As a sequel congestive heart failure (CHF)Īfter taking a detailed history from you, including your dog's background health history and onset of symptoms, your veterinarian will perform a complete physical examination.Digoxin toxicity (drug commonly used to treat various heart diseases).Chronic disease of the heart involving the valves.Following are few of the symptoms related to atrial fibrillation.
The symptoms generally relate to an underlying disease like congestive heart failure (CHF). Arrhythmia lasts for more than 48 hours, only responds to treatment.Periodic, recurrent episodes, which last for a short period of time (less than seven days), with the heart returning to its normal rhythm on its own.Severe underlying cardiac disease like CHF is usually involved.No underlying cardiac disease involved – cause not identified.Symptoms and TypesĪtrial fibrillation is categorized by relevance, including: On an electrocardiogram (ECG), which measures the electrical activity of the heart, a distinct pattern can be differentiated in atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. Atrial fibrillation can occur with or without underlying heart disease. In atrial fibrillation the atria beat chaotically, resulting in irregular rhythms of the ventricle as well. In atrial flutter there is a premature electrical impulse that arises in the atria, resulting in a faster than normal heart rate, either regular or irregular in frequency, whereas in atrial fibrillation there is quivering type of contraction of the heart muscles, resulting in a rapid and abnormally paced heart rhythm, also referred to as arrhythmia. Atrial flutter is often a precursor to atrial fibrillation. Both conditions refer to a rhythm problem that originates in the upper chambers of the heart, that is, the atria. In both atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter this rhythm is disturbed and synchronization is lost between the atria and ventricles. The heart works with exceptional synchronization between the various atrial and ventricular structures, resulting in a consistent rhythmic pattern. The valve between the right atrium and right ventricle is called the tricuspid valve, where the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle is called the mitral valve. Valves are provided between each atrial and ventricular pair, each on the left and right side. The two top chambers are called the atria (single: atrium) whereas the bottom chambers are called the ventricles. (n.d.).Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Flutter in DogsĪ dog's heart is divided into four chambers. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
We link primary sources - including studies, scientific references, and statistics - within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. The procedure uses heat energy to destroy electrical areas where the flutter is originating in the heart. Doctors will thread tiny tubes through a vein in the leg to reach the heart. This involves placing electrodes on the chest and back to restore proper electrical signaling through a shock to the heart.Īnother option is cardiac ablation. In some cases, doctors might prescribe electrical cardioversion. These drugs prevent blood clots from forming and can lower the chances of a stroke. Regularly taking these drugs can prevent episodes of atrial flutter.ĭoctors may also prescribe blood-thinning medications to reduce the risk of complications. The specific treatment will vary from person to person.Īccording to the American Heart Association (AHA), people can take a variety of medications to treat an irregular heartbeat.īeta-blockers can slow the heart rate, and antiarrhythmic medications can help control heart rhythms by suppressing the abnormal electrical signals. Treatments for atrial flutter aim to reduce symptoms and the risk of complications.
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