Evaluación de los cambios morfológicos del trazado electrocardiográfico en perros

Abstract

Thanks to the electrocardiogram, we can evaluate the heart's electrical activity, thereby de-tecting any alterations that may be present. The objective of this study was to identify morphological changes in the electrocardiographic tracing in dogs, related to age, breed, and sex. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 250 electrocardiograms performed at the CLINICAN veterinary clinic in Cuenca, Ecuador, between February 2018 and March 2025. These were classified by age (under 7 years, over 7 years), breed (high cross, mixed-breed), and sex (females, males). The chi-square test was used to determine the existence of statistically significant relationships.The results showed significant changes in the duration of the P wave and the QRS complex with age, increasing in dogs older than 7 years (41.9% to 78.1% for the P wave and 51.6% to 70.3% for the QRS). Differences were observed in the duration of the P wave, with greater alterations in mixed-breeds (85.4%) versus high cross (70.8%), and in the duration of the QRS complex, with greater alterations in high cross dogs (71.8%) versus mixed-breeds (52.1%). No differences were found in any electrocardiographic interval in relation to sex. In conclusion, these findings are important for determining which patients are in a risk group. Therefore, the use of the electrocardiogram is necessary in daily clinical practice, as it allows us to diagnose and treat susceptible patients preventively.