A seven-year-old dachshund named Frank is back to his lively self after life-saving surgery at Willows Referral Service in Solihull, West Midlands. Frank’s health had spiralled dramatically, with up to a dozen seizure-like episodes a day leaving his owners fearing the worst.

Frank’s troubling symptoms began suddenly, as Wendy Howes, from Hednesford in Staffordshire, explained: “Frank started collapsing to the ground, shaking, and struggling for breath. Our local vets suspected idiopathic epilepsy and prescribed medication, but it didn’t help.

“His episodes became more frequent and lasted longer, until one day they were happening every 30 minutes. That’s when he was referred to Willows as an emergency.”

Initially, Wendy and her husband, Dean, believed Frank had a neurological condition, but specialists at Willows revealed the surprising cause: a serious heart problem.

“We were utterly shocked,” Wendy said. “The team discovered an abnormality with his heart rate and referred him to the cardiology department.”

Expert Care for a Rare Condition
Willows’ cardiology specialist Sid Sudunagunta and cardiology resident Sophie Goodrich quickly identified the issue: Frank was suffering from third-degree atrioventricular (AV) block, a condition where the heart’s electrical signals are disrupted.

Sophie explained:
“Frank’s episodes were caused by poor blood flow to the brain. His heart rate had dropped to just 25 beats per minute, compared to the normal rate of around 80 beats per minute.

“This condition occurs when the normal electrical impulses in the heart are blocked. Instead, the heart relies on slower impulses from the lower chambers.

“The solution was to fit Frank with a pacemaker to restore a normal heart rhythm.”

The pacemaker surgery was a success, and Frank made a quick recovery. He was discharged the following day and has been thriving ever since.

A Remarkable Recovery

Now back to enjoying countryside walks, Frank hasn’t experienced any further episodes and is continuing his adventures on Instagram, where he delights followers as @frankthe_sausagedog. Wendy said:
“We were so relieved and grateful. Sophie and the whole Willows team were incredible.

“Sophie was so informative and reassuring during what was such an emotional and stressful time for us. The surgery happened within hours, and she kept us updated throughout.

“When we picked Frank up, he had a heart-shaped bandage marking where the pacemaker was fitted—it was such a lovely touch. He also has a My Latitude meter, which monitors the pacemaker and sends regular updates to Willows.”

Wendy praised the entire team for their care and professionalism:
“Every member of staff was amazing. From the receptionists to the specialists, everyone was knowledgeable and friendly.

“When Frank went back for a check-up, he was so happy to see everyone and clearly remembered them. We can’t thank Willows enough for saving his life.”