Scaling Relationships Among Heart Rate, ECG Parameters and Body Weight

Although heart rate (HR) is one of the most important clinical parameters determined via physical examinations, little information is available on the normal HR in dogs, which may be related to the high variability of body weight in this species. HR is determined by the discharge rate of the sinus node, which is dependent on the autonomic nervous system and the release of catecholamines. The allometric relationship between body weight and HR in different species has been described as inversely proportional; however, this relationship has been refuted.
Source: Topics in Companion Animal Medicine - Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Source Type: research