Pacemaker for a Pet

shelby

Shelby is a rescue. Adopted ten years ago by the family of a 7 year old girl named Kasey. The McDonough's embraced the Wheaton Terrier at the North Shore Animal League. The family moved from downstate New York to Central New York and, of course, Shelby came along.

a bond to her mother

"She's my best friend, my everything," said Kasey about Shelby.

Kasey's bond with her dog grew deeper when Kasey's mother died suddenly last year at the age of 38.

Just a few weeks ago while hiking at Green Lakes State Park in Fayetteville Shelby suddenly collapsed something was clearly wrong. Now 17 years old, Kasey took on the responsibility of finding answers for her dog. The veterinarians at Stack Hospital for Pets in Fayetteville diagnosed a low heart rate. While some suggested Shelby's end may be near, Kasey held on to the link with her mother by pursuing more care for Shelby.

"I lost my mom last year so in a way she's a piece of her and I can't let go yet."

HEART BLOCK

The next stop: an appointment with veterinary cardiologist Dr. Eva Oxford at the Veterinary Medical Center of Central New York. An electrocardiogram revealed a complete heart block. "She needed crazy medical attention," said Kasey. "She suggested going to Cornell to get a pacemaker. It was estimated as $4,000 to 6,000 and almost wasn't an option."

help from shamrock animal fund

That's when Kasey looked for help and got it through the Shamrock Animal Fund. Kasey searched Facebook and found the fund based in the Syracuse area that helps pay for veterinary care for animals in need who have owners with financial limitations. "I went to Facebook and got some help," said Kasey. "I met Jamie from Shamrock fund." Jamie Pomilio-Mulcahy, Shamrock Animal Fund co-founder, made sure to follow up with the 17 year old senior at Jamesville-Dewitt High School. Kasey appreciated the extra nudge from Jamie to pursue funding to help Shelby get the pacemaker.

"She funded me 500 dollars to get it started." Jamie explained to Kasey that Cornell's Patient Assistance Fund also could provide financial assistance. "The Cornell Financial assistance program helped a lot, took a big chunk off," Kasey said crediting both Funds. "Honestly it wouldn't have been possible without them."

Kasey also started her own GoFundMe page. She met more than 95% of her fundraising goal.

cornell's team of veterinary professionals

Two weeks after Shelby's collapse at Green Lakes State Park she had her appointment at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine in Ithaca, NY to be evaluated for a pacemaker.

exam and work up

Cornell's team examined Shelby. Listened to her heart and performed an echocardiogram or ultra sound image of the heart. Dr. Romain Pariaut, cardiologist, explained to Kasey and her boyfriend Matthew the specifics of the procedure. They make two incisions in the neck. One to insert the electrode leads and the other to implant the pacemaker generator and battery.

"We insert the electrode into the vein," said Dr. Pariaut. "So we use the vein to guide us into the heart." He acknowledged there are risks during the procedure and postoperatively. But, he was confident the Cornell team could successfully implant the device. It would restore Shelby's heart rate and give her renewed energy.

donated pacemaker

Pacemakers are made for implantation into humans, not pets. Yet for decades veterinary cardiologists have utilized pacemakers for humans by inserting them in companion animals and adjusting the voltage stimulus to the heart muscle to an appropriate level to ascertain a proper heart rate. The pacemaker used in Shelby was manufactured by Medtronic. The generator and leads were obtained through a clearinghouse called CanPacers. The organization's purpose is to accept pacemakers from the major manufacturers that have exceeded approved shelf life for human use and provide them at reduced cost to teaching hospitals for implantation into pets.

saving shelby on tv

This is the first of two parts of the story of a Pacemaker for a Pet as seen on WSTM-TV, NBC 3 in Syracuse, NY.

shelby on tv again

Saving Shelby, Pacemaker for a Pet - part two

inside the operating room

The surgery suite is bustling with faculty, residents and students of the College of Veterinary Medicine. The anesthesiology team cares for Shelby as if she was their own dog. They use a soft touch and give her warm strokes even as they poke her with IV needles and wrap an external pacemaker around her abdomen. There is quiet conversation. There is instruction from the widely experienced faculty in Cardiology and Anesthesiology down the line to well trained residents and newer veterinary students.

a sterile environment

Taking extensive precautions to avoid an infection is critical to a successful outcome. All of the surgical staff wears gowns, gloves and masks. Shelby is carefully draped with sterile sheets. The device and instruments are kept pristine.

all eyes up

Technicians, Anesthesiologists and Cardiologists all watch closely as the Pacemaker implantation procedure progresses.

"It's teamwork. That's why we like to work with the same people," said Dr. Pariaut. "We don't have to talk to each other to understand what we have to do. The anesthesia team was focusing on the heart rate and breathing was fine. We could focus on the procedure itself."

fluoroscopy imaging

The image on the fluoroscopy screen just right of the cardiologists shows the lead of the pacemaker that runs from the neck through the jugular vein into the heart. The darkened shadow surround the last third of the lead is the heart. The tip of the lead has grooves so it can be screwed and fastened into the heart muscle. The tip is also treated in steroidal medication to reduce inflammation at the point of insertion.

"The pacemaker as you can see is in place and working fine we tested it. everything looks good at this point. we're very happy.," Dr. Romain Pariaut

cornell UNiversity College of veterinary medicine

Cornell's primary mission is to teach critical skills to the veterinarians of the future. Cardiologist Dr. Sydney Moise reviews records from Shelby's procedure with veterinary students who are sitting in on their first pacemaker procedure. Dr. Moise monitored multiple electrocardiagram lines as the team tested the precise location of the pacemaker to be sure the lower chamber of the heart could be properly stimulated.

how you can help

At Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine Companion Animal Hospital in 2017:

• Case load went up 20%
• Patient assistance went up 43%
• 130 animals benefited from patient assistance

Dr. Margret Thompson, Hospital Director, sees the increasing need coming from two avenues. The patients coming to Cornell for veterinary care are coming from a wider geographical area, especially to receive specialty care. She also believes pet owners understand they can afford Cornell's care if they get some help.

The the increased demand on the Patient Assistance Fund has reduced the amount of aide available per patient. It is solely funded through donations. Dr. Thompson says occasionally there are larger gifts, but most of the money comes from other pet owners who have benefited from the Cornell experience.

"They saw or heard about a case in the waiting room and understood that individual was going to be challenged to take care of that pet, but was trying to do what was best." Dr. Margret Thompson on the remarkable generosity of individual donors to the Cornell Patient Assistance Fund.

Dr. Thompson also credits another important element.

"One other thing that's helpful is partnership with other organizations like the Shamrock Animal Fund because they help us aide additional people and help us give a little bit more."

shelby

How many hands touched the life of this lovely dog? Her 17 year old owner Kasey and her family. Veterinarians in Syracuse. The Shamrock Animal Fund. Cornell Patient Assistance Fund. Cornell's Veterinary team. Donors to both funds and Shelby's GoFundme. This list just touches the surface of the help she received.

Shelby is now happily home recovering. She's already had her first bandage change and checkup. All is well.

She is now the pet with a pacemaker.

the story teller

Is it undercover work if you are wearing a mask and a hair net? Thanks to Shelby's family and the veterinary team for allowing us to tell her story.