Veterinary ECG
Veterinary-specific ECG guides — canine and feline ECG interpretation, species differences, lead placement, and clinical pearls for veterinary professionals.
Canine ECG Overview
A comprehensive introduction to canine ECG interpretation, covering normal values, standard lead placement in right lateral recumbency, and how canine cardiac electrophysiology differs from human ECG norms.
canineCanine Normal Sinus Rhythm
Canine normal sinus rhythm originates from the sinoatrial node and conducts normally through the AV node and ventricular conduction system. Unlike human NSR, dogs commonly display respiratory sinus arrhythmia as a normal variant within the context of sinus rhythm.
canineCanine Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is the most clinically significant and common sustained supraventricular arrhythmia in dogs. It is characterized by chaotic atrial electrical activity, an irregularly irregular ventricular response, and absence of distinct P waves. In large and giant breed dogs, it is frequently associated with dilated cardiomyopathy.
canineCommon Canine Arrhythmias
An overview of the most clinically important arrhythmias encountered in dogs, including their ECG characteristics, underlying causes, clinical significance, and species-specific considerations that distinguish canine arrhythmia management from human cardiology.
canineCanine Cardiac Axis
The mean electrical axis (MEA) in dogs represents the overall direction of ventricular depolarization in the frontal plane. The normal canine axis of +40° to +100° reflects the more rightward and cranioventral orientation of the dog's heart compared to the more leftward human axis, and is essential for interpreting axis deviations in canine ECG.
canineCanine ECG Lead Placement
Correct ECG lead placement in dogs is essential for obtaining interpretable recordings. The veterinary standard differs from human placement in both body position (right lateral recumbency instead of supine) and electrode location (elbows and stifles rather than wrists and ankles), and is the foundation of all published normal canine ECG values.
canineFeline ECG Overview
An introduction to feline ECG interpretation covering normal values, key differences from canine and human ECG, and the clinical context of common feline cardiac diseases including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Feline ECG complexes are characteristically small in amplitude and the normal heart rate range is substantially higher than in dogs or humans.
felineSpecies ECG Comparison
A side-by-side comparison of ECG parameters, normal values, and clinical interpretation principles across canine and feline species. Understanding species-specific differences is essential for accurate veterinary ECG interpretation and avoidance of diagnostic errors from cross-applying inappropriate reference values.
canine, felineVeterinary ECG Interpretation Guide
A systematic approach to interpreting ECGs in veterinary patients, covering the step-by-step method for analyzing rate, rhythm, P waves, PR interval, QRS complex, ST segment, and T waves using species-specific normal values for dogs and cats.
canine, felineHeart Rate Ranges by Species
A reference guide to normal heart rate ranges in dogs and cats by species, breed size, and clinical context. Heart rate interpretation in veterinary medicine is highly species- and size-dependent, and understanding the appropriate normal ranges is foundational to accurate ECG and clinical cardiovascular assessment.
canine, feline