ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF CRAB-EATING FOX (Cerdocyon thous)

Abstract

There is limited information available regarding the physiology and structure of the heart in wild animals of the canid family, and this data plays a crucial role in the treatment of heart disease, research related to pathophysiology, and the preservation of these species. The present study aimed to perform electrocardiographic evaluation in crab-eating fox, reporting and characterizing electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters of the species. Ten healthy crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous) were evaluated. The animals were captured using a net and chemically restrained with a combination of midazolam and ketamine. After a physical examination, the dogs were subjected to ECG exams, positioned in the right lateral recumbency, assessing heart rate and rhythm, wave amplitude, and interval durations. The animals presented a heart rate of 201.70±29.2, with wave amplitudes ranging from 0.062 to 0.2 mV for the P wave, 0.023 to 0.42 mV for the Q wave, 0.21 to 0.97 mV for the R wave, and zero to 0.14 mV for the S wave. The ST segment in four animals ranged from 0.02 to 0.125 mV, and in three animals, from 0.03 to 0.047 mV. The T wave was positive in nine individuals (0.06 to 0.44 mV) and negative in one individual (0.156 mV). The electrocardiographic variations were similar to those found in domestic dogs. It is necessary to consolidate the cardiac data presented in this study with a larger sample size.