Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Treatment of atrial fibrillation in three racehorses.
- Journal:
- Equine veterinary journal
- Year:
- 1977
- Authors:
- Rose, R J & Davis, P E
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Three young Standardbred racehorses were diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, a heart condition where the heart beats irregularly. They were treated with a medication called quinidine sulphate, given through a stomach tube every two hours until their heart rhythm returned to normal. The total amount of medication each horse received ranged from 20 to 30 grams. After the treatment, all three horses rested for three months, and follow-up heart tests at three and six months showed their heart rhythms were normal again. Since all three horses went on to win races and had normal heart tests afterward, it suggests that atrial fibrillation can happen without any serious underlying heart problems.
Abstract
Three young Standardbred pacers with atrial fibrillation were treated with quinidine sulphate (QS) by stomach tube. They were given 10g QS every 2 hours until cardioversion was achieved. Total doses varied between 20 and 30 g. No premedication was given nor any follow up treatment after return to sinus rhythm. All horses were given 3 months rest after the treatment, and when electrocardiographed then, and at 6 months, showed normal sinus rhythm. As all 3 horses won races after cardioversion and showed subsequent normal electrocardiograms it seems likely that atrial fibrillation can occur without detectable pathological changes in the heart.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/862605/