You may have seen posts on social media about repurposing human pacemakers from deceased loved ones, or had questions from your clients. While healthy scepticism is always wise with “viral” stories, this one highlights a real and important topic.
The pacemakers we implant in dogs are not animal-specific – they are the same units used in human patients across the UK. While the leads that attach to the device and run into the right ventricular apex are always brand new, it is true that we commonly reuse re-sterilised units from both human and canine patients. There are specific requirements for reuse, so read on before sending any to your local surgical cardiology team.
Sometimes these units aren’t even old. They may have been in a human patient for only a few months before needing to be changed. Standard battery life is around 10 years (some longer!), so even a device used for several years can still provide plenty of function for our canine patients.
Dogs requiring pacemakers are often older, and a reused unit may have more than enough battery life. Brand-new units are better suited to younger dogs.
Cost is another factor: each new pacemaker is expensive, so offering a re-sterilised “pre-loved” unit allows us to reduce surgical costs significantly – sometimes making the difference between whether a dog receives life-saving surgery or not. All owners are fully informed of the options and the estimated battery life of the device we implant.
All pre-loved pacemaker units are fully assessed before sterilisation: battery life, settings, and any damage or errors are checked. Each candidate is evaluated individually based on age, diagnosis, and concurrent disease, and matched to the most suitable unit.
A low battery does not mean the end for a patient. We can replace the pacemaker while leaving the lead in place during a later procedure – though this is rarely necessary.
Not all donated pacemakers pass our assessment. Units that fail are recycled via a separate company to avoid landfill. Safety and quality always come first.
Due to patient confidentiality, families are not informed when their donated pacemaker is implanted in a patient. They are, however, told at the time of donation that any units which cannot be reused will be recycled. Sensitivity is key, particularly if there are wishes in wills or family expectations. We aim to reuse as many units as possible, but patient safety always takes priority.
Most UK pacemakers are of similar brands, but due to the equipment used to reprogramme and implant devices, we are limited to specific models. Not every unit can be used in canine patients.
We’ve put together a handy checklist outlining which units we can accept and the requirements for safe reuse.
Contact us for more information
Address to send pre-loved pacemakers to: HeartVets, Cave Vet Specialists, Georges Farm, West Buckland, Somerset TA21 9LE
Dave Dickson will be presenting on canine arrhythmia, the acutely dyspnoeic cat, and leading an ECG seminar. Join Dave for practical cardiology CPD on 3rd July.