2016 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

common clinical manifestations observed were syncope (71%), presyncope (24%), dyspnea (18%) and exercise intolerance (12%). Twelve percent of the dogs were asymptomatic. The most frequent electrocardiographic changes found were sinus arrest (75%), junctional escape rhythm (73%), supraventricular tachycardia (53%) and sinus arrhytmia (53%). Forty-seven percent of the dogs presented tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome. Only 24% of the animals received pacemaker implants, given the high percentage of animals unable to go through chirurgical/anesthetic procedures (29%), and the presence of asymptomatic animals. The dogs that received pacemaker implants lived for 20.4 months (mean value), whereas the ones that were treated conservatively lived for 10.8 months (mean value). These values showed benefit to those patients who received pacemaker implants, but was hindered by the high percentage of comorbidities in older animals, besides the small number of patients enrolled in this retrospective study.