pets

that's a new one

by Tracey_E - 2017-06-11 16:01:40

I have multiple pets, have had 5 pacer surgeries, no one has ever once mentioned pets would be an issue. My dog was snuggled with me on the bed as soon as I got home.

Pets and Pacemakers

by Selwyn - 2017-06-12 06:05:24

I would be challenging the evidence base for this advice, which I can only describe as 'bizarre'! 

Never heard of such a thing.

Even pets can be fitted with pacemakers!

Why 6 weeks?  What changes then?  

The advice to avoid pets for 6 weeks after fitting with a PM  is crazy, and without any logic, when you think about it.

The only aspect I could think of is about wound care/infection. You would not be letting an animal lick your wound though- that is common sense.

There is ample evidence to show that pets help with well being and therefore rehabilitation. Indeed, some nursing homes keep pets ( our rabbits came from one, with the deal that when we were on holiday, they would pick up the hutch and rabbits, using their back loading ambulance/ lift, and they would go back to the nursing home for 'relief admission'!  I also used to receive duck eggs (ducks kept in the nursing home quadrangle) from one nursing home! 

The idea of avoiding animals, if you don't mind me saying, is somewhat of a 'red herring'.

Selwyn

Misunderstood

by WiredandTired - 2017-06-12 06:36:46

Do you think you may have misunderstood and what he meant was that you can't lift them for 6 weeks?  I have a 14 year old dog with congestive heart failure that can't do stairs anymore. I've been lifting him up and down my deck stairs for a couple of years now. My husband had to build a ramp for him after my surgery because I can't lift him as he is 35 pounds. I've never heard that you can't be around your animals.  Odd.

Animals

by TBrous&Chip - 2017-06-12 10:37:51

No heavy lifting is the normal rule. Could having 20 animals to care for be the issue the doctor is concerned about?

no kids for 6 weeks.

by dwelch - 2017-06-12 18:00:34

Not heard of this one, five pacers and they have never asked about pets nor kids.  From experience kids are usually heavier if it is a lifting thing, and as far as protecting the incision, I would be more worried about kids, I know I was worried about mine, when they are at that age where they pounce on you like a cat, but weigh a not more and when they hit that pacer, ouch.  a new pacer I would be worried about....but never did the doc ask or talk about no pets or no kids or anyting related to that...unless it is a lifting thing they they said nothing over 5 pounds which a lot of pets fall into but not all..

very bizarre, but you know just call get a clarification, and/or when they said that you should have said I take care of 20 pets and they will not make it 6 weeks without me.

pets

by Ms.Ginny - 2017-06-12 21:26:50

Dr. says starting tomorrow I cannot be around my pets, my PM is being put in next tuesday..1st thing he said was No pets, worried bout infection or them getting near the wound area. Thanks for all the input, my animals are my everything, I lost my son so I cling to my four legged babies. I have 9 indoor cats & 1 indoor hiper corgi dog, lol.. I have 8 outdoor cats 1 dog and a horse. He 1st wanted me to board my pets, I told him is not happening, so he said I have to go into another room and stay closed in there for atleast 6 weeks. :(

Now I"m just curious

by Gotrhythm - 2017-06-13 15:51:50

Infection at the pacemaker site is nothing to mess with.  Still 6 weeks seems excessive to me. For most people the wound is completely closed within two weeks. Your doctor must be very worried. It's none of my business but I have to wonder why.

Do you have a compromised immune system, or a low resistance to infection for some reason?

Do you have a lot a cat scratches? Dog bites? Are they or have they been infected? Do you have diabetes? Do your wounds heal very slowly? Have you caught something from your animals before?

Are you allergic to dogs or cats but in denial? ( I have a friend who is. She'd rather have the asthma than lose her cats.) I don't judge. Life is full of trade offs.

I don't think I have an unusual degree of attachment to my miniature poodle, but I would be very lonely and as a result, depressed, without her for 6 weeks.

pets

by Ms.Ginny - 2017-06-14 13:16:34

I don't have any of the above mentioned problems, I really dont know why except I am kinda known for not really listening to being told not to do do something..lol.. When I had an emergency appendectomy I was told not to do anything for at least a week, but I couldnt really do that as I had a horse and at that time I had a couple pot bellied pigs also, plus 20 cats and 4 dogs, I am kinda like a place animals seem to find, I also feed a family of raccoons some foxes, a deer every once in awhile, opossums etc.. anyway within a couple days I was out cleaning water troughs and pools for my animals..I prob heal a lil slow and I do bruise very easy..also have heart valve problems..but I am a stubborn female, and I want things done my way or I'll do it myself..lol