Ferasin L, Ferasin H, Little C J L
Specialist Veterinary Cardiology Consultancy, 20 Old Bath Road, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 1QL.
J Small Anim Pract. 2010 Aug;51(8):412-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-5827.2010.00954.x.
An association between heart rate (HR) and bodyweight has been reported in dogs and it is common belief that small breeds of dog exhibit higher HR than large breeds. The first aim of this study was to test the null hypothesis that, in veterinary clinical practice, bodyweight does not affect HR measured in healthy dogs. A second objective of this investigation was to assess whether other variables, such as gender, breed morphology, age and demeanour, may have a significant effect on dog's HR measured in a clinical setting.
The investigation was performed via two different studies: a retrospective analysis performed on 243 electrocardiogram recordings and a prospective study based on 153 standardised clinical examinations.
The two separate studies did not show any significant correlation between HR and bodyweight (P=0.5705 and P=0.4682, respectively). Subject's breed morphology and gender did not appear to affect HR measured under these circumstances. However, dogs under the age of one year seem to have significantly higher HRs than older dogs (P < 0.05). Finally, subject's demeanour was also found to have a significant influence on HR; lower values were recorded in relaxed dogs, and higher rates were documented in excited, nervous dogs (P < 0.05).
Normal HR could be erroneously interpreted as bradycardia or tachycardia if bodyweight was to be considered a determinant factor. Instead, HR in healthy dogs undergoing routine clinical examination is related to their demeanour or age, if younger than 12 months, but does not appear to be related to bodyweight.
已有报道称犬的心率（HR）与体重之间存在关联，并且人们普遍认为小型犬种的心率高于大型犬种。本研究的首要目的是检验零假设，即在兽医临床实践中，体重不会影响健康犬的心率测量值。本调查的第二个目的是评估其他变量，如性别、品种形态、年龄和行为举止，是否可能对临床环境中测量的犬心率产生显著影响。
该调查通过两项不同的研究进行：对243份心电图记录进行回顾性分析，以及基于153次标准化临床检查的前瞻性研究。
两项独立研究均未显示心率与体重之间存在任何显著相关性（分别为P = 0.5705和P = 0.4682）。在这种情况下，受试犬的品种形态和性别似乎不会影响心率测量值。然而，一岁以下的犬似乎比年龄较大的犬心率显著更高（P < 0.05）。最后，还发现受试犬的行为举止对心率有显著影响；放松的犬记录到较低的心率值，而兴奋、紧张的犬记录到较高的心率值（P < 0.05）。
如果将体重视为决定因素，正常心率可能会被错误地解释为心动过缓或心动过速。相反，接受常规临床检查的健康犬的心率与它们的行为举止或年龄（如果小于12个月）有关，但似乎与体重无关。
