John Sauvage qualified from the Royal Veterinary College. He is now the Senior Partners in a five veterinary surgeon, mixed first opinion and referral practice at Cranbrook, Kent. A long term interest in history culminated in obtaining a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree from the Open University in 1987 reading History, Art History and Philosophy Whilst in full time practice John obtained his Certificate in Small Animal Cardiology in 1990. As well as seeing cardiac referrals he also receives ECG faxes from as far afield as Saudi Arabia. John has been an investigator in several drug trials. John has wide experience as a teacher and lecturer since running courses for the Agricultural Training Board in the late 1970's. He now regularly lectures on Small Animal Veterinary Cardiology and Practice Management both in the UK and abroad.

The ECG Machine is still sadly the most underused diagnostic aid in veterinary practice in spite of client's support for this machine in cardiac investigation. They are pleased the patient will not need sedation or GA, especially as cardiac disease is feared. Many practices have a machine but leave it in a cupboard gathering dust waiting for the case with an arrhythmia to come along. By the time the case does appear the machine is so unfamiliar that it is left in the cupboard and empirical treatment tried or referral needed. There is no reason why the ECG machine should not be used more frequently than the X-Ray Machine.

Who should attend

Veterinary Surgeons in Practice with and without a special interest in Cardiology should attend. Too many otherwise extremely experienced and competent practitioners are wary of ECGs and frightened of the ECG leads. The Electrical Axis Chart is they fear beyond them and therefore they shun an otherwise interesting subject suspecting their knowledge inadequate and will always remain so.

What the course will help the attendees to do:

At the end of the course delegates will be able to:

• Take an ECG from both dogs and cats
• Interpret canine and feline ECGs using all Leads not just Lead II
• Obtain information from ECG identifying arrhythmias
• Obtain information from ECG identifying cardiac chamber re-modelling
• Obtain information from ECG identifying possible electrolyte abnormalities
• Obtain information from ECG identifying myocardial stress or hypoxia
• Make logical therapeutic decisions using ECG as an integral part of a cardiac work up

 Learning objectives 

 By the end of this course delegates should have a thorough understanding of:

• ECG machines
• How to take an ECG
• Interpretation of an ECG
• Therapy of cardiac disease
• Treatment of arrhythmias