Dog & Cat Electrocardiograms
in Onalaska and the Greater La Crosse WI Area

We perform pet ECGs in Onalaska daily. No special preparation is required for this procedure.

To perform an ECG, your pet will need to remain still. They will either be standing or laying down on an exam table in our office. We apply electrodes to your pet’s skin at the base of each of their four legs. We may also apply a special conduction gel or rubbing alcohol to your pet during this procedure. These applications can help electrical signals travel more easily to the ECG machine which would allow for better recordings.

Once the testing begins, we will keep your pet still for only a short period of time to get an adequate reading. Your pet’s electrical signals may be traced from a minute up to several minutes. The amount of time we trace is dependent on your pets cooperation & the abnormality we suspect

An ECG can provide us with a variety of information about your dog's or cat's heart function.

1. Is the heart rate normal? An ECG allows us to make a determination of your pet's heart rate. It can show whether their heart rate is beating at a normal pace, or if it is beating too rapidly or slower than normal for their breed. This can suggest medical issues that may warrant further investigation.
2. Is the heart rhythm normal? An ECG gives us a very accurate way to assess your pet’s heart rhythm. If there is an abnormality, the results of the ECG will allow us to diagnose the arrhythmia & potentially diagnose the underlying causes of that.
3. Does the pet's heart size appear to be normal? Enlarged heart tissue produces electricity differently than normal-sized heart tissue. With that said, an ECG can potentially suggest abnormalities in the size of a specific heart chamber. This method is not considered completely accurate but can suggest to us to do further investigations.