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Sick Sinus Syndrome

A disorder of the heart's primary pacemaker that results in erratic, abnormally slow, or absent electrical impulses.

Key Facts

The sinoatrial node fails to generate consistent signals, leading to unpredictable heart rhythms.
Clinical signs are frequently misattributed to normal aging in geriatric dogs and cats.
The condition commonly causes severe bradycardia and secondary symptoms like lethargy or fainting.
Permanent pacemaker implantation is the standard of care to stabilize the cardiac rhythm.

Intermittent pauses in sinus node activity can abruptly reduce cerebral blood flow and trigger fainting.

Pacemaker implantation is the standard therapy to correct the erratic signaling of sick sinus syndrome.

Pacemakers replace the malfunctioning sinoatrial node to maintain a stable cardiac rhythm.