Atrial Fibrillation (AF)

Veterinary care required

This condition belongs in veterinary diagnosis and treatment. Compounds are at most supportive.

Priority · vet & management

Diagnosis is made veterinarily by ECG and supplemented by echocardiography to assess an underlying heart disease and atrial size. Rhythm restoration (medical cardioversion with e.g. quinidine or electrical cardioversion) is performed strictly veterinarily and under cardiological monitoring, as it carries its own risks; treatment decision and exercise clearance belong in the hands of the vet.

Possible causes

• · the horse's large atrial volume and high vagal tone as a favouring basis
• · underlying heart disease (e.g. valve insufficiency, enlarged atria)
• · electrolyte shifts (among others potassium) discussed as a trigger
• · in many cases without a recognisable structural heart disease (lone AF)

Supportive compounds · supplementary feed, not medication

Prevention

A balanced electrolyte and fluid balance, sensible load control and early work-up of performance drops support heart health but cannot reliably prevent atrial fibrillation.

Equiterna's take

Equiterna sees atrial fibrillation as a typical explanation for an unexpected drop in performance in sport — the diagnosis is made by ECG, and a cardioversion is a purely veterinary-cardiological procedure, not a case for feed.