Rhythm Rate ECG Features Clinical Exam
Dog Cat Pwaves QRS-T Complexes Comments Ascultation Pulse
Sinus rhythm 70-160 160-240 Normal Normal Rates vary often increasing and Normal Pulse for every heart beat
Sinus arrhythmia decreasing with respiration except
in cats – sinus arrhythmia
Sinus tachycardia associated with dyspnoea
Sinus bradycardia
VPC None Abnormal Overall heartrate would depend Sounds like a trippping in the rhythm. No pulse (or weak pulse) is
Occurs prematurely upon the frequency of the VPCs Early extra beat heart with each VPC. felt with the VPC (ie a pulse
T wave often opposite to QRS Sometimes the heart sounds with a VPC deficit)
VT 100- 160-400 None Abnormal QRS may be quiet and could sound like a The pulse with a VT is
350 Occur in sequence missed beat. Very frequent VPCs can usually weak. The pulse
T wave often opposite to QRS sound irregular. A sustained VT will strength will vary with the
sound normal. However there will be a frequency of the VPC
SVPCs Often hidden Normal morphology If P waves are seen they are often change in the rhythem depending upon
Occur prematurely abnormal the number of VPCs to normal beats
SVT 160- 240-450 Often hidden Normal QRS If P waves are seen they are often As above As Above
400 Occur in sequence abnormal
R ampliturde may vary slightly Overall heart rate would depend
upon the frequency of the SVPC
Atrial fibrillation QRS QRS 160- No P waves present – Normal QRS morphology If there is an intraventricular Chaotic rate with a variation in intensity The pulse rate is often less
100- 300 replaced by f waves but f R-R rate is chaotic conduction block the QRS of the heart sounds than half the heart rate
300 waaves can be difficult to R amplitude is variable morphology will be abnormal Sounds like “shoes in a tumble dryer” Ie there is >50% pulse
distinguish from muscle deficit
tremor The pulse strength is
variable
Ventricular None No QRS complexes evident The heart is said to feel like a can No heart sounds heard No pulse palpable
fibrillation There is a wavy line which is chaotic of worms
Sinus block 70-160 160-240 None None There is a pause in the rhythm like there Like a missed pulse has
R-R interval equals R-R interval x2 of the has been a dropped beat occurred
preceeding normal complexes
Sinus arrest <160 <240 None None There is a long pause in the heart sounds No pulse palpable during
There may be ectopic escape complexes the arrest
Pause in rhythm exceeds R-R interval x2 of
the preceeding normal complexes
Atrial standstill <70 <160 None Usually abnormal (ie ventricular escape Heart sounds normal but usually slow Pulse is palpable for each
rhythm) heart beat
First degree AVB 70-160 160-240 Normal Normal Delayed P-QRS interval Normal Pulse for every heart beat
Second degree P70- P70-160 Normal None intermittently Some P waves are not followed by Occasional pause in heart sounds, similar No pulse felt with blocked
AVB 160 QRS <240 a QRS to sinus block or arrest. Atrial beat
QRS contraction sound might be heard. If
<160 there are frequent blocked beats, the
rhythm can sound irregular but slow with
pauses
Third degree AVB P 70- 70-160 Normal Normal nodal escape or abnormal P waves and QRS complexes are Sounds normal but slow often quite a Pulse felt for each heart beat
160 QRS<160 ventricular escape unrelated steady rate (unlike sinus arrhythmia for
QRS example) Atrial contractions sounds may
<70 be heard faintlyl they are usually at a
normal rate and regular
Ventricular pre- >70 >160 Normal Normal except a delta wave may be seen in If this leads to a supraventricular Normal except when there is a SVT Pulse every beat but weak
excitation the upstroke of the QRS tachycardia ie WPW, the rate can when there is an SVT
be 300-400
AV dissociation >70 >160 Normal Normal Some P waves may be hidden with Most usually sounds normal Pulse for every heart beat
in QRS-T complexes
There is a slight mismatch in P
wave rate and QRS wave rate but
almost 1:1