Diagnostics of the heart condition in ukrainian riding horses with a portable ecg monitor

Abstract

Electrocardiographic reference values of clinically healthy horses are needed for assessment of the reduced performance or cardiac pathology animals. The purpose of this study was to establish the rate of occurrence of arrhythmias in clinically healthy horses of the Ukrainian riding breed at rest, during exercises, and the recovery period. The experimental group of animals included 36 horses of age 3-17 years, 16 mares (adult female horses), 11 geldings (castrated males), and 9 stallions (adult males). The electrodes were placed with a modified base-apex system on the surface of animals' bodies. ECG recording was performed at rest (15 minutes), during exercises and the recovery period for 30-40 and 15 minutes, respec vely. Prevalence and frequency of occurrence of arrhythmias were analysed with obtained recordings. A significant number of the second-degree atrioventricular blocks were detected in 13.9% cases (n = 5) during the recovery period. 33.3% (n = 2), 8.3% (n = 3), and 19.4% (n = 7) of cases of supraventricular premature contrac ons were detected during exercises, at rest, and during the recovery period, respec vely. The incidence of supraventricular premature contrac ons was < 3/animal and < 5/animal during exercises, and recovery period, respec vely; with the excep on of one animal in which 9 and 7 premature contrac ons were detected, respec vely. Ventricular premature contrac ons were iden fied in 2.7% (n = 1) and 5.6% (n = 2) cases, at rest and exercises, respec vely. Supraventricular tachycardia with 6-9 consecu ve premature contrac ons during trot was detected in 1 horse (2.7%). The results of this study have confirmed the presence of arrhythmias in clinically healthy horses. The type of arrhythmias significantly depends on the period (rest, exercises, and recovery) of the animal's ac vity, par cularly.