My last Blog article, Irish Wolfhound Heart Health, stressed the importance of the portable, ambulatory ECG device called a Holter Monitor. A portable 24-hour ECG that is an essential tool for diagnosing, screening, and eventually managing canine myocardial dysfunction, tachyarrhythmias, and congestive heart failure.

How it works is that it provides heart rate and rhythm information over a 24-hour period and some, up to 48 or more hours, depending on the model that your Veterinary Board Certified Cardiologist utilizes. The ECG records the frequency of any arrhythmias, if any, and the cardiologist assesses the data for rapid heart rate (ventricular tachycardia) and the complexity of any arrhythmias, if there are single or multiple contractions or runs of couplets, triplets, as well as their duration. Sustained, malignant couplets or triplets can be life-threatening, however, in most cases, wolfhound owners are unaware that these are occurring unless the wolfhound collapses and loses consciousness (syncope).

In the attached photo gallery is a photo of a Holter monitor. This model is approximately 2.5 inches by 2.5 inches and is attached to 6 leads via electrodes. Models vary and depend entirely on which type your cardiologist uses. This equipment is quite expensive and depending on the size of their practice; many cardiologists will only have a limited number to apply to patients. The software for the monitors is an additional and costly expense and is required so that the cardiologist can assess the data. For example, our Board Certified Specialty Practice is housed in their own a 37,000 square foot multi-story building, and they only have five Holter monitors available at one time. We purchased our own Holter Monitor model that our Cardiologists use in their practice as we have several wolfhounds and the cost warranted our purchasing our own. Besides, I have lengthy experience in applying the Holter monitor with its electrodes and wrapping the equipment to the chest, though it is not advisable for others unless they too have extensive experience with the hardware and knowledge of the specific positioning of the electrodes on the each side of the dog.

The hound is entirely comfortable wearing the device and goes about his routine. A diary is kept by the owner who records the time of any and all activity, such as feeding times, exercise and administering medications, if any. Once the 24 hours is up the dog owner returns to the facility to have the monitor removed or if living a distance away, their local veterinarian removes it for them and the owner then ships the monitor and equipment back to the Veterinary Specialist for review.

What I wanted to share with Readers and other wolfhound owners is the availability of cardiac vests for Holter monitoring. My cardiologist's practice has these as well, but once we purchased our very own Holter monitor equipment, we decided that we should go all in and buy the vest as well. These jackets cover the lead wires and electrodes to the monitor protecting them from the elements, and it also saves a good amount of VetWrap. The average wolfhound owner can purchase these vests if your Cardiologist does not have them for their patients or perhaps they do not have the correct giant size for your Irish Wolfhound.

I purchased ours from DogLeggs which provides coverage & support solutions for veterinary practices. The Holter monitor case seen on the back of Danny is custom sized to fit my Holter monitor model. You too can have one custom-fitted, even though your Cardiologist administers the Monitor on your wolfhound. All you need is to tell the DogLeggs company the dimensions of the Holter monitor, and they will produce one for you as well. The company is located in Virginia -- ask for Erin and tell her I sent you! I love ours.