Holter Monitoring for Dog Breeders

Cardiomyopathy is a chronic progressive muscle disease of the heart that leads to electrical instability causing ventricular arrhythmias (PVCs) and loss of ventricular pump function (myocardial failure). As a result of the gradual destruction of heart muscle, affected dogs will often experience sudden death or congestive heart failure (CHF).

As the disease progresses, cardiomyopathy causes a disturbance in the electrical conduction system of the heart, producing abnormal premature beats originating within the lower chamber of the heart called PVCs (premature ventricular contractions). When these beats occur all together in a run, called ventricular tachycardia, it could result in sudden death. Some signs are coughing, cyanosis or collapse.

Cardiomyopathy affects many breeds (also called Familial Ventricular Arrhythmia). It is a problem in the electrical conduction system of the heart rather than a disease of the heart muscle itself.

The Holter is the most effective method for identifying PVCs and other lethal arrhythmias. There are varying opinions as to how many PVC’s are considered abnormal within a 24 hour period, but it is generally thought that 50 or more in a 24 hour period are considered affected. You should consult your veterinarian for his or her opinion.

For animals with heart disease, such as cardiomyopathy, a Cardiac Event Holter Monitor is useful in evaluating presence or extent of disease buy determining number of Cardiac PVCs present. PetCardiology provides breeders a certificate for Holter screening.

Some of the dog breeds identified as being prone to Cardiomyopathy are:

Boxers, Great Dane, Cocker Spaniel, Bouvier de Flanders, Bull Mastiff,  Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Rottweiler, Great Pyrenees, Irish Wolfhound, Saluki, Labrador Retriever, Newfoundland, Old English Sheepdog, Rhodesian Ridgeback

Costs for Cardiac Event Holter Monitoring

Please be careful when choosing a company to analyze your Holters. Cheaper is not better when it comes to analyzing important cardiac data.

CardioPaws/PetCardiology operates 24/7, and staffs only certified CVT and Holter technicians who actually scan the 24 hours of ECG, that is why we scan Holters for most of the nations Veterinary Cardiologists, and the largest animal diagnostic company in the country (IDEXX Laboratories, www.idexx.com). Less expensive companies generally do what is called “auto scanning” a machine scan with little or no human intervention and can miss important information (this procedure is not recognized by Medicare or insurance companies for humans). Beware of companies using the word “auto report”. There is a reason “auto scanning” is not reimbursable by insurance companies for humans, why should the standard be any less for the animals we love.

We provide results within 24 hours of our receiving the data.

We can also perform Heart Rate Variability (HRV) from the data if requested by your Veterinarian, at no additional charge.

Various pricing options for Breeders:

If you have your own Holter Monitor, the fee is $85.00  plus $12.00 shipping for digital monitors or flash cards. If our monitors are used, the fee is $175.00 which includes the monitor, supplies,  shipping and analysis. Our Veterinary Cardiologist on staff is available for a consultation of the results for an additional $125.00. For digital Holters please call regarding our many options (800-606-0302)

Buying a Holter Monitor

If you are interested in purchasing a monitor for yourself (or your club), we have a really good Holter supplier of refurbished monitors (Excell Medical) and has possibly the lowest prices nationwide. We offer traditional analogue and smaller digital devices. The accuracy is the same it's just that the digital Holters are smaller.

PLEASE BE AWARE:  With all digital recorders, they can only be scanned/interpreted with the manufactures Holter scanning software.  So, if you buy your own monitor, make sure that the company you are using has that particular software (most companies have only 1 type of software, we have 5).  Also, if you buy your own monitor (one company charges almost $1,700 for the monitor and software to send the data directly to them) and decide you want to use another company, you may be out of luck and your rather expensive Holter investment will be worthless. 

Important:  Most scanning companies, including ours, are no longer  able to scan from the analog recorders that use tapes (pictured below).  So, please be aware when you look to purchase your own monitor.

That is why if you are not sure which company you want to use to interpret your Holters, rent until you find a company you are comfortable with.