Preferred Timing Device for HR

Started by Jgar96
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apple clinicals heart rate prevetadvice timing veterinary watches
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Jgar96

Jgar96

OVC 2022
5+ Year Member
Hey guys, I'm starting vet school this fall and I'm looking into buying an Apple Watch to use mainly as a timing device while monitoring HR (and will probably be able to replace my phone during clinicals from what I understand). I've noticed a few vets and techs using them throughout my pre-vet experiences. Does anyone own an Apple Watch and think it is or isn't worth the money? Should I just get a digital watch? What do you use as a timing device for HR?
 
CalliopeDVM said:
I prefer an analog watch with a second hand.....whatever you do, make sure you have something that can get washed (by hand, under running water) and not be damaged, because something will get splashed on it. And not too expensive (for the same reason). I wear a $20 kids Timex with a fabric band that fulfills all those requirements.
Click to expand...

THIS. Blood, saliva, urine, fecal matter, dirt, chlorhexidine, drenches, you name it.
 
I wouldn't buy a big purchase like an Apple Watch specifically for this, but I have really loved my smartwatches. I had a pebble time and now a fitbit versa and like the functionality from my wrist for sure. I personally can't do HRs with analog clocks easily so always just picked a watch face with a second count down. They were both waterproof and I shower/swim/frolic in rain with no concern.
 
In vet school, found a cheap walmart watch. Digital because I don't like the moving second hand. I'd forget it frequently, so cell phone stop watch became what I'd use.

Now as a vet, the techs get a HR and I rarely give two ****s what the actual rate is. I'm more focused on "is this too fast? Too slow? Normal? Is the rhythm right? Do I hear a murmur? Unless the animal is tachycardic or bradycardic, the exact number doesn't matter to me. And you don't really need to count to tell "holy **** this is way too fast or holy hell this heart rate is way too slow."

I do pay attention to the rate the techs record, some techs are great and record about what I'd expect the rate to have been when I was listening and some I don't think they actually pay attention, I've had them record "70" before on a chihuahua whose rate was easily 150, so do pay attention to that because if that record does ever get evaluated they're going to wonder why you didn't address the HR of "70" in a chihuahua.
 
I love my AW (have had a few over my 5 years working as a tech) but as far as HR, it kinda sucks. The raise to wake works most of the time, but the timeouts are ~5 seconds on that.
 
I have an apple watch. I would use it sometimes but ended up buying a cheap watch at target anyway. I found it a bit annoying to use because when I would count the HR notifications would keep popping up from my email etc so that I lost track of the time. I am sure there is a way to turn these off but the other watch was just more simpler 🙂
 
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