My dog has tachycardia, faints. VF/VT? Fortekor or beta-blocker?

Question

My dog has tachycardia but I know which type of tachycardia. The symptoms are weaknesses and fainting( the vet explained he faints because his brain isn’t oxygenated enough) would that be Ventricular fibrillation (VF) or Ventricular Tachycardia? Also.. my vet read the heart-scan papers and he prescribed us Fortekor 1.2g / 2.5, one pill every 12 hours, but other vets here say he needs a beta-blocker for his heart to beat slower, what do you think..? Pet's info: Dog | Bichon Frise | Male | unneutered | 8 years and 6 months old | 22 lbs

Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA · Accepted Answer

Ventricular fibrillation is the heart issue that you see people on tv getting shocked to try to correct. If not corrected, it results in death within minutes. Ventricular tachycardia and atrial tachycardia are very serious problems. In some dogs it is only transient (meaning only lasting for a few seconds) or it can be chronic. If chronic, it often needs medications to convert back to a normal rhythm or at least decrease the heartrate. In humans, both of these conditions are treated with beta blockers to decrease the heartrate or in the hospital for IV medications and symptomatic treatment. Heart disease that causes these conditions has a poor prognosis for good quality of life for an extended period. There is the possibility that the heart rate is simply high and without an actual arrhythmia. This is common in dogs with heart failure that do not have enough function to pump blood throughout the body. I would need to see the ECG to tell. Through the rest of the weekend, try to limit Bono's activity to keep his blood pressure lower and decrease the strain on his heart. If he will respond to the fortekor, it may take several days. If he is continuing to faint, be listless, not eating, etc. he needs to be re-evaluated by a vet sooner than Monday. He may need additional medications to help with his heart. The use of beta blockers just depends on the actual heart issue going on; they aren't used for every type of tachycardia.

My dog has tachycardia, faints. VF/VT? Fortekor or beta-blocker?

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