Electrocardiogram (EKG, ECG)

Heart problems are commonly found in both dogs and cats and can sometimes result in cardiac arrhythmias (an irregular heart beat). Electrocardiograms (also called EKG or ECGs) evaluate the electrical activity in the heart and allow us to detect arrhythmias easily.

In cats, heart disease usually presents in the form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which is a condition in which the heart muscle is thickened and diseased and does not contract effectively.

Cats of all breeds may develop cardiomyopathies, and cardiomyopathies are also found in younger cats as well as older cats. 

ECG screening can sometimes allow us to detect cardiac arrhythmias which may arise from these problems before other clinical changes occur. However, cardiac ultrasonagraphy (also known as an echocardiogram) and radiographs (X-Rays) of the chest remain the most valuable aids in diagnosing any heart disease in cats.

ECG monitoring is especially essential during a surgical procedure or any other procedure which involves sedation or anesthesia for your cat. Cardiac arrhythmias can occur as a result of the medications used to induce sedation or anesthesia and the ECG will allow us to recognize these arrhythmias and treat them appropriately.

A specialized form of ECG is known as a Holter monitor. A Holter monitor is a device which your cat wears in a back-pack like device. The Holter monitor allows continual ECG evaluation over a prolonged amount of time, which is helpful in evaluating patterns which are not evident in the 30-60 second ECG tracing usually possible within the confines of your veterinarian's office. This is helpful in evaluating conditions which result in fainting or episodes of collapse because we are able to examine what the ECG looks like while the event is happening. This form of ECG monitoring is also known as event monitoring.