Veterinary Pacemaker Surgery

Diagnosis and Cost Effectiveness

• Animals that have an irregular heartbeat can be at risk for seizures and can even collapse upon exertion. Pets with a suspected heart condition can be placed on a 24-hour heart monitor or EKG to evaluate whether their heart is functioning properly. These tests can help determine if a pacemaker is right for your animal.
  
  Costs can vary. The AU College of Veterinary Medicine in Alabama is a college that only charges clients for their actual surgery costs, which usually range between $750 to $1000. Thanks to pacemaker corporations like Guidant Corporation, donations to major veterinary colleges have saved a lot of animal's lives and passed on savings for numerous pet owners.
  
  

Significant Benefits and Advantages

• Doctors are using human pacemakers to help regulate animals' heart rhythms. Pacemaker surgeries are provided mostly for dogs, but have been performed on some cats and horses. Pets with the pacemaker implants can live up three to five years after surgery. Pet owners have also reported a noticeable difference in their animal's behaviour, with increased energy levels after having this procedure. A pet is no longer lethargic and is able to run and play more frequently.
  
  

Veterinary Pacemaker Procedure

• Veterinary pacemaker surgery takes little more than one hour to perform. Pacemakers are not specifically made for animals, so the veterinary professionals have asked the pacemaker companies to work with them on providing the same equipment only on a smaller scale. The pacemaker itself is buried in the muscle under the animal's skin in the neck area and has a lead wire on the other end that leads to the heart. The pacemaker is able to sense when the animal's heart rate slows. In order to compensate for the slow heart rate, the pacemaker sends an electrical charge to stimulate the animal's heart.
  
  

Post Surgery and Maintenance Care

• Immediately after surgery, the animal should be kept fairly still and quiet from 48 hours to 28 days so as not to dislodge the pacemaker lead and to allow the pacemaker lead to adhere fully to the heart. The stitches are normally taken out of the animal's neck after a period of seven to 10 days.
  
  There is normally no long-term restrictions for the animal, and they can resume their normal way of life after a month has passed. The battery and the pacemaker can last for up to five years and is regularly checked every four weeks by the veterinarian to determine when it needs to be replaced.
  
  

Outlook and Success Rates

• Veterinary pacemaker surgeries have a high success rate and most pets who have had this procedure have extended their life expectancy. With this in mind, it is still important to check with a board-certified veterinary specialist to see whether your animal is a candidate for this type of surgery. If your dog suffers from heart disease, find a local veterinary surgeon and discuss potential treatment options that are available for your pet.