Key result
Active rewarming of a hypothermic dog with slow ventricular response atrial fibrillation and J waves resulted in spontaneous conversion to sinus rhythm.
Case Report (n=1)
Severe hypothermia in a dog can present with slow ventricular response atrial fibrillation and J waves, which may resolve with active rewarming.
May inform rewarming strategies in hypothermic canine AF; single case leaves open need for validation.
A 9-year-old, outdoors, Italian hound dog was referred for severe hypothermia that had occurred after vomiting and diarrhea. At presentation, the electrocardiogram showed a slow ventricular response atrial fibrillation with an instantaneous heart rate ranging from 20 to 115 beats/min. The QRS complexes were mildly enlarged and followed by a J wave. The QT interval was prolonged (360 msec). Multiple wide QRS complexes with various bizarre morphologies, either singular or in couples, indicative of ventricular ectopic beats, were also observed. The dog was hospitalized and actively rewarmed; the rhythm spontaneously converted to sinus rhythm with respiratory sinus arrhythmia.
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Apolloni et al. (2025) conducted a case report in Severe hypothermia with slow ventricular response atrial fibrillation and J wave (n=1). Active rewarming was evaluated on Rhythm conversion. Active rewarming of a hypothermic dog with slow ventricular response atrial fibrillation and J waves resulted in spontaneous conversion to sinus rhythm.
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