Study of prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias in dogs

Abstract

Cardiac arrhythmias are commonly encountered in canine clinical practice. However, information on their prevalence under field conditions remains limited. The present study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias in dogs presented to the Veterinary Clinical Complex, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Mhow, Indore, Madhya Pradesh. A total of 1,829 dogs presented over a period of six months were screened, and animals suspected of cardiac involvement were subjected to electrocardiographic examination for confirmation of rhythm abnormalities. Cardiac arrhythmias were diagnosed in 55 dogs, resulting in an overall prevalence of 3.01 percent among the total dogs examined. Age-wise analysis revealed a significantly higher prevalence in dogs above eight years of age, followed by those between five and eight years, while the lowest prevalence was recorded in dogs up to four years of age. Breed-wise distribution showed higher involvement of medium and large breeds, particularly Labrador Retrievers and German Shepherds. Although a slightly higher prevalence was observed in male dogs compared to females, the difference was not statistically significant. Exercise intolerance and lethargy were the most frequently recorded clinical signs, followed by respiratory distress and occasional signs of fluid accumulation in a smaller proportion of cases. The study concludes that cardiac arrhythmias, though not highly prevalent in the general canine population, are more frequently detected in older and predisposed breeds, highlighting the importance of routine electrocardiographic screening for early detection under clinical field conditions.