Electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings in four cases of bovine endocarditis

Surface limb lead electrocardiograms were recorded in four cases of endocarditis in dairy cows in which the clinical diagnosis was suggested by echocardiography, then later confirmed at necropsy. The electrocardiographic findings common to all cases were sinus tachycardia, right axis deviation (between -178 and -137 degrees); and a QRS complex of a QS variety, with an averae amplitude of -0.7 mV and a mean duration of 0.06 second in lead II. These findings were not diagnostic of endocarditis.