ECG & Heart Rate
ECG recordings and heart-rate information to help assess cardiac rhythm.
Equine Veterinary Services
Equine ECG Monitoring
ECG monitoring can help investigate abnormal heart rhythms, poor performance, collapse and exercise intolerance in horses.
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Overview
Understanding your horse’s heart rhythm
Electrocardiography, or ECG, records the electrical activity of the heart and can help veterinarians investigate abnormal heart rhythms, poor performance, collapse, exercise intolerance and other concerns relating to cardiac function.
At Racetrack Veterinary Services, we can use the V-PRO equine monitoring system to provide ECG assessment and extended cardiac monitoring for horses.
The V-PRO system allows ECG data to be recorded at rest, over an extended period and during exercise, providing our team of veterinarians with valuable information about how a horse’s heart is functioning in different situations.
When might a horse need an ECG?
ECG monitoring may be recommended if your horse is showing:
An abnormal or irregular heartbeat
Poor or unexplained performance or reduced exercise tolerance
Unusual fatigue, collapse or weakness
Abnormal heart rate or rhythm during examination
Slow recovery following exercise
Concerns during a Pre-Purchase Examination or suspected cardiac arrhythmia
In some horses, an abnormal rhythm may only occur intermittently or during exercise, making longer-term or exercise ECG monitoring particularly useful.
Equine Monitoring Technology
What is the V-PRO?
The V-PRO is an equine-specific wearable monitoring system designed for veterinary use. It incorporates ECG capability into a wearable harness and allows horses to be monitored while resting in the stable or paddock. An exercise component can also be used to record ECG activity during work.
The system can provide our team of veterinarians with information including:
Respiration & Temperature
Respiratory rate and temperature information as part of the monitoring data.
Movement & Position
Movement and activity, including whether the horse is standing or lying down.
Location information can also be provided. Information can be viewed remotely through the V-PRO system, with monitoring data stored for review and analysis.
Types of Assessment
Resting, extended and exercise ECG
The type of monitoring recommended will depend on your horse’s signs, history and the reason for investigation.
Resting ECG
A resting ECG records the electrical activity of the horse’s heart while they are standing quietly. This may be useful where our team of veterinarians detects an abnormal rhythm during a routine clinical examination or when there is concern about cardiac function.
Because horses can normally have variations in their heart rhythm at rest, ECG recordings allow the veterinarian to assess the pattern and determine whether further investigation may be required.
Extended ECG Monitoring
One of the benefits of the V-PRO system is its ability to record ECG activity for extended periods. V-PRO can provide continuous ECG recording for up to 24 hours, allowing veterinarians to investigate abnormalities that may not be present during a short examination.
Extended monitoring may be particularly helpful for horses with:
- Intermittent irregular heart rhythms
- Episodes of weakness or collapse
- Unexplained changes in performance
- Suspected arrhythmias that occur infrequently
- Abnormalities requiring monitoring over time
This provides a broader picture of the horse’s cardiac activity than a brief ECG alone.
Exercise ECG
Some cardiac abnormalities only become apparent when a horse is exercising. Using the V-PRO exercise ECG capability, cardiac electrical activity can be recorded while the horse is working.
Exercise ECG can be particularly useful when investigating:
- Poor performance
- Exercise intolerance
- Abnormal heart rhythms during work
- Unexplained fatigue
- Slow recovery after exercise
- Episodes occurring only during training or competition
For racehorses and performance horses, assessing the heart during exercise can provide important information that may not be evident when the horse is examined at rest.
Remote Monitoring
The V-PRO system also allows horses to be monitored remotely. Data collected by the wearable system is transmitted for review through the V-PRO platform, and adjustable alerts can be set for selected biometric parameters.
This can be particularly valuable for horses requiring closer observation over an extended period rather than relying solely on occasional physical checks.
It may also assist with monitoring selected horses during recovery from illness or where changes in heart rate, respiration, temperature, movement or position are clinically relevant.
Performance & Cardiac Health
ECG monitoring for racehorses and performance horses
Racetrack Veterinary Services works extensively with racehorses and performance horses where small changes in cardiovascular function may have a significant effect on performance.
ECG monitoring may form part of a broader poor-performance investigation where a horse:
Signs to investigate
- Is not finishing races or work as expected
- Fades unexpectedly during exercise
- Has reduced stamina
- Has an irregular rhythm detected during examination
- Recovers unusually slowly after work
- Has episodes of weakness or abnormal behaviour during exercise
A systematic investigation
Depending on the horse, ECG findings may be assessed alongside other investigations such as dynamic endoscopy, lameness assessment, blood testing or further cardiac investigation.
Poor performance in horses can have many different causes. Where cardiac disease or an abnormal rhythm is suspected, ECG monitoring may form one part of a wider investigation that can include:
- Clinical examination
- Blood tests
- Resting or dynamic endoscopy
- Lameness work-up
- Digital radiography
- Ultrasound
- Gastroscopy
- Exercise assessment
- Referral for specialist cardiac investigation where required
Our aim is to investigate the horse systematically rather than assuming that one abnormal finding is responsible for the performance concern.
What to Expect
What happens during ECG monitoring?
The type of monitoring required will depend on why your horse is being investigated.
Short assessment
For a short assessment, our team of veterinarians may obtain an ECG recording while the horse is standing quietly.
Longer monitoring
For intermittent abnormalities, the V-PRO harness may be worn for a longer period to collect ECG and other monitoring information.
Exercise assessment
If the problem is suspected to occur during exercise, an exercise ECG may be recommended.
Review and next steps
The recorded information can then be reviewed by the veterinarian to assess the horse’s rhythm and determine whether additional investigation or specialist cardiac assessment is appropriate.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What does an ECG show?
An ECG records the electrical activity of the heart. It allows the veterinarian to assess the horse’s heart rhythm and identify certain rhythm abnormalities.
Does an ECG hurt?
No. ECG monitoring is non-invasive. The V-PRO uses sensors incorporated into the wearable equipment to record cardiac electrical activity.
How long can my horse be monitored?
The V-PRO system can provide extended ECG monitoring, including recordings of up to 24 hours.
Can you monitor my horse while exercising?
Yes. V-PRO provides an exercise ECG option, allowing cardiac activity to be assessed during work.
Why would my horse need an exercise ECG?
Some arrhythmias only develop during exercise or recovery. If a horse has poor performance or exercise-related symptoms, an exercise ECG may provide information that is not visible during a resting examination.
Can an irregular heartbeat be normal in horses?
Some rhythm variations can occur in healthy horses, particularly at rest. ECG examination allows the veterinarian to assess the rhythm and determine its significance in the individual horse.
Does an abnormal ECG mean my horse has heart disease?
Not necessarily. ECG findings need to be interpreted alongside the horse’s clinical examination, history, symptoms and level of exercise. Further investigation may sometimes be recommended.
Book an Appointment
Book an equine ECG assessment
If your horse has an irregular heartbeat, unexplained poor performance, reduced exercise tolerance or an episode of weakness or collapse, ECG monitoring may help determine whether a cardiac rhythm abnormality is contributing.
Racetrack Veterinary Services uses the V-PRO equine monitoring system from Trindall Equestrian Services to provide resting, extended and exercise ECG monitoring for racehorses, performance horses and other equine patients.
BOOK A VET ☎ 03 5975 6586