VPN Plus+ ExclusiveDiagnosis and Treatment of Common ArrhythmiasMarch 27, 2026In this session: Allison Gagnon, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology), helps veterinarians confidently use the ECG in everyday canine and feline practice in this practical, case-based session. Attendees will learn when to perform an ECG, how to obtain high-quality tracings, and how to identify common arrhythmias and conduction abnormalities. ECG waveforms, measurements, and mean electrical axis will be reviewed with a focus on clinical relevance, including how findings guide diagnosis and treatment decisions. The session concludes with real ECG examples to reinforce rhythm recognition and interpretation skills.
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Taking ECGs to the next levelMay 6, 2019The ECG has been a routine test in veterinary practice for decades, and is commonly used for diagnostic purposes, as well as an anesthesia and critical-care monitoring tool. Although the principles of ECG diagnosis remain the same, the ways in which an electrocardiogram can be recorded have changed in recent years. Some of the changes in technology now allow general practices to have access to services that were previously only provided by specialty clinics. Some of the newer technologies also allow screening ECGs to be obtained easier and faster than their conventional counterparts. Why get an ECG? When obtaining a "standardized" ECG, we generally have been taught to use alligator clips and to place the patient in right lateral recumbency. This, of course, requires time and generally two people: one to restrain the animal and the other to run the machine. Further, this technique generally is not amenable to exam room use. A newer option is to consider using a direct chest lead. To decide which technique is best for a particular clinic, it is important to know what ECGs can be used for. The simplest and most important feature of an ECG is it allows a definitive rhythm diagnosis …
