A dog's heartbeat should be regular, right?

[tritonx]

Just like a human's should be. Fraser is sitting beside me, his front half draped over my leg. I noticed that I could feel what seems to be his heartbeat on my leg and it's going beat beat, beatbeatbeat-- little clusters of beat in between regular ones. I put my fingers on his ribs to feel it better and it just doesn't seem regular. Maybe there's something about the angle and I'm not picking up all the beats. Thoughts? Should I take him down to the vets? Otherwise, he seems normal--food, energy, pooping, water etc.

[maddy74]

Willows has always felt a bit weird to me and when the vets has listened to it its fine. I was worried it was a heart murmur as we had a cavvie years ago that had one, although she was fine in herself.

I bet the heartbeat is fine but but if you are worried get it checked out for peace of mind. Dont panic, I panic all the time and she is usually fine 

[tritonx]

Yes, peace of mind is worth it.  I just phoned the vets and asked if it is normal for a dog's heartbeat to seem irregular and he said it is. It could be a murmur or a serious arrhythmia but it would require a test, but irregular heart on breathing in and out is normal.  Fraser is due for his shots mid September, so I'll get his heart listened to by the vet while he's there as that is only a couple of weeks away and he's otherwise showing no signs of being ill or distressed. Whew. Even though F. is a very healthy animal, when something seems different, I do leap to worse case possibilities.

[maddy74]

I always think of the worst case scenario so you are not on your own there. These dogs are a worry arnt they? 

[tritonx]

Yes indeedy. I guess it's a measure of how much we care for them. Just like having a toddler, faster and more coordinated (though sometimes, Fraser's still capable of doing a face plant when he's going upstairs), but you're always keeping a mental check on where they are, what they're doing and if they seem to be feeling okay.

[jann]

I was worried that Barnaby's heartbeat was irregular and asked my vet about it..........She confirmed that it is normal

[tritonx]

That doesn't seem biologically productive, does it? I would have assumed a nice steady flow of blood to the brain and organs is the ideal way to go. But what do I know 

[LurcherGirl]

It is in most cases perfectly normal. In fact, the fitter a dog is the more irregular their heartbeat often is. 

[8 Hairy Feet]

If you feel your own pulse
you will notice the same sort of
changes in rate as you breathe
in and out!
steffxxx

[Uncon]

If you feel your own pulse
you will notice the same sort of
changes in rate as you breathe
in and out!
steffxxx

I can't even find mine! I might be dead! - the worst part was I nearly typed get me to the vets rather than call an ambulance

[maddy74]

Lol uncon....i often cant find mine, I think i must be part alien....lol

[Countrygirl]

My heartbeat is just the same as Frasers.  As I have a lot of history of heart problems in my family I went to see a heart specialist.  I had ultrasound and an exercise test in which I had to keep walking then running faster and faster on a treadmill until I couldn't do any more.  The results came back that I was fitter that a man in his 30s, I am in my mid 50s, there was no problem with my heart at all and I had not inherited any of the family problems. 

Hopefully Fraser will be just the same as me.

[tritonx]

I've got the same rhythm as Fraser's too, but I take a pill for it, thank goodness, as it's quite scary when it really goes wonky and flutters about uselessly. I had no idea irregular heartbeat in a dog was normal. What I've learned since Fraser arrived in my life.