Site Menu:
This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below: |
HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Cardiovascular, Blood, and Immune System » Discussions on Cardiovascular, Blood, and Immune System not covered above » |
Discussion on 2 degree AV Block | |
Author | Message |
Member: estrella |
Posted on Monday, Dec 17, 2007 - 11:29 am: Merry Christmas everyone! Not a crisis, just a question. About a year ago, my 17 year old TB had a respiratory something going on. I have had the same vet for (dating myself) 27 years, so he knows my horses very well. My vet has other vets that work for/with him. For the respiratory treatment he didn't treat, his associate did. She's a pretty smart gal, so it was all good. Anyway she did all the normal vet thing, she thought the had gotten a virus, we treated he got better. Here's the deal, while examining him, she said "wow he has a really weird heart rhythm". Now I looked like a deer in the headlights. She said if he was a younger guy, he would probably be at the equine clinic for treatment. Then shortly after that, I lost my 27 year old mare. The TB looks fine, weight fine, eats fine.. a normal guy. So after I got over the loss of my mare, it was also time for shots, so I requested my primary vet be the one to come out. To ask the dreaded question, about the heart beat. I was thinking about the irregular HB, maybe brought on my the high fever from the virus. So OK, I'm not a vet, but like my reasoning. Well my vet was gone to a clinic, so I got his new associate..again another really smart gal. I could barely choke out the question. Prepared to head down the path. She gladly took a listen. I have been taking it really easy with him since I first heard about the Heart Beat problem. She smiled and said well good news. That since he once a race horse, he at one time was a fine tuned athlete, that because they are so fit, their heart eliminates the extra beat. That it is pretty common on TB's off the track. She diagnosed a 2 degree AV Block. She said I can not steeple chase (dang, I so wanted to take up that sport, kidding) Not because he has an AV Block, but because well he's 17. Just asking for a sanity check. Have you ever heard of this? The Hubby said he heard that Ruberto Duran had the same thing. Hey he looks pretty good to me. I am thinking my Primary vet never said anything in all the years because indeed it was common and he knew I would be concerned. I am so hoping so. |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Monday, Dec 17, 2007 - 5:13 pm: Hello estrella99,A second degree heart block, where occasionally the heart skips a whole beat, is a normal finding in resting horses. To tell if the skip is clinically significant you exercise the horse briefly to elevate the heart rate. In the normal horse the block disappears. DrO |
Member: estrella |
Posted on Tuesday, Dec 18, 2007 - 9:52 am: Ahhh you are so smart!! We didn't exercise him and check it..oh man, you mean worries were where worries weren't warrented?...Thank you Dr. O, Now I can go back to focusing on "does this bow really match the Christmas paper?" You have a Great Christmas!! |