Colorado State completes groundbreaking heart surgery

Colorado State University’s veterinary cardiologist, Dr. Brian Scansen completed the first-ever transcatheter aortic valve replacement in a dog. The procedure is available for humans, but had never before been performed in a canine patient. A human doctor, Dr. Strope, from UC Health assisted in the surgery.

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The dog, a 7 year old malumute named Sabbath, had been dealing with chronic cardiac disease and was brought in from his home in Northern California for the treatment.

Due to other health concerns, vets determined open heart surgery could be too risky for the pup, and decided to try the valve replacement using a catheter.

“We hope this means we will be able to offer more options and less invasive options to treat valve disease in dogs,” Scansen said. “Unfortunately, disease of the heart valve is one of the more common issues we see.”

Just like the procedure for humans, Scansen was able to put the new valve in by using an artery in the dog’s leg. Scansen said Sabbath will no longer need the medications he needed before the surgery and that Sabbath has a clean bill of health moving forward and will remain monitored by his veterinary cardiologist in California.

Meet Dr. Scansen and Sabbath in this video

Sabbath approved to return home following surgery