The objectives of this study were to describe the signalment and cardiac disease diagnosis in dogs with notched QRS complexes of normal duration, as well as to describe the specific leads and number of leads with notched QRS complexes on ECG. Medical records and ECGs from 85 dogs with notched QRS complexes in at least 1 ECG lead were evaluated. A retrospective review of digitally stored ECGs and associated medical records of dogs with a recorded ECG as part of routine clinical evaluation was performed. Medical records were reviewed for signalment and cardiac disease diagnosis in dogs with notched QRS complexes identified. The age at time of ECG recording was 9.15 ± 3.38 years for the 85 dogs with notched QRS complexes in at least 1 ECG lead. Most dogs (78.8%) had 3 or less ECG leads with notched QRS complexes. Most dogs (69.4%) with notched QRS complexes in at least 1 lead had cardiac disease. The odds ratio of a dog having cardiac disease if more than 1 lead was identified with notched QRS complexes was 3.97. The most common cardiac disease identified was chronic atrioventricular valvular degeneration (CVD), and the majority of these dogs (80%) had 2 or less leads with notched QRS complexes. In conclusion dogs with and without cardiac disease can have notched QRS complexes, and the likelihood of a dog having cardiac disease that has more than 1 ECG lead with notched QRS complexes is significant which should warrant diagnostic evaluation.

Disclosures

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