He’s hitting the hay like a champ again (Picture: SWNS)
Stanley the Bulldog cross was getting scanned for a hip problem, when vets saw that something was wrong with his heart.
The nine-year-old dog had a heart base tumour, and needed surgery to save his life.
Thankfully, a specialist cardiology team was able to carry out a rare procedure to save him at Easctott Veterinary Referrals in Swindon.
The team managed to fit a stent to relieve the pressure in Stanley’s poorly heart during a keyhole surgery, and just 24 hours later, he was able to go back home.
Stanley’s owner, Kay Webb, from Witney, said: ‘Stanley had a mass on his heart and this was restricting the flow of blood to his organs.
‘They recommended inserting a stent to ease the congestion. We were obviously worried but hoped it would give him a better quality of life.
What a good boy (Picture: Eastcott Veterinary Referrals/SWNS)
Fluoroscopy images of Stanley’s operation (Picture: Eastcott Veterinary Referrals/SWNS)
‘Stanley is now back home following the operation, and he’s very happy to continue his favourite pastime of sleeping, as well as playing games, doing training exercises, and enjoying local walks.’
The surgeons accessed to Stanley’s heart and fit the stent through a large vein in his neck.
Kieran Borgeat, the clinical director at Eastcott and an American, European and RCVS specialist in veterinary cardiology, said: ‘Eastcott’s cardiology team planned this keyhole surgery to relieve the compression of Stanley’s blood vessels, in order to improve his cardiac output and prevent him from developing signs of liver congestion and heart failure.
Owners Kevin and Kay Webb with Stanley (Picture: Eastcott Veterinary Referrals/SWNS)
‘For this to be done, Stanley’s heart was accessed using specialised catheters and wires through the jugular vein in his neck, while the procedure was guided by fluoroscopy.
‘We deployed a stent which would lift the tumour up and open the blood vessel, from within the vessel itself.
‘We are pleased that the trans-atrial stent was successfully deployed, and normal blood flow was restored.
‘Stanley was able to go home the following day even though it was a complex operation.
‘This highlights one of the huge benefits of minimally invasive surgery – a low level of risk and predictable, rapid recovery for most patients.
‘It’s great to see Stanley recover so well, returning to normal exercise and activity levels.’
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‘It’s great to see Stanley recover so well.’
