols, such as atropine/glycopyrrolate, warm fluids, amlodipine, calcium gluconate, insulin, and dextrose, depending upon the cause of bradycardia.