Electrocardiography (ECG)

Electrocardiography (ECG) is used by our veterinarians and staff to diagnose cardiac problems in patients. This is very helpful when a heart problem is detected during a physical examination. By using our ECG equipment, the veterinarian can better determine the location of the problem within the heart. It also aids in deciding the best treatment protocol for the patient.

Electrocardiography uses the electrical impulses created by the heart to determine abnormalities within the cardiac system. These impulses are recorded and transferred to a computer, which is specially programmed to evaluate the data based on the species, age, and breed of the patient. Irregular electrical impulses, called an arrhythmia, are noted in the ECG report. The detection of arrhythmias is very important as it alerts the doctor of potential cardiac problems. The information gathered by the computer is recorded in a graphed format for further evaluation by the attending veterinarian.

An ECG is a required part of our PreAnesthetic Profile for all Geriatric Patients (over 6 years of age) and is highly recommended for all patients undergoing anesthesia. This profile helps the veterinarian determine the best anesthetic protocol for the individual patient. Based on information obtained from the ECG and other tests, the veterinarian is able to make a more informed and safe decision.

The ECG is also very useful in obtaining a baseline for healthy pets. If an ECG is performed early on, any change in the established parameters could indicate the onset of cardiac disease and other problems. In some cases, catching the problem in an early stage can greatly increase the chances of a good prognosis. For this reason, we include an ECG in our Geriatric Profile in addition to the PreAnesthetic Profile.

For patients with severe heart problems, we are able to run a continuous ECG, which allows the veterinarian to evaluate changes in the heart's actions over an extended period of time. This can also be done during high-risk surgeries to assure that patients are closely monitored for even the slightest changes in their physical status.