Inherited arrhythmias in the dog: potential experimental models of cardiac disease.

Centuries of inbreeding the domestic dog has resulted in numerous spontaneous breed-specific and familial diseases of all body systems [1]. Although few animal models of spontaneous arrhythmic death exists [2] veterinary cardiologists have recognized potentially inherited arrhythmias in the dog for years. The purpose of this paper is to describe the proven inherited, and the likely inherited, arrhythmias diagnosed commonly in the dog with the intent to provide information of potential models for investigation of primary arrhythmias. Additionally, examples of common arrhythmias that are secondary to inherited cardiac disease in the dog will be provided.