An arrhythmia is any rhythm other than normal sinus rhythm. In cats most clinically important arrhythmias are a sign of structural heart disease, usually a cardiomyopathy, or of a systemic problem such as hyperkalemia, so finding one should start a search for the cause rather than end it.
Key facts
Arrhythmias at a glance- Species and system: cat; cardiovascular.
- Usual causes: cardiomyopathy (HCM is the most common), hyperkalemia (urethral obstruction), hyperthyroidism, drugs and anesthesia, high vagal tone, hypothermia.
- Most common arrhythmia in subclinical cardiomyopathy: ventricular premature complexes (VPCs).
- Atrial fibrillation: every cat with AF has severe underlying heart disease.
- Classic presentation: irregular rhythm, pulse deficits, weakness, collapse or "seizure-like" episodes, or an incidental finding.
- Not zoonotic, not reportable.
What's inside
13 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- What is normal in a cat?
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prevention and control
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 5 tables, 1 figure, 3 self-test questions and 17 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.