This news item is about: During her annual exam, Gertrude, “Gerty” Muroff's veterinarian discovered an arrhythmia – a slow heart beat—that required immediate attention. David Muroff took Gerty, a 12-year-old cat, to Upstate Veterinary Services in Albany, where she was diagnosed by colleagues with heart block (atrioventricular nodal – or AV— block). This arrhythmia caused her heart to beat too slowly and they recommended pacemaker implantation. Prior to her appointment for surgical pretesting, Gerty's condition worsened.