About Us...

CanPacers was developed and is maintained by the cardiology diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine as a service providing epicardial and endocardial leads and generators for veterinary patients.

We are a nonprofit organization that is greatly appreciative of the generous donations provided by Guidant, Medtronic and St. Jude Medical, among others.  

A Brief History of CanPacers

Many cardiology diplomates have been instrumental in the development and maintenance of the program over the years. In 1991, the program officially became CanPacers (Companion ANimal PACEmaker Registry & RepoSitory) thanks to Dave Sisson and a generous donation of a large number of generators and leads from CPI (Cardiac Pacemakers Inc). 

All proceeds from the sale of generators and leads are directed to a specially designated ACVIM account and used to fund Cardiology Resident Research Projects. CanPacers has provided several thousand dollars for clinically important veterinary cardiology research, leading to improved understanding of heart disease in animals.

Information obtained directly from CanPacers records resulted in a publication detailing outcomes of cardiac pacing in dogs:

Oyama MA, Sisson DD, Lehmkuhl LB: Practices and outcomes of artificial cardiac pacing in 154 dogs at seven referral hospitals from 1991 to 1996.  J Vet Int Med 2001; 15:229-239