Atrial Fibrillation and Sudden Cardiac Death in Dogs | VETgirl Veterinary Continuing Education Podcasts

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we discuss atrial fibrillation (AF) in dogs. AF is a common arrhythmia in our canine patients, characterized by that classic “tennis shoes in a dryer” sound on auscultation. This arrhythmia is caused by disorganized, rapid electrical activity of the atria (Pedro). After identification of this abnormality on physical examination, it is important to confirm the arrhythmia with an electrocardiogram (ECG) and consider a full cardiac assessment to better understand the cause and severity of this finding. AF can itself lead to structural remodeling, and in humans with AF, an increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) is observed (Waldmann). However, it is unclear whether this risk for SCD is also true in dogs. So, Borgeat et al wanted to evaluate this in a study entitled "Prevalence of sudden cardiac death in dogs with atrial fibrillation." In this study, the authors hypothesize that a higher proportion of dogs with AF suffer from SCD than those with sinus rhythm and that SCD would be associated with complex ventricular arrhythmias as identified on a Holter monitor.