Supraventricular tachycardia with isorhythmic atrioventricular dissociation in a Labrador retriever
- A. van Loon
- V. Liekens
- D. Binst
- D. Paepe
- B. Houdellier
- P. Smets
Abstract
A neutered, seven-year-old, female Labrador retriever was presented with complaints of tachypnea, gagging and abdominal distension. A left apical systolic murmur with an intensity of 3/6, tachycardia, weak femoral pulses and positive undulation were observed on physical examination. After echocardiographic and electrocardiographic examination, dilated cardiomyopathy (primary or secundary) and supraventricular tachycardia were diagnosed. At a later control visit, after initiation of treatment with digoxin, electrocardiography revealed isorhythmic atrioventricular dissociation (IAVD) and poor control of the SVT. After transition to diltiazem, the tachycardia was well-controlled. A full recovery of the heart was observed on echocardiographic examination. Twenty-four months later, the dog showed no more cardiac signs. In this case report, a rare arrhythmia, i.e. IAVD in combination with SVT is described. It shows the importance of SVT as a reversible cause of a DCM-like phenotype on echocardiography.
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