I found this information about using a pacemaker on animals fascinating. If I get a pacemaker fitted I’d definitely donate. A dog died in front of me of heart failure! He was so happy to be going on a walk .. to heaven, as it turned out! It left a lasting impression, as you can imagine!
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What a great idea, but I wonder if people with pacemakers are told about this. Also, is it in the UK or US?
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I don’t think it’s The States. Not sure.
Thank you for sharing!
We love our dogs and want the best for them and of course we would want them to be with us as long as possible. I have some concerns. For instance - second hand pacemakers might not work as well or last as long as new ones. Is it fair to our dogs to use something that might not be as reliable? Putting in a pacemaker is a big deal and can be tough on our dogs. Using a second hand device might mean more problems and even more surgeries.
A real problem for many petowners would be the cost, also. While second hand pacemakers might seem cheaper, fixing problems or replacing them can add up. Money is an issue. But more important is the comfort of our pet. Our dogs deserve to be comfortable and happy. We should think about whether a second hand pacemaker is the best way to achieve that. Sometimes, other treatments or just keeping them comfortable might be the kinder choice.
As I have been in life and death situations with pets a couple of times, I have found that it is very important to think through how we would want things to be, should such a situation occur. It is so stressful when you suddenly find yourself in the middle of it, and so difficult to balnce the different perspectives. What is best for me? For the pet? Can I afford it? How will the life of the pet be afterwards? Am I imposing pain on the pet I love?
I experienced also to be put on the spot by the vet at the animal hospital I ended up at with one pet. When I tried to raise concerns, they immediately offered me a consumer loan (surely with a high interest). How hard would that be for a pet owner with a softer heart than my practical one? I’m sure they would sign the dotted line while tears fell on the contract. I remembered what she said just before she presented it. That even with surgery the dog might not fully recover, and would need to be on medication for the rest of its life. So we decided to do the harder thing. Letting our pets life have been a happy one.
That might not be the right decision for someone else. But it reminded us how important it is to think through some possible scenarios, so if the day comes, you are not totally unprepared to take decisions for your beloved pet.
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