Clinical significance of ventricular ectopy and development of dilated cardiomyopathy in Irish wolfhound dogs.

VPCs on screening ECG do not predict DCM development; Holter monitoring is recommended.

This prospective cohort study investigated whether ventricular premature complexes (VPCs) on baseline electrocardiography predict development of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in Irish wolfhounds, a breed with high cardiac disease mortality (15.27%). Twenty-four breeding-age IWs with normal echocardiograms but at least one VPC on surface ECG were enrolled and monitored with 24-hour Holter monitoring and follow-up echocardiography for minimum one year. Results showed no significant correlation between VPC complexity and DCM development within 12 months, though three dogs (12.5%) eventually developed DCM after three years. Notably, 41.6% of dogs developed arrhythmias requiring anti-arrhythmic therapy during follow-up. The study supports routine Holter monitoring for IWs presenting with VPCs on screening ECG, as these dogs require ongoing cardiac surveillance and may benefit from medical management despite lack of immediate structural changes. Study limitations include small sample size and variable recheck intervals.

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