{"id":58940,"date":"2022-06-10T15:39:06","date_gmt":"2022-06-10T15:39:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dinbeat.com\/?p=58940"},"modified":"2022-09-14T13:39:31","modified_gmt":"2022-09-14T13:39:31","slug":"is-it-possible-to-use-a-24-hour-ecg-monitor-for-your-pet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dinbeat.com\/en\/is-it-possible-to-use-a-24-hour-ecg-monitor-for-your-pet\/","title":{"rendered":"Is It Possible to Use a 24 Hour ECG Monitor for Your Pet?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have a history of heart problems, then you are probably all too familiar with the concept of<\/span><b> monitoring and assessing cardiac activity in humans<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. You go to the doctor with a complaint, and they send you home with an ECG monitor that you have to wear for 24 hours.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, did you know that many <\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/dinbeat.com\/en\/vet-tech-how-digital-transformation-is-impacting-modern-veterinary-clinics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">veterinary clinics<\/a> and surgeries are now using 24 hour ECG monitors to track cardiac activity in animals<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">? In fact, this field has been gaining significant traction over the past few years and technological advances are enabling veterinarians to gain increasing insight into the health, wellbeing, and physical condition of our beloved furry friends.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With that in mind, let\u2019s take a look at what a <\/span><b>24 hour ECG monitor<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is exactly, what it can be used for, how it works, and how it can help you monitor the health of your pet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><!--HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --><span id=\"hs-cta-wrapper-1dd69235-c66a-4f06-937f-d502ffcf5160\" class=\"hs-cta-wrapper\"><span id=\"hs-cta-1dd69235-c66a-4f06-937f-d502ffcf5160\" class=\"hs-cta-node hs-cta-1dd69235-c66a-4f06-937f-d502ffcf5160\"><!-- [if lte IE 8]>\n\n\n<div id=\"hs-cta-ie-element\"><\/div>\n\n\n<![endif]--><a href=\"https:\/\/cta-redirect.hubspot.com\/cta\/redirect\/6092775\/1dd69235-c66a-4f06-937f-d502ffcf5160\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"hs-cta-img-1dd69235-c66a-4f06-937f-d502ffcf5160\" class=\"hs-cta-img\" style=\"border-width: 0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/6092775\/1dd69235-c66a-4f06-937f-d502ffcf5160.png\" alt=\"Would you like to know what benefits Dinbeat UNO can offer to your veterinary clinic? Click anddownload the complete catalogue. \u00a0\" \/><\/a><\/span><script charset=\"utf-8\" src=\"https:\/\/js.hscta.net\/cta\/current.js\"><\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> hbspt.cta.load(6092775, '1dd69235-c66a-4f06-937f-d502ffcf5160', {\"useNewLoader\":\"true\",\"region\":\"na1\"}); <\/script><\/span><!-- end HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What Is a 24 Hour ECG Monitor?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A 24 hour ECG monitor, also known as a<\/span><b> Holter monitor and ambulatory ECG monitoring<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, is a<\/span><b> portable medical device that monitors the heart and checks for abnormalities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It is one of the simplest and fastest tests used to evaluate the heart over a prolonged period of time, usually 24 hours.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A patient wears the<\/span><b> battery-powered medical device <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">for anywhere between 12 and 48 hours as they go about their normal daily routine. During this time, electrodes and electrical leads record the heart rate and rhythm and<\/span><b> detect if the patient experiences chest pains<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or arrhythmias or exhibits symptoms of an irregular heartbeat<\/span><b>. Devices are usually prescribed <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">when a doctor needs to know more information about how a patient\u2019s heart is functioning than they are able to obtain from a routine electrocardiogram (EKG).<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What Is a 24 Hour ECG Monitor Used For?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a number of issues that can affect the heart, and many occur sporadically. This means that you might not necessarily be at the doctor\u2019s office when a problem occurs. To address this,<\/span><b> doctor\u2019s sometimes ask patients to wear a 24 hour ECG monitor<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> so that they can monitor heart beats and rhythms over a prolonged period of time, making it far more likely that any potential issues are detected. This provides an <\/span><b>analysis taken from a much more organic setting<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, as your heart is being monitored as you go about your usual daily activities, rather than relying on a snapshot analysis taken in a busy and stressful environment such as a doctor\u2019s surgery.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The device works in much the same way as a standard ECG. It is a<\/span><b> small, wireless device <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(around the size of a small mobile phone) that attaches to the chest through thin electrical cords with electrodes.<\/span><b> It then continuously records the heart&#8217;s electrical activity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which can later be analysed by a doctor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A doctor may ask a patient to use a 24 hour ECG monitor if they are experiencing <\/span><b>symptoms<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> such as:<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>A fast or slow heartbeat<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Dizziness<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Weakness or fatigue<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Feeling out of breath<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Chest pain<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>A fluttering sensation in the heart<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>An uneven heartbeat<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>The feeling of skipping heartbeats<\/b><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Dizziness while using a pacemaker<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A 24 hour ECG monitor can also be used on<\/span><b> patients with ongoing heart problems <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to see, for example, how they are adjusting to new medication or if treatment needs to be re-evaluated.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><!--HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --><span id=\"hs-cta-wrapper-64120618-6963-4c43-87cf-7bff35a3cf6a\" class=\"hs-cta-wrapper\"><span id=\"hs-cta-64120618-6963-4c43-87cf-7bff35a3cf6a\" class=\"hs-cta-node hs-cta-64120618-6963-4c43-87cf-7bff35a3cf6a\"><!-- [if lte IE 8]>\n\n\n<div id=\"hs-cta-ie-element\"><\/div>\n\n\n<![endif]--><a href=\"https:\/\/cta-redirect.hubspot.com\/cta\/redirect\/6092775\/64120618-6963-4c43-87cf-7bff35a3cf6a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"hs-cta-img-64120618-6963-4c43-87cf-7bff35a3cf6a\" class=\"hs-cta-img\" style=\"border-width: 0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/6092775\/64120618-6963-4c43-87cf-7bff35a3cf6a.png\" alt=\"New call-to-action\" width=\"750\" height=\"119\" \/><\/a><\/span><script charset=\"utf-8\" src=\"https:\/\/js.hscta.net\/cta\/current.js\"><\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> hbspt.cta.load(6092775, '64120618-6963-4c43-87cf-7bff35a3cf6a', {\"useNewLoader\":\"true\",\"region\":\"na1\"}); <\/script><\/span><!-- end HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can You Use a 24 Hour ECG Monitor for Your Pet?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Much in the same way it is used on humans, <\/span><b>a 24 hour ECG monitor can also be used on animals <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to establish if there are any abnormalities in the heart rate and rhythm. The device is attached to an animal in a veterinary clinic, then they are sent home to carry on with their day as usual.<\/span><b> Monitoring is then done from the comfort of the animal\u2019s own home.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Animals are expected to eat, drink, sleep, and exercise as normal so that the heart can be monitored under regular conditions. The pet owner, in turn, keeps a log of when the animal is performing each activity.That results can be correlated with heart rates and rhythms. The veterinarian can then analyse all collected data and diagnose the health condition needing attention.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a number of benefits to using a 24 hour ECG monitor for your pet<\/span><b>. Portable ECG devices can<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> successfully<\/span><b> detect<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, for example,<\/span><b> intermittent arrhythmias<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (irregular heart rhythms) that may result in medical conditions in animals, such as fainting, episodic weakness, or exercise intolerance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <\/span><b>24 hour ECG monitor can also be used to detect the presence of asymptomatic heart disease in certain breeds of dog<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, such as Dobermans and Boxers, and to assess the efficacy of anti-arrhythmic treatment. Other applications include the identification of occasional seizures, episodes of ventricular tachycardia, or sinus arrest in cats and dogs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How Does It Work?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is a <\/span><b>wide variety of devices available on the market<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Some are more complex (and more expensive) than others. However, all are based on the same basic premise: some form of recording device with leads that are attached to an animal by electrodes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Generally speaking, a veterinary 24 hour ECG monitor usually works as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>device is attached to the animal at a veterinary clinic<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Most 24 hour ECG monitors have an adhesive backing to stick to the skin (so the area needs to be shaved). Bandages are then applied to secure the device. Others come with a vest or harness design, so they are easier to attach and less likely to fall off.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The<\/span><b> animal goes home and continues with their regular activities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>ECG data is recorded <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">either onto a small tape or in a microcomputer so that it can be decoded and analysed once the monitoring period has ended.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Information is timed<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, so the pet owner must keep a detailed log of all activities (when the animal rests, sleeps, exercises, eats, etc.)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 2<\/span><b>4 hour ECG monitor is returned to the veterinary clinic after<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the established period has passed (usually 24 hours) and data is decoded and analysed.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If abnormalities are detected, a<\/span><b> diagnosis is made and a treatment plan<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is put into place.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A 24 hour<\/span><b> ECG monitor is not without its challenges.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> For example, the device can fall off during exercise; the adhesive strip can sometimes cause skin irritation; the device itself can sometimes cause an animal to become restless and irritated, resulting in false readings; and the device cannot get wet. However, generally speaking,<\/span><b> the monitor can be a highly useful device <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">for obtaining an accurate analysis of the cardiac health of an animal in a relaxed and organic setting, enabling a higher chance of successful diagnosis.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><!--HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --><span id=\"hs-cta-wrapper-3bcf4161-9983-4c44-8b4e-8679fa6b3ab8\" class=\"hs-cta-wrapper\"><span id=\"hs-cta-3bcf4161-9983-4c44-8b4e-8679fa6b3ab8\" class=\"hs-cta-node hs-cta-3bcf4161-9983-4c44-8b4e-8679fa6b3ab8\"><!-- [if lte IE 8]>\n\n\n<div id=\"hs-cta-ie-element\"><\/div>\n\n\n<![endif]--><a href=\"https:\/\/cta-redirect.hubspot.com\/cta\/redirect\/6092775\/3bcf4161-9983-4c44-8b4e-8679fa6b3ab8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"hs-cta-img-3bcf4161-9983-4c44-8b4e-8679fa6b3ab8\" class=\"hs-cta-img\" style=\"border-width: 0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/6092775\/3bcf4161-9983-4c44-8b4e-8679fa6b3ab8.png\" alt=\"Download Catalogue\" width=\"750\" height=\"393\" \/><\/a><\/span><script charset=\"utf-8\" src=\"https:\/\/js.hscta.net\/cta\/current.js\"><\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> hbspt.cta.load(6092775, '3bcf4161-9983-4c44-8b4e-8679fa6b3ab8', {\"useNewLoader\":\"true\",\"region\":\"na1\"}); <\/script><\/span><!-- end HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you have a history of heart problems, then you are probably all too familiar with the concept of monitoring and assessing cardiac activity in humans. You go to the doctor with a complaint, and they send you home with an ECG monitor that you have to wear for 24 hours.\u00a0 However, did you know [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":142,"featured_media":58941,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[435],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-58940","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dinbeat-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dinbeat.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58940","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dinbeat.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dinbeat.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dinbeat.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dinbeat.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58940"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/dinbeat.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58940\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":60429,"href":"https:\/\/dinbeat.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58940\/revisions\/60429"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dinbeat.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/58941"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dinbeat.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58940"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dinbeat.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58940"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dinbeat.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58940"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}