Epidemiology of Atrial Fibrillation in the Dog

A retrospective, statistical review of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the dog was done using information submitted to the Veterinary Medical Data Base from 1969-2007. A total of 3,542 cases were identified with a general increase in the prevalence of AF over the study period. Giant breed dogs were at higher risk to develop AF, large breed dogs varied in susceptibility to AF, and small breed dogs were at low risk to develop AF. In all 3 groups, affected males outnumbered affected females. Large breed spayed females with AF lived longer than affected intact large breed females.