Very random question about heart beat in dogs!

[FestiveSpirit]

I have just googled but couldnt find it - why do dogs have an irregular heart beat as opposed to a regular one in human beings

I noticed Islay's this morning as she lay sprawled over me on my bed

 

[CorvusCorax]

I would assume because they respond to stimuli in different and more extreme ways than we do?

 

[FestiveSpirit]

Sounds logical, I had never thought of that

All the Google results tell me that it must mean she has heart disease

Just checking when her annual booster/MOT are due....

 

[CorvusCorax]

I wouldn't imagine any animal's would be as regular as ours!
I spent quite a lot of time using B as a pillow while he was on 'box rest' in the summer

and it was interesting to notice what would make his quicken up and slow down - Eastenders, among other things, I understand why

 

[pigletpog200k]

hi, I have had lurchers and greyhounds for most of my life. Not sure about other breeds but certainly in these the heartbeat can indeed be quite slow and or irregular, if the dog is very fit the heart does not need to work so hard to push the blood around and will miss beats. My vet has often commented on this when they have been for boosters etc.

 

[Spudlet]

I always wondered this too, but being surrounded by vets and so on never worried - would be interested to know though

 

[Murphy88]

It's called sinus arrhythmia, and is normal in dogs and horses so nothing to worry about. In fact, its actually a sign that the heart is healthy as dogs compensate for heart failure by getting rid of the arrhythmia. I think its to do with the breathing - so speeds up when the dog breathes in then slows when breathing out (*Hayley realises she needs to revise more and shouldn't be on HHO*)

 

[FestiveSpirit]

Ooooh thank you Murphy88

I was hoping a vet might see this - your reply is much appreciated

Now, go and revise if you have imminent exams

 

[MurphysMinder]

[ QUOTE ]
It's called sinus arrhythmia, and is normal in dogs and horses so nothing to worry about. In fact, its actually a sign that the heart is healthy as dogs compensate for heart failure by getting rid of the arrhythmia. I think its to do with the breathing - so speeds up when the dog breathes in then slows when breathing out (*Hayley realises she needs to revise more and shouldn't be on HHO*)

[/ QUOTE ]

You told me you HAD gone up stairs to revise

, was just going to shout up and ask you to look at this thread.

 

[star]

as long as the rhythm is regularly irregular as opposed to irregularly irregular when the beats are all over a place instead of following a pattern then it's prob sinus arrhythmia which is normal in most dogs, esp bracycephalic ones (squashed noses). so you'll normally hear beat beat beat.....beat.....beat.....beat beat beat ......beat .....beat..... beat beat beat etc. any other rhythm is abnormal and should be checked by a vet.

 

[FestiveSpirit]

I have just been sat here with my head laid flat against her ribcage to check

Yep a very regular irregular rythmn if you see what I mean - it was one slow beat then two quick ones, but then she got cross and woke up

 

[star]

sounds perfectly normal

 

[Spudlet]

Thank you veterinary types!

PS Murphy88... busted....

 

[FestiveSpirit]

Thats cool, thanks Star

I can't get used to greyhounds not having heart problems until much later in life, having been brought up with CKCS