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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Med (Auckl) / The diagnosis and management of atrial fibrillation in the h...
Veterinary medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)2015; 6; 83-90; doi: 10.2147/VMRR.S46304

The diagnosis and management of atrial fibrillation in the horse.

Abstract: Atrial fibrillation is the most common performance-limiting arrhythmia in the horse. Detailed cardiovascular evaluation will help guide prognosis and treatment. Many affected horses have lone atrial fibrillation (no predisposing cardiac abnormalities). These horses have a good prognosis for return to performance if sinus rhythm can be restored. The main therapeutic option continues to be quinidine, which has been used for over 60 years. Transvenous electrical cardioversion has proven to be a successful alternative. Other therapeutic options are being explored, but are currently limited.
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Publication Date: 2015-02-26 PubMed ID: 30101098PubMed Central: PMC6067668DOI: 10.2147/VMRR.S46304Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article focuses on addressing atrial fibrillation, a common disorder limiting horses’ performance. It emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive cardiovascular assessment to inform proper management, detailing the prevalent treatment options and examining the prognosis for horses with lone atrial fibrillation – that is, without underlying heart abnormalities.

Background and Importance of Atrial Fibrillation

  • Atrial fibrillation is identified as the primary performance-limiting arrhythmia in horses. It is a cardiac disorder where the heart’s two upper chambers – the atria – beat irregularly and disconnect from the lower ones. This complication can significantly affect a horse’s physical performance.
  • For horses exhibiting lone atrial fibrillation, without pre-existing cardiac abnormalities, the prognosis for a return to high-performance levels is favorable if the normal heart rhythm, sinus rhythm, can be reinstated.

Cardiovascular Evaluation

  • An in-depth cardiovascular evaluation is crucial in managing atrial fibrillation. It aids in assessing a horse’s current condition, forecasting disease progression, formulating a suitable treatment strategy, and predicting their likely return to peak performance.

Therapeutic Interventions

  • The most frequently utilized therapeutic strategy for atrial fibrillation in horses remains the administration of quinidine, a drug that has been in usage for over six decades. This medication works by correcting the rhythm of the heart.
  • Transvenous electrical cardioversion is another effective alternative treatment. This treatment involves using a high-energy shock to restore the heart’s normal rhythm. Given its success rate, it is a viable substitute to quinidine treatment.
  • Despite the efficacy of these therapies, the research underscores the necessity for exploring other treatment avenues. However, the development and validation of new therapeutic options are currently limited, requiring more extensive studies for advancement.

Cite This Article

APA
McGurrin MKJ. (2015). The diagnosis and management of atrial fibrillation in the horse. Vet Med (Auckl), 6, 83-90. https://doi.org/10.2147/VMRR.S46304

Publication

Veterinary medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)
ISSN: 2230-2034
NlmUniqueID: 101724251
Country: New Zealand
Language: English
Volume: 6
Pages: 83-90

Researcher Affiliations

McGurrin, M Kimberly J
  • Health Sciences Centre, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada, mcgurrin@uoguelph.ca.

Conflict of Interest Statement

Disclosure The author reports no conflicts of interest in this work.

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Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
  1. Natterson-Horowitz B, Wright K, Van Steenkiste G, Decloedt A, Gagnon AL, Cai X, Mazmanian A. Arrhythmias across the tree of life: comparative insights for human electrophysiology. Front Cardiovasc Med 2025;12:1652591.
    doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2025.1652591pubmed: 41567384google scholar: lookup
  2. Palmisano M, Leduc L, Avison A, Rassler S, Hopster K, Slack J. Transcutaneous electrocardioversion for treatment of atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure in a Nubian wether. Can Vet J 2025 Aug;66(8):874-882.
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  3. Burns JJ, MacMillan KM, John EE. Retrospective review of atrial fibrillation in Standardbred racehorses at a tertiary care facility in Atlantic Canada. Can Vet J 2022 Oct;63(10):1051-1056.
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  5. Kjeldsen ST, Nissen SD, Buhl R, Hopster-Iversen C. Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation in Horses: Pathophysiology, Diagnostics and Clinical Aspects. Animals (Basel) 2022 Mar 10;12(6).
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  6. Vernemmen I, Van Steenkiste G, Dufourni A, Decloedt A, van Loon G. Transvenous electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation in horses: Horse and procedural factors correlated with success and recurrence. J Vet Intern Med 2022 Mar;36(2):758-769.
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