Tachycardia

Tachycardia is an abnormally fast heartbeat that originates in the ventricles (lower chambers) of the heart. Ventricular tachycardia requires urgent medical attention and may life-threatening. Prolonged ventricular tachycardia tends to deteriorate into ventricular fibrillation in which the heart flutters rapidly and inefficiently rather than pumping. Ventricular fibrillation results in death within minutes unless a normal heart rhythm is restored. Signs may include panting, loss of coordination, fainting, rapid breathing.

Causes of Tachycardia

In most cases, ventricular tachycardia is associated with a heart disease. It can also be caused by congenital heart defects. Cardiomyopathy (impaired heart muscle function), myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), and kidney failure. Tachycardias are common cardiac problems in dogs, and atrial paroxysmal tachycardia is a serious cardiac arrhythmia that may lead to fainting.

Treatment

The most common treatment for this condition is medication with drugs known as anti-arrhythmics. If this approach fails, a normal heartbeat may be restored with cardioversion (an electrical shock to the chest). Recent studies have shown success in treating dogs with atrial paroxysmal tachycardia. Homeopathic Digitalis 6c was evaluated in two clinical cases of in dogs. Both adult dogs (Labrador and German Shepherd) were treated with Digitalis 6c, 4 drops orally four times daily for 7 days. Following treatment with Digitalis 6c heart rate stabilised and synchronized atrial and ventricular electrical activity was restored in 7 days.

References

1. Varshney JP, Chaudhuri S. Homeopathy. 2007 Oct;96(4):270-2. Atrial paroxysmal tachycardia in dogs and its management with homeopathic Digitalis--two case reports
2. Martin S. Lipsky. American Medical Association Concise Medical Encyclopedia

Related Topics

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• Central Core Myopathy
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• Circulatory Disorders
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• Endocardial Fibroelastosis
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• Heart Failure
• Heart Muscle Diseases
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