Cardiac arrhythmia and surgery

[truckletheuncivil]

We just got a 6 month old LH chihuahua x JRT - gorgeous pup and fabulous with the children and the cats (I think they've worked out that they outweigh him, so they treat him with complete contempt).

He fell asleep in my lap earlier today and I noticed that he has a pronounced arrhythmia (I had my hand over his chest). I mean, not just a missed beat every now and then, but a heartbeat with no real pattern to it. He seems perfectly well otherwise. He was a rescue of sorts, thanks to the kindness of a lady who noticed the condition the litter was in and took them all home for a few months.

He's booked in for desexing next Friday. I booked the surgery for payday and can't afford to take him in before then. Should I be cancelling the surgery until after his heart has been checked? Would the vet do a check that would pick up a heart issue before anaesthetising him?

You need a vet to listen to your dogs heart and potentially an ECG to characterise the rhythm. There is an arrhythmia that is completely normal in dogs ( usually very fit dogs), but you need an experienced pair of ears to know that is what it is. I see between 5-10 dogs a day with this rhythm.

Yes his heart would be listened to prior to anaesthesia. Could you ask for a pre-op appointment on the morning of the surgery so you can discuss it.

Thanks Lonecat, I will ask for a pre-op appointment and give them a heads up about why. They're good vets and I trust them, I just wasn't sure what the usual pre-op procedures are.