How to Place ECG Leads on Dogs

Dogs and humans have four-chambered hearts. Although dogs do not suffer from plaque build-up in their hearts, their cardiac tissue can degenerate over time. The more common problems include a defective mitral valve and subaortic stenosis (SAS), which is the improper development of the canal connecting the heart to the aorta. Veterinarians can use an electrocardiogram, or ECG test, to determine if a dog suffers from a serious heart condition. This device uses six electrical "leads" attached to the dog that read the electrical signals of the heart as it pumps blood.

Things You'll Need

  • Blanket
  • Assistant
  • Spray alcohol or contact gel
  • Clippers (optional)
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Instructions

  1. Attach Leads I, II and III

    • 1

      Put the blanket on top of a table. Don't use a standard metal examination table; use one made from plastic or wood.

    • 2

      Lay the dog on its right side on top of the mat. Have your assistant hold the dog in place by keeping one hand on the dog's hind quarters and the other on the dog's shoulder.

    • 3

      Apply the spray alcohol or contact gel to the skin on the elbow of the dog's front and rear legs. If necessary, use electric clippers to remove the hair from these areas. Leads I, II and III consist of a positive and negative terminus, all of which you will attach to the dog's limbs on the elbow on the front legs and on the stiffle, or upper joint region, on the rear legs.

    • 4

      Clip the positive terminus of Lead I to the alcohol- or gel-coated skin of the dog's front left elbow. Attach the negative terminus to the dog's front right elbow.

    • 5

      Attach the positive terminus of Lead II to the alcohol- or gel-coated skin of the dog's rear left leg. Clip the negative terminus of Lead II to the dog's front right elbow.

    • 6

      Clip the positive terminus of Lead III to the alcohol- or gel-coated skin of the dog's rear left elbow. Attach the negative terminus of Lead III to the dog's front left elbow.

    Attach Leads aVR, aVL and aVF

    • 7

      Apply spray alcohol or contact gel to elbows of the dog's legs and torso at the points indicated in the next three steps. The aVR, aVL and aVF leads consist of a positive and negative terminus. With each lead, you will attach the positive lead to a limb and the negative lead to the dog's torso. Use clippers to remove any excess hair.

    • 8

      Clip the positive terminus of Lead aVR to the alcohol- or gel-coated skin of the dog's front right leg at the elbow. Attach the negative terminus of Lead aVR to a point on the dog's left torso midway between the left legs.

    • 9

      Attach the positive terminus of Lead aVL to the alcohol- or gel-coated skin of the dog's front left leg at the elbow. Clip the negative terminus of Lead aVL to a point on the dog's torso midway between the right legs.

    • 10

      Clip the positive terminus of Lead aVF to the alcohol- or gel-coated skin of the dog's rear left elbow. Attach the negative terminus of Lead aVF to a point on the dog's chest midway between the front legs.