Basic principles of ECG application and interpretation in horses

Abstract

If an arrhythmia is suspected on cardiac auscultation, electrocardiography will make possible a definitive diagnosis. Knowledge of the basic principles of the electrocardiography as diagnostic method, understanding of the normal and pathologic cardiac cell electrical activity, as well as genesis of the electrocardiogram, represent the prior condition for applied electrocardiography in clinical practice. Clinical electrocardiography in horses implies knowledge of the normal equine heart rrhythm and ECG parameters values. Interpretation of the electrocardiogram include determination of heart rate and rrhythm and detection of the presence of abnormal complexes. This article described characteristics of the normal equine ECG and discussed their interpretation.

Keywords

• ECG
• horse
• interpretation