A Pup and His Pacemaker
May 12, 2020
One emergency pacemaker and a road to recovery later, eight-year old Polo has found his family!
Polo's a loving dog with the biggest heart that unfortunately, doesn't work quite like it's supposed to. He first came to our Medical Center back in 2018 with a relatively clean bill of health – there was a joint in his leg that likely ached a bit more than normal and he had some extra build-up on his teeth, but nothing that would stop Polo from living the happy life he deserves.
When he began fainting at our Medical Center, we knew he needed help battling an invisible medical issue.
Despite the cloudy eyes that come with being a senior and some patchy fur caused by alopecia, Polo didn't previously have any medical concerns that traditionally cause fainting. That's when we discovered the heart murmur.
After a cardio consult, Polo underwent emergency surgery at Purdue University’s Small Animal Hospital to install a pacemaker that regulates his heartbeat. He spent February and March receiving care and love from our Medical Center staff and foster homes and, on April 14, he officially became a “foster fail.”
His new mom says “he’s been through the ringer, but still is the sweetest, goofiest quarantine buddy ever. He’s my first foster dog and my first foster fail. This little chunk has brightened up my life during such a strange time in the world. If you’re able to foster, I’d highly recommend it. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done.”