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 …
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