What is pacemaker therapy?
Pacemaker therapy is utilized in our veterinary patients that are symptomatic for a bradyarrhythmia (inappropriately slow heart rate). The most common arrhythmias that are treated with pacemaker therapy are 3rd degree atrioventricular block, sick sinus syndrome, or atrial standstill.

How is the procedure performed?

What can I expect the day of the procedure and the weeks after?
For one month after pacemaker implantation, it is very important that your pet have strict confinement to allow the pacemaker to scar into place. This assists in decreasing the risk of lead dislodgement. The complication rate of pacemaker implantation is relatively low (less than 5% for major complications).

Every six months post-implantation, the pacemaker needs to be rechecked to make sure it’s functioning properly and the battery life remains adequate. In general, the pacemakers we place have an average lifespan of six years. If your pet reaches the end of that generator’s battery life, the generator can be replaced.

What are the possible complications associated with pacemaker therapy?
As with any procedure requiring general anesthesia, there is a potential for adverse reaction to the drugs being used. Drug reaction may result in mild allergic reaction and hives to cardiopulmonary decompensation, and in rare circumstances loss of the pet. Complications specific to pacemaker implantation can include lead dislodgement and lead infection. Antibiotics are used postoperatively to decrease the risk of infection. For the rest of your pet’s life, if an infection is suspected anywhere in the body (skin, ears, urinary tract, etc.), it should be treated aggressively to decrease the risk of pacemaker infection. Your cardiology team will go over a full list of pacemaker discharge instructions when your pet is discharged from the hospital. 

