A pup gets a pacemaker

When Tara the miniature schnauzer started fainting, her human and best friend, Richard, feared the worst. Tara’s veterinarian diagnosed her with sick sinus syndrome, a disease in which the heart’s natural pacemaker malfunctions and no longer generates normal heartbeats. A veterinary cardiologist at the University of Minnesota implanted a donated Medtronic pacemaker behind Tara’s shoulder and now she’s returned to playing with her favorite toys, jumping on and off beds and sofas, and taking Richard on long walks around town. In partnership with CanPacers, Medtronic donates hundreds of pacemakers each year to help pets like Tara across the United States get lifesaving heart care.