Electrocardiographic Changes in Geriatric Dog with Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a leading yet often unnoticed cause of canine deaths in India. The primary culprits behind CHF include dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), mitral valve disease (MVD), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and pericardial effusion (PE). Sadly, the lack of advanced diagnostic facilities, such as radiography, echocardiography, and cardiac biomarker testing, often results in delayed diagnoses, robbing many pet owners of their cherished companions before timely intervention can be made. Electrocardiographic analysis uncovered a range of supraventricular, ventricular, and morphological abnormalities. In aged dogs affected by congestive heart failure (CHF), atrial fibrillation was the most common finding, observed in 7 dogs (29.17%). Among the other screened dogs (n=251), sinus arrhythmia (6.77%) was the most frequently detected arrhythmia, while deep Q-waves and wide QRS complexes were diagnosed in 3.10%, and 1.59% of cases, respectively. Early diagnosis and regular screening are crucial for identifying and managing cardiac disorders in dogs, enabling timely interventions to improve outcomes and quality of life.