What Is Pet Electrocardiography or ECG?
An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) records your pet’s heart’s electrical activity, providing essential information about heart rate, rhythm, and electrical conduction pathways. This painless, non-invasive test helps our board-certified cardiologists diagnose arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) and guides treatment decisions for various cardiac conditions.
Understanding Pet Electrocardiography: Mapping Your Pet’s Heart Rhythm
Electrocardiography (ECG or EKG) is a diagnostic test that records the electrical activity of your pet’s heart, providing veterinary cardiologists with essential information about cardiac rhythm and conduction. Even when your pet’s heartbeat sounds normal through a stethoscope, an ECG can detect subtle electrical abnormalities that precede structural changes or clinical symptoms. This painless test measures the tiny electrical impulses that trigger each heartbeat, the impulse that is supposed to travel from the sinoatrial node through the atria, atrioventricular node, and ventricles.
By analyzing the resulting waveform patterns, board-certified cardiologists can diagnose arrhythmias ranging from benign occasional premature beats to life-threatening ventricular tachycardia or atrial fibrillation. The ECG also reveals whether electrical impulses are traveling through normal pathways or if conduction blocks are present, helping determine if your pet needs anti-arrhythmic medications, pacemaker implantation, or simply routine monitoring.
For breeds prone to sudden cardiac death such as Doberman Pinschers with occult dilated cardiomyopathy or Boxers with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, regular ECG screening can identify dangerous arrhythmias before collapse occurs, enabling preventive treatment that saves lives.
More advanced electrocardiographic devices:
A 24- or 48- hour Holter Monitor
When appropriate your Cardiologist may recommend a Holter Monitor. A Holter Monitor is an ECG “backpack” that your pet wears for 24- or 48- hours. This allows your cardiologist to monitor the electrical activity of your pet’s heart. This can give a more accurate picture of an arrhythmia that may not occur during the hospital visit.
An Event Recorder
When appropriate your cardiologist may recommend an Event Recorder which is an ECG “backpack” that your pet would wear. If a sign of heart disease is appreciated, a button will activate a recorder that will obtain electrical to event correlations. This allows your cardiologist to view the electrical activity of your pets during the events you are seeing at home. This can also give a more accurate picture of an arrhythmia that is not occurring during the hospital visit.
Advanced ECG Services at Coast to Coast Cardiology
Advanced electrocardiography for dogs and cats is available at all our locations across Massachusetts and California. Our board-certified pet cardiology team uses state-of-the-art ECG to diagnose arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, heart block, and premature beats. Services include standard 6-, 7-, and 12-lead ECGs with same-day results, 24-hour Holter monitoring, and event recorders. We provide clear treatment recommendations, coordinate with your family veterinarian, and offer emergency ECG interpretation. Whether you need screening for at-risk breeds, pre-anesthetic clearance, or urgent evaluation for fainting or collapse, you’ll get consistent, expert ECG diagnostics at every location.