{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,26]],"date-time":"2026-01-26T16:09:01Z","timestamp":1769443741357,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,26]],"date-time":"2026-01-26T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1769385600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Vet. Sci."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Assessment of dogs with atrial fibrillation (AF) and ventricular arrhythmias (VAs), two arrhythmias that can coexist, is traditionally based on 24-h Holter monitoring. However, this test may not always be feasible. The aim of this study was to determine whether alternative methods exist to distinguish dogs affected by secondary AF with frequent and complex VAs from those without.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>In this multicenter retrospective study, electronic databases from five centers were searched for dogs with a diagnosis of secondary AF. For inclusion, complete clinical, echocardiographic and 24-h Holter data had to be available for each dog. Signalment, clinical, and echocardiographic variables of left cardiac dimension and function were compared between dogs with secondary AF exhibiting frequent ventricular premature complexes (VPCs; \u2265100\/Holter) or severe VAs (Lown-Wolf grade \u22654) and those without.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Fifty-nine dogs, including 35\/59 (59.3%) dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease, 17\/59 (28.8%) dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy, and 7\/59 (11.9%) dogs with congenital heart disease, were evaluated. Compensated and decompensated cardiac disease was diagnosed in 10\/59 (16.9%) and 49\/59 (83.1%) dogs, respectively. Holter monitoring detected VAs associated with AF in 58\/59 (98.3%) dogs. Among dogs with VPCs, the median number of VPCs was 265 (1\u20131,759) and 32\/59 (54.2%) dogs had \u2265100 VPCs\/Holter. Regarding VA complexity, 34\/59 (57.6%) dogs exhibited a Lown-Wolf grade \u22654. Statistical analyses revealed that none of the 17 analyzed variables reached significance in differentiating dogs with and without frequent VPCs, as well as dogs with and without complex VAs.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>In dogs with secondary AF, VAs are usually present and are frequently of clinical relevance according to their Lown-Wolf grade. However, signalment, clinical presentation, and conventional echocardiographic data do not reliably distinguish dogs with frequent VPCs or complex VAs from those without, reinforcing the indispensable role of 24-h Holter monitoring for the accurate assessment of these subjects.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2026.1751348","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,26]],"date-time":"2026-01-26T05:40:44Z","timestamp":1769406044000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Signalment, clinical characteristics, and echocardiographic findings in dogs affected by secondary atrial fibrillation with and without concomitant frequent and complex ventricular arrhythmias"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Giovanni","family":"Romito","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-Universit\u00e0 di Bologna","place":["Ozzano Emilia, Italy"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Chiara","family":"Mazzoldi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-Universit\u00e0 di Bologna","place":["Ozzano Emilia, Italy"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Chiara","family":"Riccio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-Universit\u00e0 di Bologna","place":["Ozzano Emilia, Italy"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Marcello","family":"Fogli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-Universit\u00e0 di Bologna","place":["Ozzano Emilia, Italy"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Paola","family":"Paradies","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area, Section of Veterinary Clinics, University of Bari","place":["Valenzano, Italy"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Alessandra","family":"Recchia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area, Section of Veterinary Clinics, University of Bari","place":["Valenzano, Italy"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Nazzareno Giuseppe","family":"Pelle","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Independent Researcher","place":["Bologna, Italy"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Fabio","family":"Testa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinica Veterinaria San Sebastiano","place":["Minturno, Italy"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Carlotta","family":"Valente","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padua","place":["Legnaro, Italy"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Helen","family":"Poser","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padua","place":["Legnaro, Italy"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Giulia","family":"Arcuri","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padua","place":["Legnaro, Italy"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Barbara","family":"Contiero","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padua","place":["Legnaro, Italy"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Carlo","family":"Guglielmini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padua","place":["Legnaro, Italy"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,26]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"75","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvc.2005.07.002","article-title":"Atrial fibrillation in dogs with and without structural or functional cardiac disease: a retrospective study of 109 cases","volume":"7","author":"Menaut","year":"2005","journal-title":"J Vet Cardiol"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"105548","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tvjl.2020.105548","article-title":"Canine atrial fibrillation: pathophysiology, epidemiology and classification","volume":"265","author":"Pedro","year":"2020","journal-title":"Vet J"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1787","DOI":"10.1111\/jvim.15860.","article-title":"Echocardiographic predictors of first onset of atrial fibrillation in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease","volume":"34","author":"Baron Toaldo","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Vet Intern Med"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2223","DOI":"10.1111\/jvim.15927","article-title":"Prevalence and risk factors for atrial fibrillation in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease","volume":"34","author":"Guglielmini","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Vet Intern Med"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1183689","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.22023.1183689","article-title":"Risk factors for atrial fibrillation in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy","volume":"10","author":"Guglielmini","year":"2023","journal-title":"Front Vet Sci"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"18","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvc.2018.10.006","article-title":"Association between atrial fibrillation and right-sided manifestations of congestive heart failure in dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease or dilated cardiomyopathy","volume":"21","author":"Ward","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Vet Cardiol"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2588","DOI":"10.1111\/jvim.16297","article-title":"Prevalence of sudden death in dogs with atrial fibrillation","volume":"35","author":"Borgeat","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Vet Intern Med"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"86","DOI":"10.1111\/jvim.14896","article-title":"Retrospective evaluation of the effect of heart rate on survival in dogs with atrial fibrillation","volume":"32","author":"Pedro","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Vet Intern Med"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"887","DOI":"10.1111\/jvim.16666","article-title":"Optimal rate control in dogs with atrial fibrillation-ORCA study-multicenter prospective observational study: prognostic impact and predictors of rate control","volume":"37","author":"Pedro","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Vet Intern Med"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"8","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvc.2024.10.006","article-title":"Efficacy and safety of different antiarrhythmic protocols used for rate control in dogs with secondary atrial fibrillation","volume":"57","author":"Romito","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Vet Cardiol"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3057","DOI":"10.3390\/ani15203057","article-title":"Ability of surface electrocardiography in predicting ventricular arrhythmias in dogs with secondary atrial fibrillation","volume":"15","author":"Romito","year":"2025","journal-title":"Animals (Basel)"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"522","DOI":"10.2460\/javma.2002.221.522","article-title":"Comparison of the effects of four antiarrhythmic treatments for familial ventricular arrhythmias in boxers","volume":"221","author":"Meurs","year":"2002","journal-title":"J Am Vet Med Assoc"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1645","DOI":"10.3390\/ani11061645.","article-title":"Lorenz plot analysis in dogs with sinus rhythm and tachyarrhythmias","volume":"11","author":"Romito","year":"2021","journal-title":"Animals"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"20","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvc.2024.03.002","article-title":"Efficacy and safety of antiarrhythmic therapy in dogs with naturally acquired tachyarrhythmias treated with amiodarone or sotalol: a retrospective analysis of 64 cases","volume":"53","author":"Romito","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Vet Cardiol"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.2460\/javma.25.02.0088","article-title":"Antiarrhythmic efficacy and safety of oral mexiletine in dogs with ventricular arrhythmias: a multicentre, retrospective analysis","volume":"263","author":"Romito","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Am Vet Med Assoc"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1127","DOI":"10.1111\/jvim.15488","article-title":"ACVIM consensus guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of myxomatous mitral valve disease in dogs","volume":"33","author":"Keene","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Vet Intern Med"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"51","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvc.2021.09.004","article-title":"Screening for dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs","volume":"40","author":"Wess","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Vet Cardiol"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"247","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1939-1676.1993.tb01015.x","article-title":"Recommendations for standards in transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography in the dog and cat. Echocardiography Committee of the Specialty of Cardiology, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine","volume":"7","author":"Thomas","year":"1993","journal-title":"J Vet Intern Med"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"127","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvc.2011.11.005","article-title":"Echocardiographic assessment of canine degenerative mitral valve disease","volume":"14","author":"Chetboul","year":"2012","journal-title":"J Vet Cardiol"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"15","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvc.2021.08.004","article-title":"Echocardiographic assessment of dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs","volume":"40","author":"Bonagura","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Vet Cardiol"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"311","DOI":"10.1892\/0891-6640(2004)18<311:asomcm>2.0.co;2","article-title":"Allometric scaling of M-mode cardiac measurements in normal adult dogs","volume":"18","author":"Cornell","year":"2004","journal-title":"J Vet Intern Med"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"429","DOI":"10.1892\/0891-6640(2000)014<0429:eofemo>2.3.co;2","article-title":"Evaluation of four 2-dimensional echocardiographic methods of assessing left atrial size in dogs","volume":"14","author":"Rishniw","year":"2000","journal-title":"J Vet Intern Med"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"105549","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tvjl.2020.105549","article-title":"Diagnosis and management of canine atrial fibrillation","volume":"265","author":"Pedro","year":"2020","journal-title":"Vet J"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"47","DOI":"10.1111\/jvim.16584","article-title":"Prevalence and prognostic role of L wave and selected clinical and echocardiographic variables in dogs with atrial fibrillation","volume":"37","author":"Romito","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Vet Intern Med"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"34","DOI":"10.2460\/javma.2000.216.34","article-title":"Association between results of ambulatory electrocardiography and development of cardiomyopathy during long-term follow-up of Doberman pinschers","volume":"216","author":"Calvert","year":"2000","journal-title":"J Am Vet Med Assoc"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"367","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1939-1676.2010.0477.x","article-title":"Ability of a 5-minute electrocardiography (ECG) for predicting arrhythmias in Doberman pinschers with cardiomyopathy in comparison with a 24-hour ambulatory ECG","volume":"24","author":"Wess","year":"2010","journal-title":"J Vet Intern Med"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"430","DOI":"10.2460\/javma.236.4.430","article-title":"Ambulatory electrocardiographic evaluation of clinically normal adult boxers","volume":"236","author":"Stern","year":"2010","journal-title":"J Am Vet Med Assoc"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"460","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1939-1676.2011.0707.x","article-title":"Holter monitoring in clinically healthy cavalier king Charles spaniels, wire-haired dachshunds, and cairn terriers","volume":"25","author":"Rasmussen","year":"2011","journal-title":"J Vet Intern Med"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"966","DOI":"10.2460\/javma.252.8.966","article-title":"Ambulatory electrocardiographic evaluation of the occurrence of arrhythmias in healthy salukis","volume":"252","author":"Sanders","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Am Vet Med Assoc"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"17","DOI":"10.4070\/kcj.2008.38.1.17","article-title":"Prognostic significance of the Lown grades and late potentials in patients after myocardial infarction","volume":"38","author":"Lee","year":"2008","journal-title":"Korean Circ J"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"722","DOI":"10.1111\/jvim.13941","article-title":"Predictors of sudden cardiac death in Doberman pinschers with dilated cardiomyopathy","volume":"30","author":"Kl\u00fcser","year":"2016","journal-title":"J Vet Intern Med"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"18","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvc.2021.09.005","article-title":"Heart rhythm characterization during sudden cardiac death in dogs","volume":"38","author":"Santilli","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Vet Cardiol"},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"235","DOI":"10.1053\/tvjl.2000.0506","article-title":"Influence of left atrial enlargement and body weight on the development of atrial fibrillation: retrospective study on 205 dogs","volume":"160","author":"Guglielmini","year":"2000","journal-title":"Vet J"},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"386","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1751-0813.2010.00628.x","article-title":"Holter monitoring in 36 dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease","volume":"88","author":"Crosara","year":"2010","journal-title":"Aust Vet J"},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2547","DOI":"10.3390\/ani14172547","article-title":"Evaluation of galectin-3 in dogs with atrial fibrillation","volume":"14","author":"Arcuri","year":"2024","journal-title":"Animals"},{"key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"47","DOI":"10.3390\/vetsci11010047","article-title":"Risk factors for atrial fibrillation in the dog: a systematic review","volume":"11","author":"Arcuri","year":"2024","journal-title":"Vet Sci"},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"68","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tvjl.2010.04.016","article-title":"Associations between cardiac pathology and clinical, echocardiographic and electrocardiographic findings in dogs with chronic congestive heart failure","volume":"185","author":"Falk","year":"2010","journal-title":"Vet J"},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"105535","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tvjl.2020.105535","article-title":"The role of atrial fibrillation as a prognostic factor in Doberman pinschers with dilated cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure","volume":"264","author":"Friederich","year":"2020","journal-title":"Vet J"},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"120","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1939-1676.2007.0008.x","article-title":"Survival characteristics and prognostic variables of dogs with mitral regurgitation attributable to myxomatous valve disease","volume":"22","author":"Borgarelli","year":"2008","journal-title":"J Vet Intern Med"},{"key":"ref40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2141","DOI":"10.1253\/circj.CJ-16-0532","article-title":"Diagnostic value of right ventricular dysfunction in tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging","volume":"80","author":"Okada","year":"2016","journal-title":"Circ J"},{"key":"ref41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"387","DOI":"10.1111\/jce.16539","article-title":"Echocardiographic predictors of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with left ventricular assist devices and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator","volume":"36","author":"Efimova","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol"},{"key":"ref42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"425","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvc.2018.10.002","article-title":"Usefulness of pulsed-wave tissue Doppler imaging at the mitral annulus for prediction of new-onset atrial fibrillation in dogs","volume":"20","author":"Neves","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Vet Cardiol"},{"key":"ref43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"462","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvc.2017.08.004","article-title":"Electrocardiographic, echocardiographic, and left atrial strain imaging features of a dog with atrial flutter and third-degree atrioventricular block","volume":"19","author":"Baron Toaldo","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Vet Cardiol"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Veterinary Science"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fvets.2026.1751348\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,26]],"date-time":"2026-01-26T05:40:46Z","timestamp":1769406046000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fvets.2026.1751348\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,26]]},"references-count":43,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fvets.2026.1751348"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fvets.2026.1751348","relation":{},"ISSN":["2297-1769"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2297-1769","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,26]]},"article-number":"1751348"}}