Event-based cardiac monitoring in small animal practice

Available ambulatory electrocardiographic devices include 24-hour (Holter) monitors and event-based recorders (EBRs; event-based monitors). EBRs are s maller and less expensive, can be worn for longer periods, and are more ver satile regarding transmission of the acquired electrocardiographic informat ion than are Holier monitors. These characteristics have made EBRs useful i n small animal practice. However, EBRs may miss asymptomatic arrhythmias an d are not useful for monitoring antiarrhythmic drug therapy. Attachment and use of EBRs are technically simple, but owner participation is required to activate the recorder when the patient exhibits clinical signs. EBRs help to identify whether intermittent clinical signs are due to a cardiac arrhyt hmia; if they are, the monitor reveals the type of arrhythmia. This importa nt information can then he of therapeutic value, as demonstrated in the cli nical cases discussed in this article.