Angel's Pacemaker
Angel is the only Samoyed in the Uk with a Pacemaker
26 March 2002 we took Angel to our local vets for a check-up as we were concerned following a couple of incidents.
On the first, Angel had appeared to fall or slip but Lee was convinced there was something more. A week later both Tim and Lee witnessed a similar event, but this time there was no question of a slip. She had appeared to faint.
After the vet examined her, it was found her heart was beating too slowly, at around 40 bpm instead of 100 - 120 bpm as is normal.
A day later she was admitted to our vets at 8.30 in the morning for ECG tests - heart monitoring - and we picked her up later in the day at 4.30. The ECG’s appeared to confirm her heart condition, but just to be sure on 4th April 2002, she was admitted for another series of ECG’s. These provided a similar set of results.
On 24th April 2002 (Tim’s birthday!) we took Angel to see a heart specialist in a surgery in a nearby town. Angel was checked over yet again and following further examination, she was referred to a Cardio-Hospital - Martin Referral Services, located in Kenilworth in Warwickshire, England around 150 miles away.
We discussed Angel’s long-term expectations with our vets and they made it clear that without surgery she had an uncertain future - this was an unacceptable scenario for us as we had only rehomed her on 23 August 2001. She deserved a long and happy life and we were determined to give it to her.
We had a number of long phone discussions with the team at Martin Referral Services - which helped us understand what was going to happen - and made an appointment to admit Angel on 20th May.
During this time, Lee was scouring the web for information on pacemaker surgery for dogs. There was not a lot around, but she made contact with a couple in the USA who had their dog fitted with a pacemaker in 2001. They were a great help to us and answered all the questions we had to throw at them. Thank you, Don, Inna and Michelle!( Sadly Michelle passed away)
On the 20th May 2002 - a Monday - we took her to Martin Referral Services - where we had to leave her at 10.0 am for a series of further tests. This was a worrying time as these tests would determine if there was any underlying problems or reasons that Angel would not be well enough for pacemaker surgery.
We were relieved at three pm when our mobile rang and we were told that Angel was fit enough for surgery and we could come back to say goodbye for a few days. While this was hard to do, we knew we had no alternative.
On 21st May 2002 surgery was carried out by Mr Martin and his team - during which time a pacemaker was fitted.
As we were not due to pick Angel up until the 24th May 2002, Martin Referral Services were very good in accepting our daily phone calls to see how Angel was and giving us regular updates on her progress.
Finally the day came, and Tim went to pick her up and bought her home. When she returned we had to restrict her movements as much as possible - particularly in her neck - as the pacemaker and wire are located there. This was achieved with a huge purple bandage which ran from her neck, around her front legs and under her tummy. This was a very difficult time because she wanted to be active and wasn’t allowed to be.
Our daily routines and lives were completely upset as we had to make all our plans around Angel. Lee slept downstairs as Angel wasn’t allowed upstairs at all, with Tim pulling a shift later in the week!
On 31st May 2002, Angel has her first post-op check up at our local Vet centre - Phoenix Vetinary Group - a place where we feel our pets are always treated with the utmost consideration and care. At this appointment Angel’s original bandages were removed, giving us the first look at her stitches - a bit of a shock. She was re-bandaged (in fluorescent pink!).
On 5th June 2002, Angel’s bandage and stitches were removed and you will be able to see from the following pictures how she looked. The biggest shock was how much hair was removed - particularly noticeable on a Samoyed - but this was essential for the surgery to be safely carried out.
On 7th June, the swelling around the stitched areas had gone down and she had very soft fur re-growth.
By the 18th June, her fur had covered the while area as a soft ‘undercoat’. By the 3rd August, Angel’s fur covering the area was about 2 inches long.
Now we are four months from surgery she is very much back to her old self - with one exception... she now pants like any other dog, something she didn’t do before because her metabolism was so slow.
We are shortly due to return to Martin Referral Services where Angel’s pacemaker will be checked and any adjustments needed will be made.
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23rd October 2002 Angel goes to have her 5 month check up, and all is well, Angel's Pacemaker will regulate it's self and her Heart will beat at the correct speed no matter what Angel is doing.
Angel will lead a normal happy life now and will return to Hospital to have annual Pacemaker check up's, plus her normal 6 month check up's by our local Vet.
This has been a very long and very upsetting ordeal but worth every moment, as without all this little Angel's life would have been cut very short indeed, but now we have years of Sammy happiness ahead of us all.
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Angel has her regular yearly check up's at Martin Referral Services, in Kenilworth and is still leading a happy normal life.
A link to the fantastic people who saved Angel's life http://www.martinreferrals.com/
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