Cardiac abnormalities
Some cardiac abnormalities such as dysrhythmias and heart murmurs are common in horses. In equine athletes in particular, these abnormalities are often linked to loss of performance. Many perfectly healthy horses have a slightly irregular cardiac rhythm or a murmur which may not be significant. However, some changes in rhythm (atrial fibrillation being the most common) and some murmurs are clinically significant and may impact on a horse’s athletic performance. Heart problems can also result from injury or trauma to the heart structure, disruption of electrical signals, or illness elsewhere in the body. Heart disease can develop quickly or over a period of time and should be fully investigated.
World-renowned expertise
Our internal medicine team offer a comprehensive range of cardiology services. We can carry out detailed cardiological investigations, including resting and exercising measurement of cardiac rhythm by telemetric ECG (electrocardiogram) and a detailed assessment of heart structure and movement, including complete evaluation of murmurs, using ultrasonography (echocardiography). This includes availability of the more novel echocardiographic tools including 3D imaging of the heart, tissue doppler imaging and speckle tracking. We offer a comprehensive range of diagnostic facilities for cardiology, coupled with the most advanced treatments and, where required, 24 hour monitoring in our intensive care unit.
ECGs can now be obtained very simply, using modern digital equipment that is small enough to fit under a saddle pad, which records ECGs while the horse exercises freely. This has proven to be invaluable for examining animals at rest and in simulated race, event or endurance race conditions. Our hospital has a range of monitoring equipment available including Televet and Equimetre systems for obtaining exercise ECGs.
We welcome referrals for investigations of murmurs and rhythm changes identified during pre-purchase examinations, or during routine health checks, in addition to referrals for poor performance or illness associated with cardiac conditions. Please contact our internal medicine team for further information.
ECG Reading Service
We offer an ECG reading service to veterinary surgeons. There are now several excellent and accessible tools for recording ECGs in practice. We offer the following options to referring veterinary surgeons:
- Uploading of ECGs to be interpreted and reported on by our internal medicine team. These ECGs can be submitted via our ‘Refer A Case’ form on our website. Please provide a brief history and details of the horse’s activity during the recording.
- If your practice does not have ECG recording equipment available, then we are able to despatch a Televet ECG kit complete with everything you require to record resting and exercise ECGs. We will provide instructions and support to help you record the ECGs and will arrange a courier to deliver and collect the equipment. The recorded ECGs can be submitted for interpretation as above via our ‘Refer a Case’ form.
Please contact our internal medicine team for further information or to refer a case.