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Updated: Jul 7, 2026
08:56
Sterile Pericarditis in Aachener Minipigs As a Model for Atrial Myopathy and Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: September 24, 2021
Clinically silent atrial dissociation in a dog
Alan Kovacevic1, Amornrate Sastravaha
1Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Kasetsart University, 10900 Bangkok, Thailand. kovacevic.alan@yahoo.de
Summary
A Labrador retriever with atrial dissociation (AD) showed a benign cardiac finding during a routine exam. Further cardiac evaluations were normal, and the dog remained healthy over two years.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Cardiology
- Canine Electrophysiology
Background:
- Routine wellness exams in dogs can reveal unexpected cardiac findings.
- First-degree atrioventricular block and atrial dissociation (AD) are electrophysiological abnormalities that warrant investigation.
Observation:
- A Labrador retriever presented with normal sinus rhythm, first-degree atrioventricular block, and atrial dissociation on ECG.
- Comprehensive cardiologic diagnostics including radiography, echocardiography, and blood pressure measurement were performed.
Findings:
- All diagnostic tests, including thoracic radiography and echocardiography, were within normal limits.
- The atrial dissociation was considered a benign finding in this case.
- No clinical signs of heart failure or other cardiac diseases were observed during a 2-year follow-up.
Implications:
- This case suggests that atrial dissociation can be an incidental and benign finding in dogs.
- Normal results from advanced cardiac diagnostics support a favorable prognosis for dogs with isolated AD.
- Highlights the importance of thorough cardiologic assessment to differentiate benign arrhythmias from significant heart disease.
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