Newtown Veterinary Clinic trialling Atrio Pet Pulse holter monitor for dogs
Oliver the boxer seemed completely healthy, but a new device detected abnormalities. It’s being described as a gamechanger for treating cardiac issues in dog’s.
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A Geelong veterinary clinic is trialling a new device that aims to detect heart abnormalities in dogs and allow for treatment before they become an issue.
For the past three months, the vets at Newtown Vetininary have been at trialling a new Holter monitor for dogs.
Oliver the boxer is among three dogs who have been fitted with a trial cardiac diagnostic device, a Holter monitor called the Atrio Pet Pulse.
A Holter monitor is a wearable device that records the rhythm of the heart.
Oliver’s owner, Point Lonsdale’s Tim Fletcher, said he was thrilled with the possibilities the device offers.
A keen dog lover, Mr Fletcher said he has owned six boxers - two of which had suffered from heart problems in the past.
By the time the issue was detected, the dogs were already dropping and passing out from regular activity.
Previous devices used to record ECGs were cumbersome and uncomfortable for the dogs, Mr Fletcher said.
“At that stage (it was) pretty archiac... they had these big holsters, (the dogs) were strapped up like they were going to the moon,” he said.
He said he jumped at the chance to take part in the trial, with his second boxer, Darcy, set to be tested as well.
“This was a very simplified and sophisticated way of testing,” he said.
Even though abonormalities were detected in Oliver’s scan, Mr Fletcher said it was a relief knowing it could be treated before it became a real issue.
“You love them dearly,” he said.
Newtown vet Jane Miller said the technology was “absolutely amazing”.
Three electrodes are plugged into the device, which records the animal’s ECG (electrocardiography) activity over 24 hours.
Afterwards, the device is plugged into a computer and the data is entered into the Atrio software where it is analysed with the help of AI.
A diagnostic report is then sent to specialists in Melbourne, Dr Miller said, who provide reccomendations, streamlining the diagnostic process.
Dr Miller said the clinic had fitted the device on three animals, with two detecting abnormalities requiring further investigation.
The monitor and Atrio software have been developed by Alerte Digital Health, under its Alerte Digital Vet banner.
Brooke Keating, one of two project managers overseeing the trials, said Newtown vet was one of eight clinics across Victoria testing the new device for feasibility.
The turnaround time of an ECG outside a specialist centre could be six weeks, however the Atrio Pet Pulse can streamline the process.
“It allows general vet clinics to keep a lot more of their cardiac work in house,” Dr Keating said.
Dr Keating said the company was working with Dr Chad Berman and Dr Lydia Hambrook, internal medicine specialists at Advanced Vet Care - the company behind the Geelong Animal Emergency centre - who would normally receive referrals to investigate heart issues.
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Originally published as Newtown Veterinary Clinic trialling Atrio Pet Pulse holter monitor for dogs
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