Purdue Performs First Canine Cardiac Ablation

Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine achieved a milestone by performing its first cardiac ablation on a canine. The subject, Ketchup—a grand champion boxer—had suffered persistent cardiac arrhythmias that failed to respond to six months of medication. Leading the groundbreaking procedure was Dr. Dos Santos, whose decade-long work in arrhythmia research laid the foundation for this success.

Using a technique akin to human cardiac ablation, the surgical team targeted and neutralized the heart’s problematic electrical pathways. The outcome was dramatic: Ketchup made a full recovery, regaining the energy to run and play like a puppy again. This pioneering effort not only offers new hope for canine patients suffering from arrhythmia but also has the potential to influence advanced cardiac techniques in human medicine. Looking ahead, Dr. Dos Santos plans to raise awareness about canine heart disease and promote the availability of interventional treatments.