Abstract
Atrial fibrillation is the most prevalent arrythmia in dogs and humans and is characterised by chaotic depolarisation of the atria, resulting in damage to the atrial myocardium. It can lead to heart failure or worsen an existing condition and cause sudden death. Electrocardiographically, atrial fibrillation is characterised by the absence of P waves and an irregularly irregular rhythm, with narrow QRS complexes. Treatment of atrial fibrillation requires knowledge of pathophysiology and the pharmacology of antiarrhythmic drugs. In contrast to human medicine, the treatment of dogs revolves mainly around rate control strategies, although new studies propose the consideration of several rhythm strategies. Considering the complexity of atrial fibrillation, there is strong need for a consensus on classification, diagnosis and treatment in dogs.
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