Electrocardiograph ( EKG )

The heart is a pump which is better than anything humans have yet designed. It can be regulated by demand and will pump a complex fluid without turbulence or damage to the cells within the fluid. It has no moving parts to wear out and will typically beat about half a billion times in an animal's lifetime. There are things which can damage the heart, and there are particular degenerative processes which can lead to the pump failing. A few unlucky animals are born with defective hearts which will restrict their life expectancy, though some of them can be corrected surgically. The commonest preventable cause of heart damage is dental infection. So dental hygiene is not just a cosmetic exercise.

Some breeds of cat and dog are inclined to have narrow heart valves which make it more difficult for blood to be pumped through them and so lead to overstrain of the heart. Some breeds of dog are prone to degeneration of the heart muscle (especially very large breeds) and some have abnormal valve structure. Whatever the cause, when the heart is unable to pump blood as effectively as the body requires there are several ways in which the body tries to improve its blood supply. Animals in heart failure will show a variety of symptoms. It is much easier to spot in dogs than cats ( and difficult in cage pets too ). In order to determine the condition of your pet's heart, an electrocardiography may be necessary. 

Electrocardiography is a commonly used, non-invasive procedure for recording electrical changes in the heart. The record, which is called an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), shows the series of waves that relate to the electrical impulses which occur during each beat of the heart. The results are printed on paper or displayed on a monitor. The waves in a normal record are named P, Q, R, S, and T and follow in alphabetical order. The number of waves may vary, and other waves may be present.

An electrocardiography device and method that is able to obtain the electrocardiogram of a freely moving animal. The device and method utilizes at least two catheters to obtain the electrical signals from the heart of the animal being tested. The catheters are filled with an electrically-conductive, physiological solution and are used in combination with at least two test leads that are able to transfer the electrical signals from the animal to an ECG monitoring device. The device and method also allows for fluids to flow through the catheters to other devices such as a blood sampler controller and/or an infusion pump. Animals in heart failure will show a variety of symptoms. It is much easier to spot in dogs than cats (and difficult in cage pets too).