My dog is no. 23 in this clinical trial. He is the little guy with the Mohawk pictured in the middle of this video, and walking around thereafter. We are a year out from surgery and he is doing really well. Seems three years younger than when he went in. His heart remodeled almost back to normal within 3 months of the surgery. He was not in heart failure when he had the surgery. B2 sure seems like the right stage to start this process, but you need to account for lead time. Can’t say enough how thankful we are for Drs. Orton, Potter, Ross and the very large open heart team and facility at CSU.
@johnhellow7201 Wow, thank you so much for sharing this amazing update. The little guy with the mohawk is exceptionally cute--I was really hoping that he was still doing well. Thank you for being such a devoted dog dad, for going above and beyond, and for allowing these amazing doctors to help him - it really shows. On the patient's medical team, the parents are just as important as the doctors, and so your dog is really lucky to have an All Star team all around:) Wishing him many more happy and healthy years! And thank you for visiting our channel! -Dr. Lopez
We were so impressed with Dr. Orton’s team, including the social services component that kept us in the loop from the procedure through Jake’s several days in the ICU with updates and pics through the night. Care at the level of a first rate human teaching hospital. We also had the benefit of a Cornell visiting professor on the team that is well published in minimally invasive surgery for small animals. Her incisions and the quality of how she closed made a huge contribution to the speed of Jake’s recovery. And the continued guidance in Jake’s medication that his local cardiologist, Dr. Zimmerman, provides quarterly is very important to his post surgical improvement and now stabilization. So many people to be thankful for. Thanks for bringing this to the public! I hope many families take advantage of this procedure.
@@johnhellow7201 That is so great to hear that your experience at Colorado State was so wonderful. I cannot say enough great things about CSU- as a vet student there I got to see everything from the inside, and many of the specialists who work and teach at that hospital are truly some of the best in the world. Your dedication as a dog parent really shows, and you should be very proud of yourself. I wish others could see the difference in outcome when you have all of the best players on the team (*especially* the parents, as well as the doctors and nurses working together all for the best interest of the patient), and how much better that is for the patient. Thank you for everything and for playing a vital role in helping to make this new technology available to others. Your dog is a little champ, and these first brave dogs and their families will forever be a beacon of light and source of inspiration to others :) Wishing you all the best! -Dr. Lopez
My dog has just had the procedure done and is doing really well. Her murmur is reduced to almost nothing and she is so much brighter and happier. Thank you to Professor Orton and Dr Potter and the amazing team headed by Dr Cecile Damoiseaux at the Fregis Vet hospital in Paris. I will be forever grateful!
@MainaClaessens Wow that is amazing news! Thank you so much for sharing this update, and we are wishing you continued progress and many happy and healthy years with your sweet girl ❤️ Kudos to you as well for going the extra mile and getting her the care that she needs. You are also a very important player on the team, and no doctors can deliver amazing results without a very dedicated owner in their corner. Thank you for visiting our channel and we are sending all the best to you and your pup! -Dr. Lopez
I just lost my first cavalier King Charles spaniel. Kenslei. Absolutely heartbroken. I am so grateful someone is working on this. If one of my others comes down with this, I pray not but I will definitely be taking them. ❤️💔🌈
@user-gq5xy7kk9o Aw so sorry to hear that, and so sorry for your loss. Was it mitral valve degeneration? Poor baby. Yes, this is going to be completely life-changing for the Cavalier King Charles Breed. Even so, I am hoping that breeders can continue to work with cardiologists prior to breeding so that we can gradually reduce the prevalence of this horrible disease in Cavaliers. Sending all of our love, and wishing your other Cavs many happy and healthy years. ❤ -Dr. Lopez
Dr. Orton is a life saving hero! God bless his heart. He’s so humble and genuine. Thank you so much for this video Dr. Lopez! Can you please give us a list of available centres currently performing this operation? Please and thank you 🙏💓
I couldn't agree more! These are the TEER centres in the USA that are on my radar: Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, VCA West Los Angeles, Tufts University (Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine) International TEER centres can be found in the: UK, Paris, Milan, and Brazil Your dog's cardiologist will likely be updated every time a new centre opens. In the video description, there is also a TEER info sheet from Dr. Orton's team at CSU with a contact email on the bottom. They are the ones training new centres so will be the best source of info:) Thank you for your comment and for visiting our channel. Have a beautiful day! -Dr. Lopez
@@TwinTreesVet Thank you Dr. Lopez for taking time out of your busy schedule to reply! I’m waiting for a response from Dr. Orton’s team. Upon further research, I found that the University of Minnesota and Sawgrass Veterinary Cardiology also perform TEER. 💓🐶
This is AMAZING! AMAZING! AMAZING! I really couldn't think of any better word than AMAZING! But please leave your alternate words suggestions below:) -Dr. Lopez
We are located in Michigan. Where is the closest surgical center for us? My 10 year old Chihuahua was just diagnosed with a grade 3 heart murmur and a heart that’s just on the borderline between normal and enlarged. The vet said she isn’t in CHF yet and we have her on Vetmedin. She is coughing every morning and I’m so scared.
Hi John, I have my dog and I saw your comment and I would like to hear more from you. How many days specifically have you stayed in the ICU? How was the extended life, did energy increased? heart rate? any medical benefits? many thanks for your help.
This is beautiful. I am so grateful to the doctors who pursue this knowledge and research This is wonderful. I was just told my dog had this disease. I don’t know the stage yet. But he is only 3, and all I could feel when I looked at him is hopeless and sad. He’s so sweet. Too young to have such a serious diagnosis. Too many more adventures to go on. Now I have some hope. I will start planning with my vet for this when the time comes. I am more than willing to do anything that could help him!
Actually, I have a question. Why don’t do they do the surgery earlier in the disease? Wouldn’t that stop damage to the heart sooner? I’m just wondering at the point of surgical intervention, has the heart been damaged so much, life expectancy will still be low? Especially because mine is so young, I wonder. Sounds like a lot of these dogs are already older when they get surgery.
@meghannelson4577 Thank you for your comment and I am so glad that this video has given you hope. I feel the exact same way- as an emergency vet we would see dogs for recurrence of heart failure (or parts off the heart actually stretching and suddenly tearing) only to discover that they had already been seeing the cardiologist for years and that the heart meds had already been maxed out. In those cases, there was very little hope and we had little left to offer them. They are trying to help as many dogs as possible that are in the more urgent later stages, since a procedure like this may be their only hope (pardon the Star Wars reference;) For dogs in the earlier stages, one must weigh the risk of surgery against the benefits. Under the careful supervision of a cardiologist, many dogs in the earlier stages of mitral valve disease can be managed well for quite a while. As the disease progresses, then a procedure like this becomes more necessary. Hoping your pup holds steady in the early stages for as long as possible. When in doubt, chat with your dog's cardiologist or reach out to the program coordinator at CSU (the link is in the description). Thank you for visiting our channel and best of luck! -Dr. Lopez
Thanks so much. Makes sense!! I’m still waiting for the official word from the cardiologist. I’ve only had my vet give her thoughts of Mitral valve issues. Actually, might be a birth defect that I guess this surgery can’t help. Trying to be patient while waiting for more info. Thanks again
@@meghannelson4577 yes it is definitely important to see a cardiologist and get a concrete diagnosis. If you watch our video about heart murmurs, the guest cardiologist explains that a murmur can mean many different things. Best of luck and hope it’s just a “physiologic murmur” and not something pathologic. -Dr. Lopez.
Thanks. 😉well, unfortunately he’s already had an ultrasound that showed a mitral valve problem. Just the vet and the ultrasound vet read it. They get an official report from a cardiologist. But I mean, if they see a problem , i assume the cardiologist will too. I will also look into an actual appointment with a cardiologist one on one, instead of the back and forth. With the holiday weekend, it’s ending up to likely be a full week before I get the cardiologists report. So stressful. But lots of good info like this. Thanks for all your hard work. I’m sure being an ER vet brings a lot of stress. 💕thank you
Hi there. So the device costs about $7k USD, and the surgical procedure and peri-operative hospitalization costs about that, so in total about $14k USD. That said, if your pup has really good medical insurance then they may help cover the costs. I do believe there is a pretty long waitlist for Dr. Orton and his team at Colorado, but there are now a total of six active centres providing this procedure. If you are interested in this procedure, it is important that your dog has been evaluated by a cardiologist so that the doctors can know what stage of mitral valve disease the patient is in, and other factors to decide whether he/she could be a candidate. There is an email address at the bottom of this sheet www.dropbox.com/s/wg7gu3aiz9hzge0/Transcatheter%20Edge-to-Edge%20Repair-Information.pdf?dl=0 (I had linked it in the description but for some reason it didn't save, so thanks for pointing this out!). Best of luck and thank you for visiting our channel. Please keep us posted! -Dr. Lopez
Amazing, my wee mini Schnauzer cross with a king Charles went into stage C CHF today and it's just devastating to watch. Rang around the Vet Cardiologists in Auckland (New Zealand) and we don't have the technology to do the open heart technique (stop the heart and pump the blood around on the machine they use on humans). Be absolutely amazing if we could access this technique and technology here!!
Sorry to hear about your pup. Hang in there and wishing you the very best of luck! I hope that there will be options for you in the near future- lots of people have been requesting it for your region 🙏🏼❤️
Hi there, I have a dog with Mitral Valve Disease (stage B2) and from what I am hearing he could be a perfect candidate for this surgery. How can I get in contact with Dr. Chris Orton? Thank you
Hi @Heather Rose. The first step is to get a referral to a board-certified veterinary cardiologist in your area (if you have not yet done this). Then your cardiologist can send all of your dog's medical records (echocardiograms, etc.) to the team at CSU to see if your dog is a candidate. Sending all of my best wishes to you and your dog! Thank you for visiting our channel and best of luck! -Dr. Lopez
@@TwinTreesVet Hi there, thank you. I actually have filled out the form online after speaking with the cardiology team at CSU and then I submitted his echocardiogram write up from our vets traveling cardiologist. Do you think I need to get the cardiologist to submit this too or me doing it is sufficient? Appreciate your time!
@@TwinTreesVet Thank you. Unfortunately, they are not accepting new patients at this time and their waitlist is full :(. My dog has B2 stage, which sounds like the stage that Dr. Orton prefers performing surgery on. If there is any way you could get me to speak with him or on any waitlist of his, I'd appreciate it so much!
@@heatherrose3037 Aw that's a bummer. Hang in there and don't give up- in the meantime, they are training as many surgeons as possible. First try the email address at the bottom of this TEER info sheet from CSU, and let them know that you saw his podcast with Twin Trees. I'll confirm to see if I'm allowed to share his email. www.dropbox.com/s/wg7gu3aiz9hzge0/Transcatheter%20Edge-to-Edge%20Repair-Information.pdf?dl=0
@theresamadison6532 There are a total of 6 active centres- I think the closest to you would be either University of Illinois, Colorado State, or Tufts. I hope that helps! Thank you for visiting our channel and have a lovely day. -Dr. Lopez
Thank you so much for this video. We have a Yorkie that is 5.1 pounds and we are looking for hospital that will do this operation (here and overseas). Is there somewhere we can find more information? Thanks
Hi @thetruthwillsetyoufree9420. I would absolutely reach out to the team at Colorado State University. They are the leading authority [in the world] on this procedure for veterinary patients. They will be able to give you the most accurate information about the procedure, help you find the closest centre, and determine whether your dog is a candidate. The contact email can be found at the bottom of the TEER info sheet (it is linked in the description but I will also link it here): www.dropbox.com/s/wg7gu3aiz9hzge0/Transcatheter%20Edge-to-Edge%20Repair-Information.pdf?dl=0 Best of luck and thank you for visiting our channel :) -Dr. Lopez
Hello! My dog was just diagnosed. I wish I could do anything to save him, but I don’t think my family could afford TEER. Do you have any recommendations?
@lx2312 Fundraiser and GoFundMe to get support for all of the pre-post cardiology visits, the procedure, travel, etc. . Hopefully by the time he needs the procedure you will have raised the funds. (And next time get good pet medical insurance from day zero and please warn your friends to do the same. Nobody realizes the reality of the cost of medical care...until it's too late). Best of luck and please keep us posted! -Dr. Lopez
@@TwinTreesVet Thank you so much for the response. I honestly don’t know if I can even get the funds. It’s a lot of money. I’m also thinking of buying him heart supplements right now, do you have any suggestions?
@@lx2312there are plenty of heart supplements: Five Leaf Pet Botanicals Canine Heart Heath has a protocol (taurine, l-carnitine, hawthorn tincture, canine heart tincture, Dog Greens). There’s a Canadian company called NHV: Hearty-Heart tincture, turmeric tincture. Other supplements for the heart include liquid ubiquinol (Bark & Whiskers), use dandelion tincture (Five Leaf Pet Botanicals) instead of Lasix, omega 3 fish oil (salmon or anchovy & flavor from Iceland Pure), thiamine pyrophosphate liquid drops (Metabolics), vitamin D3/K2, l-arginine, d-ribose, reishi/shiitake/cordycep mushroom powder (Real Mushrooms), etc. Look at foods: grassfed beef/bison/pork/chicken hearts. Raw is best but freeze dried or jerky is good, too. Fatty wild caught fish (salmon, sardines, anchovies) for Omega 3. Sautéed shiitake mushrooms in MCT oil. Please look into Dr. Judy’s “Yin & Yang” cookbook for recipes.
@Myfaves Aw sorry to hear about your dog, but luckily now there is this great news for these guys. No centres in Maryland yet... I am guessing your closest would be Tufts in Pennsylvania. Lucky for you your pup is still relatively early stage, so you have time to prepare and research. Wishing you and your Shih Tzu all the best and thank you for visiting our channel:) -Dr. Lopez
@onerhao Just to clarify, Shanghai is where the medical device company is located. Dr. Orton, a heart surgeon at Colorado State University travelled to Shanghai when he heard that they had made a device specifically for dogs (the procedure had already been performed on over 100, 000 human patients. Dr. Orton and his team started the first TEER centre in the world at Colorado State, and now they have been training other facilities how to perform the procedure so that there can bee more TEER centres. No centres available yet in Canada....Your closest centres might be Colorado State University and VCA West Los Angeles. At the time that this video was filmed, there were 6 active centres in the world, including CSU (of course), University of Illinois, VCA WestLA, Tufts, and Milan. They also went to Brazil, and someone else commented on our instagram that the procedure was performed successfully on her dog in Brazil a few weeks ago. In the early data that was presented, I'm pretty sure I remember a greater than 95% success rate (don't quote me on that). This technology is amazing, and as he said, they are getting better and better at the technique. Hope that helps and thanks for visiting our channel! -Dr. Lopez
@@TwinTreesVet Thank you very much, Dr. Lopez! I'm desperately looking for a better treatment for my poodle. And I've checked out your website but still not sure where the right way to reach out to the available center for the procedure is. As I'm not in the US, so I can't get a referral. Where should i start then? Hao.
@@onerhao If you check out the video description there is a TEER info sheet from Colorado State, and there is an email address at the bottom of that. They can let you know what you need (best to see a cardiologist if not already for all of the measurements, staging, etc.) and whether they can add you to the waitlist or delegate to another centre. I have linked that info sheet below as well. Best of luck! -Dr. Lopez www.dropbox.com/s/wg7gu3aiz9hzge0/Transcatheter%20Edge-to-Edge%20Repair-Information.pdf?dl=0
The device was invented in Shanghai, it was originally invented for human patients in China, then the same research team there made a device for dogs. This all happened during the pandemic, a lot of human and dog patients had mitral valve damages from Covid infection.
@carlbernngl This procedure IS available already! And yes, the good insurance companies like Trupanion are covering it. There are now at least 6 active centres (all trained by Dr. Orton) offering this procedure. The centres are obviously getting substantial waitlists, so you might want to contact your nearest TEER centre if you are interested in learning more. Best of luck and please keep us posted. Thank you for visiting our channel and have a beautiful day! -Dr. Lopez
@@TwinTreesVetbesides Trupanion, are there other pet insurance companies covering this procedure. Will they cover this if heart disease is a pre-existing condition? Can you please make a video about this?
Where are you located in the world? Best to start reaching out to the closest centres in your area. There is also a TEER info sheet from CSU linked in the video description with a contact email for the cardio team at CSU, as they may be able to best direct you. Aw 12- what a champ. Good luck and keep us posted. ❤️ Dr. Lopez
@ddpav9663 I am told a centre will be coming to Canada soon, but not sure when. It sounds like a little vacation might be in store ✈️. I would start by reaching out to the team at CSU via the contact email in the TEER info sheet they provided. Their team is really amazing, and since they are the ones who have pioneered this technology they will be the best to direct you. By the way, good job on getting your pup to see a cardiologist- you are already in the top 1% of the pack as far as your commitment and dedication. Your dog is very lucky to have an A+++++ dog pawrent 👏👏👏
VSS in QLD does this procedure it's $35K. My little fur baby will be having surgery soon, hopefully! He's been diagnosed with stage 3 heart failure and has 9-12 months to live without this surgery. Next week we're having the relevant scans done to see if he is a good candidate.
My dog is 2.3kg(5.07lbs). From the video, they prefer at least 4kg dog and they had 2.8kg dog surgery. Do you think my small dog can have this surgery?? 8:00
I would absolutely reach out to the team at Colorado State University. They are the leading authority [in the world] on this procedure for veterinary patients. They will be able to give you the most accurate information about the procedure, help you find the closest centre, and determine whether your dog is a candidate. The contact email can be found at the bottom of the TEER info sheet (it is linked in the description but I will also link it here): www.dropbox.com/s/wg7gu3aiz9hzge0/Transcatheter%20Edge-to-Edge%20Repair-Information.pdf?dl=0 Best of luck and please keep us posted! And thank you for visiting our channel:) -Dr. Lopez
The device was invented in Shanghai, it was originally invented for human patients in China, then the same research team there made a device for dogs. This all happened during the pandemic, a lot of human and dog patients had mitral valve damages from Covid infection.
I just got off the phone with them! We have been there many times to different specialists for all our dogs. We live in Florida now but I'm happy to go back to have this done if necessary! Thank you for posting your interview and video!
@TheKarlaCavalli Wow I can already tell you are an A+++ dog parent. Way to go. If only everyone were as dedicated as you it would be a completely different world of vet med. Thank you for providing such a caring and devoted home for your pups. -Dr. Lopez
@rockwithjoy first step is to get a referral a veterinary cardiologist if possible for staging, etc. Do you have one where you live? Check the video description there are lots of links including the info sheet from CSU. -Dr. Lopez
What about dogs below 4 kg? 😢 my chihuahua 2,4 kg is in an early stage C and we live near Paris so this would be perfect! Can’t they give an alternative treatment for smaller dogs? Please answer, I’m desperately looking for help!! 🥲
@amygasolina did you hear Dr. Orton say that the smallest dog they have operated on was 2.5kg? It is definitely worth reaching out to the team to see if your pup is a candidate! Best of luck and please keep us posted! ❤️ -Dr. Lopez
@amygasolina aw, sorry to hear that. Don’t give up. Would it be worth contacting any of the other TEER centres to see if they are accepting smaller patients? Hopefully soon there will be more availability for the little little guys ❤️- Dr. Lopez
My dog is no. 23 in this clinical trial. He is the little guy with the Mohawk pictured in the middle of this video, and walking around thereafter. We are a year out from surgery and he is doing really well. Seems three years younger than when he went in. His heart remodeled almost back to normal within 3 months of the surgery. He was not in heart failure when he had the surgery. B2 sure seems like the right stage to start this process, but you need to account for lead time. Can’t say enough how thankful we are for Drs. Orton, Potter, Ross and the very large open heart team and facility at CSU.
@johnhellow7201 Wow, thank you so much for sharing this amazing update. The little guy with the mohawk is exceptionally cute--I was really hoping that he was still doing well. Thank you for being such a devoted dog dad, for going above and beyond, and for allowing these amazing doctors to help him - it really shows. On the patient's medical team, the parents are just as important as the doctors, and so your dog is really lucky to have an All Star team all around:) Wishing him many more happy and healthy years! And thank you for visiting our channel! -Dr. Lopez
We were so impressed with Dr. Orton’s team, including the social services component that kept us in the loop from the procedure through Jake’s several days in the ICU with updates and pics through the night. Care at the level of a first rate human teaching hospital. We also had the benefit of a Cornell visiting professor on the team that is well published in minimally invasive surgery for small animals. Her incisions and the quality of how she closed made a huge contribution to the speed of Jake’s recovery. And the continued guidance in Jake’s medication that his local cardiologist, Dr. Zimmerman, provides quarterly is very important to his post surgical improvement and now stabilization. So many people to be thankful for.
Thanks for bringing this to the public! I hope many families take advantage of this procedure.
@@johnhellow7201 That is so great to hear that your experience at Colorado State was so wonderful. I cannot say enough great things about CSU- as a vet student there I got to see everything from the inside, and many of the specialists who work and teach at that hospital are truly some of the best in the world. Your dedication as a dog parent really shows, and you should be very proud of yourself. I wish others could see the difference in outcome when you have all of the best players on the team (*especially* the parents, as well as the doctors and nurses working together all for the best interest of the patient), and how much better that is for the patient. Thank you for everything and for playing a vital role in helping to make this new technology available to others. Your dog is a little champ, and these first brave dogs and their families will forever be a beacon of light and source of inspiration to others :) Wishing you all the best! -Dr. Lopez
Could you tell the price of surgery operation?
My dog has just had the procedure done and is doing really well. Her murmur is reduced to almost nothing and she is so much brighter and happier. Thank you to Professor Orton and Dr Potter and the amazing team headed by Dr Cecile Damoiseaux at the Fregis Vet hospital in Paris. I will be forever grateful!
@MainaClaessens Wow that is amazing news! Thank you so much for sharing this update, and we are wishing you continued progress and many happy and healthy years with your sweet girl ❤️ Kudos to you as well for going the extra mile and getting her the care that she needs. You are also a very important player on the team, and no doctors can deliver amazing results without a very dedicated owner in their corner. Thank you for visiting our channel and we are sending all the best to you and your pup! -Dr. Lopez
Hi! May I ask how your dog is doing after these few months please? In what stage was your dog before the surgery? Thank you!!!
I just lost my first cavalier King Charles spaniel. Kenslei. Absolutely heartbroken. I am so grateful someone is working on this. If one of my others comes down with this, I pray not but I will definitely be taking them. ❤️💔🌈
@user-gq5xy7kk9o Aw so sorry to hear that, and so sorry for your loss. Was it mitral valve degeneration? Poor baby. Yes, this is going to be completely life-changing for the Cavalier King Charles Breed. Even so, I am hoping that breeders can continue to work with cardiologists prior to breeding so that we can gradually reduce the prevalence of this horrible disease in Cavaliers. Sending all of our love, and wishing your other Cavs many happy and healthy years. ❤ -Dr. Lopez
Dr. Orton is a life saving hero! God bless his heart. He’s so humble and genuine. Thank you so much for this video Dr. Lopez! Can you please give us a list of available centres currently performing this operation? Please and thank you 🙏💓
I couldn't agree more!
These are the TEER centres in the USA that are on my radar: Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, VCA West Los Angeles, Tufts University (Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine)
International TEER centres can be found in the: UK, Paris, Milan, and Brazil
Your dog's cardiologist will likely be updated every time a new centre opens. In the video description, there is also a TEER info sheet from Dr. Orton's team at CSU with a contact email on the bottom. They are the ones training new centres so will be the best source of info:)
Thank you for your comment and for visiting our channel. Have a beautiful day! -Dr. Lopez
@@TwinTreesVet Thank you Dr. Lopez for taking time out of your busy schedule to reply! I’m waiting for a response from Dr. Orton’s team. Upon further research, I found that the University of Minnesota and Sawgrass Veterinary Cardiology also perform TEER. 💓🐶
@onlyinparadise4613 Thanks for the info! Will keep you posted on other inquiries:)
This is AMAZING! AMAZING! AMAZING! I really couldn't think of any better word than AMAZING! But please leave your alternate words suggestions below:) -Dr. Lopez
We are located in Michigan. Where is the closest surgical center for us? My 10 year old Chihuahua was just diagnosed with a grade 3 heart murmur and a heart that’s just on the borderline between normal and enlarged. The vet said she isn’t in CHF yet and we have her on Vetmedin. She is coughing every morning and I’m so scared.
Hi John, I have my dog and I saw your comment and I would like to hear more from you. How many days specifically have you stayed in the ICU? How was the extended life, did energy increased? heart rate? any medical benefits? many thanks for your help.
This is beautiful. I am so grateful to the doctors who pursue this knowledge and research This is wonderful. I was just told my dog had this disease. I don’t know the stage yet. But he is only 3, and all I could feel when I looked at him is hopeless and sad. He’s so sweet. Too young to have such a serious diagnosis. Too many more adventures to go on. Now I have some hope. I will start planning with my vet for this when the time comes. I am more than willing to do anything that could help him!
Actually, I have a question. Why don’t do they do the surgery earlier in the disease? Wouldn’t that stop damage to the heart sooner?
I’m just wondering at the point of surgical intervention, has the heart been damaged so much, life expectancy will still be low? Especially because mine is so young, I wonder. Sounds like a lot of these dogs are already older when they get surgery.
@meghannelson4577 Thank you for your comment and I am so glad that this video has given you hope. I feel the exact same way- as an emergency vet we would see dogs for recurrence of heart failure (or parts off the heart actually stretching and suddenly tearing) only to discover that they had already been seeing the cardiologist for years and that the heart meds had already been maxed out. In those cases, there was very little hope and we had little left to offer them.
They are trying to help as many dogs as possible that are in the more urgent later stages, since a procedure like this may be their only hope (pardon the Star Wars reference;) For dogs in the earlier stages, one must weigh the risk of surgery against the benefits. Under the careful supervision of a cardiologist, many dogs in the earlier stages of mitral valve disease can be managed well for quite a while. As the disease progresses, then a procedure like this becomes more necessary. Hoping your pup holds steady in the early stages for as long as possible. When in doubt, chat with your dog's cardiologist or reach out to the program coordinator at CSU (the link is in the description). Thank you for visiting our channel and best of luck! -Dr. Lopez
Thanks so much. Makes sense!! I’m still waiting for the official word from the cardiologist. I’ve only had my vet give her thoughts of Mitral valve issues. Actually, might be a birth defect that I guess this surgery can’t help. Trying to be patient while waiting for more info. Thanks again
@@meghannelson4577 yes it is definitely important to see a cardiologist and get a concrete diagnosis. If you watch our video about heart murmurs, the guest cardiologist explains that a murmur can mean many different things. Best of luck and hope it’s just a “physiologic murmur” and not something pathologic. -Dr. Lopez.
Thanks. 😉well, unfortunately he’s already had an ultrasound that showed a mitral valve problem. Just the vet and the ultrasound vet read it. They get an official report from a cardiologist. But I mean, if they see a problem , i assume the cardiologist will too. I will also look into an actual appointment with a cardiologist one on one, instead of the back and forth. With the holiday weekend, it’s ending up to likely be a full week before I get the cardiologists report. So stressful. But lots of good info like this. Thanks for all your hard work. I’m sure being an ER vet brings a lot of stress. 💕thank you
What is the estimated cost for this procedure? Is Dr. Orton currently accepting new patients? If so, Who would I call to setup an appointment?
Hi there. So the device costs about $7k USD, and the surgical procedure and peri-operative hospitalization costs about that, so in total about $14k USD. That said, if your pup has really good medical insurance then they may help cover the costs. I do believe there is a pretty long waitlist for Dr. Orton and his team at Colorado, but there are now a total of six active centres providing this procedure. If you are interested in this procedure, it is important that your dog has been evaluated by a cardiologist so that the doctors can know what stage of mitral valve disease the patient is in, and other factors to decide whether he/she could be a candidate. There is an email address at the bottom of this sheet www.dropbox.com/s/wg7gu3aiz9hzge0/Transcatheter%20Edge-to-Edge%20Repair-Information.pdf?dl=0 (I had linked it in the description but for some reason it didn't save, so thanks for pointing this out!). Best of luck and thank you for visiting our channel. Please keep us posted! -Dr. Lopez
Amazing, my wee mini Schnauzer cross with a king Charles went into stage C CHF today and it's just devastating to watch. Rang around the Vet Cardiologists in Auckland (New Zealand) and we don't have the technology to do the open heart technique (stop the heart and pump the blood around on the machine they use on humans). Be absolutely amazing if we could access this technique and technology here!!
Sorry to hear about your pup. Hang in there and wishing you the very best of luck! I hope that there will be options for you in the near future- lots of people have been requesting it for your region 🙏🏼❤️
Hi there, I have a dog with Mitral Valve Disease (stage B2) and from what I am hearing he could be a perfect candidate for this surgery. How can I get in contact with Dr. Chris Orton? Thank you
Hi @Heather Rose. The first step is to get a referral to a board-certified veterinary cardiologist in your area (if you have not yet done this). Then your cardiologist can send all of your dog's medical records (echocardiograms, etc.) to the team at CSU to see if your dog is a candidate. Sending all of my best wishes to you and your dog! Thank you for visiting our channel and best of luck! -Dr. Lopez
@@TwinTreesVet Hi there, thank you. I actually have filled out the form online after speaking with the cardiology team at CSU and then I submitted his echocardiogram write up from our vets traveling cardiologist. Do you think I need to get the cardiologist to submit this too or me doing it is sufficient? Appreciate your time!
@Heather Rose wow you are above and beyond! Way to go! I will try to find out for you. In the meantime, great hustle and keep up the great work.
@@TwinTreesVet Thank you. Unfortunately, they are not accepting new patients at this time and their waitlist is full :(. My dog has B2 stage, which sounds like the stage that Dr. Orton prefers performing surgery on. If there is any way you could get me to speak with him or on any waitlist of his, I'd appreciate it so much!
@@heatherrose3037 Aw that's a bummer. Hang in there and don't give up- in the meantime, they are training as many surgeons as possible. First try the email address at the bottom of this TEER info sheet from CSU, and let them know that you saw his podcast with Twin Trees. I'll confirm to see if I'm allowed to share his email. www.dropbox.com/s/wg7gu3aiz9hzge0/Transcatheter%20Edge-to-Edge%20Repair-Information.pdf?dl=0
Hi! This is wonderful news! Can you please tell me where the nearest center near Mississippi to do this procedure? Thanks so much!
@theresamadison6532 There are a total of 6 active centres- I think the closest to you would be either University of Illinois, Colorado State, or Tufts. I hope that helps! Thank you for visiting our channel and have a lovely day. -Dr. Lopez
Thank you so much for this video. We have a Yorkie that is 5.1 pounds and we are looking for hospital that will do this operation (here and overseas). Is there somewhere we can find more information? Thanks
Hi @thetruthwillsetyoufree9420. I would absolutely reach out to the team at Colorado State University. They are the leading authority [in the world] on this procedure for veterinary patients. They will be able to give you the most accurate information about the procedure, help you find the closest centre, and determine whether your dog is a candidate.
The contact email can be found at the bottom of the TEER info sheet (it is linked in the description but I will also link it here): www.dropbox.com/s/wg7gu3aiz9hzge0/Transcatheter%20Edge-to-Edge%20Repair-Information.pdf?dl=0
Best of luck and thank you for visiting our channel :)
-Dr. Lopez
Hello! My dog was just diagnosed. I wish I could do anything to save him, but I don’t think my family could afford TEER. Do you have any recommendations?
@lx2312 Fundraiser and GoFundMe to get support for all of the pre-post cardiology visits, the procedure, travel, etc. . Hopefully by the time he needs the procedure you will have raised the funds. (And next time get good pet medical insurance from day zero and please warn your friends to do the same. Nobody realizes the reality of the cost of medical care...until it's too late). Best of luck and please keep us posted! -Dr. Lopez
@@TwinTreesVet Thank you so much for the response. I honestly don’t know if I can even get the funds. It’s a lot of money.
I’m also thinking of buying him heart supplements right now, do you have any suggestions?
@@lx2312 Where there is a will there is always a way:) We are rooting for you! -Dr. Lopez
@@lx2312there are plenty of heart supplements: Five Leaf Pet Botanicals Canine Heart Heath has a protocol (taurine, l-carnitine, hawthorn tincture, canine heart tincture, Dog Greens). There’s a Canadian company called NHV: Hearty-Heart tincture, turmeric tincture.
Other supplements for the heart include liquid ubiquinol (Bark & Whiskers), use dandelion tincture (Five Leaf Pet Botanicals) instead of Lasix, omega 3 fish oil (salmon or anchovy & flavor from Iceland Pure), thiamine pyrophosphate liquid drops (Metabolics), vitamin D3/K2, l-arginine, d-ribose, reishi/shiitake/cordycep mushroom powder (Real Mushrooms), etc.
Look at foods: grassfed beef/bison/pork/chicken hearts. Raw is best but freeze dried or jerky is good, too. Fatty wild caught fish (salmon, sardines, anchovies) for Omega 3. Sautéed shiitake mushrooms in MCT oil. Please look into Dr. Judy’s “Yin & Yang” cookbook for recipes.
Any centers in Maryland? My dog, a Shih Tzu was just diagnosed today but he is at stage B1.
@Myfaves Aw sorry to hear about your dog, but luckily now there is this great news for these guys. No centres in Maryland yet... I am guessing your closest would be Tufts in Pennsylvania. Lucky for you your pup is still relatively early stage, so you have time to prepare and research. Wishing you and your Shih Tzu all the best and thank you for visiting our channel:) -Dr. Lopez
What's the success rate in Shanghai? Any center available in British Columbia, Canada?
@onerhao Just to clarify, Shanghai is where the medical device company is located. Dr. Orton, a heart surgeon at Colorado State University travelled to Shanghai when he heard that they had made a device specifically for dogs (the procedure had already been performed on over 100, 000 human patients.
Dr. Orton and his team started the first TEER centre in the world at Colorado State, and now they have been training other facilities how to perform the procedure so that there can bee more TEER centres. No centres available yet in Canada....Your closest centres might be Colorado State University and VCA West Los Angeles. At the time that this video was filmed, there were 6 active centres in the world, including CSU (of course), University of Illinois, VCA WestLA, Tufts, and Milan. They also went to Brazil, and someone else commented on our instagram that the procedure was performed successfully on her dog in Brazil a few weeks ago.
In the early data that was presented, I'm pretty sure I remember a greater than 95% success rate (don't quote me on that). This technology is amazing, and as he said, they are getting better and better at the technique.
Hope that helps and thanks for visiting our channel! -Dr. Lopez
@@TwinTreesVet Thank you very much, Dr. Lopez! I'm desperately looking for a better treatment for my poodle. And I've checked out your website but still not sure where the right way to reach out to the available center for the procedure is. As I'm not in the US, so I can't get a referral. Where should i start then? Hao.
@@onerhao If you check out the video description there is a TEER info sheet from Colorado State, and there is an email address at the bottom of that. They can let you know what you need (best to see a cardiologist if not already for all of the measurements, staging, etc.) and whether they can add you to the waitlist or delegate to another centre. I have linked that info sheet below as well. Best of luck! -Dr. Lopez www.dropbox.com/s/wg7gu3aiz9hzge0/Transcatheter%20Edge-to-Edge%20Repair-Information.pdf?dl=0
The device was invented in Shanghai, it was originally invented for human patients in China, then the same research team there made a device for dogs. This all happened during the pandemic, a lot of human and dog patients had mitral valve damages from Covid infection.
ok but when will it be available and will PET INSURANCE cover it?
@carlbernngl This procedure IS available already! And yes, the good insurance companies like Trupanion are covering it. There are now at least 6 active centres (all trained by Dr. Orton) offering this procedure. The centres are obviously getting substantial waitlists, so you might want to contact your nearest TEER centre if you are interested in learning more. Best of luck and please keep us posted. Thank you for visiting our channel and have a beautiful day! -Dr. Lopez
@@TwinTreesVet I have PetsBest insurance. Have you heard of them covering it? Thanks
@@carlbernngl sorry just saw this comment. You'll have to check with them. Please keep us posted:) -Dr. Lopez
@@TwinTreesVetbesides Trupanion, are there other pet insurance companies covering this procedure. Will they cover this if heart disease is a pre-existing condition? Can you please make a video about this?
My dog is 12 years old and is in stage B2. How can i sign up for this procedure?
Where are you located in the world? Best to start reaching out to the closest centres in your area. There is also a TEER info sheet from CSU linked in the video description with a contact email for the cardio team at CSU, as they may be able to best direct you. Aw 12- what a champ. Good luck and keep us posted. ❤️ Dr. Lopez
I'm actually in Canada and I don't believe there are any centers here. His Cardiologist did not even suggest this. Thank you Dr Lopez.
@ddpav9663 I am told a centre will be coming to Canada soon, but not sure when. It sounds like a little vacation might be in store ✈️. I would start by reaching out to the team at CSU via the contact email in the TEER info sheet they provided. Their team is really amazing, and since they are the ones who have pioneered this technology they will be the best to direct you. By the way, good job on getting your pup to see a cardiologist- you are already in the top 1% of the pack as far as your commitment and dedication. Your dog is very lucky to have an A+++++ dog pawrent 👏👏👏
Please include Australia 🙏🙏
🙏🙏🙏
VSS in QLD does this procedure it's $35K. My little fur baby will be having surgery soon, hopefully! He's been diagnosed with stage 3 heart failure and has 9-12 months to live without this surgery. Next week we're having the relevant scans done to see if he is a good candidate.
@Whatz-Up oh wow! I'll be praying for your baby. Please let me know how it all goes for your fur baby. Wishing you both all the best ❤️🙏🐕
My dog is 2.3kg(5.07lbs). From the video, they prefer at least 4kg dog and they had 2.8kg dog surgery. Do you think my small dog can have this surgery?? 8:00
I would absolutely reach out to the team at Colorado State University. They are the leading authority [in the world] on this procedure for veterinary patients. They will be able to give you the most accurate information about the procedure, help you find the closest centre, and determine whether your dog is a candidate.
The contact email can be found at the bottom of the TEER info sheet (it is linked in the description but I will also link it here): www.dropbox.com/s/wg7gu3aiz9hzge0/Transcatheter%20Edge-to-Edge%20Repair-Information.pdf?dl=0
Best of luck and please keep us posted! And thank you for visiting our channel:) -Dr. Lopez
The device was invented in Shanghai, it was originally invented for human patients in China, then the same research team there made a device for dogs. This all happened during the pandemic, a lot of human and dog patients had mitral valve damages from Covid infection.
Hello! Has anyone in Florida, NY or Los Angeles been trained? Rescued Pekingese just diagnosed with MVD. Thank you!
@TheKarlaCavalli Yes:) VCA West LA was one of the first 6 centres trained by Dr.Orton and his team. Best of luck! ❤ Dr. Lopez
I just got off the phone with them! We have been there many times to different specialists for all our dogs. We live in Florida now but I'm happy to go back to have this done if necessary! Thank you for posting your interview and video!
@TheKarlaCavalli Wow I can already tell you are an A+++ dog parent. Way to go. If only everyone were as dedicated as you it would be a completely different world of vet med. Thank you for providing such a caring and devoted home for your pups. -Dr. Lopez
Ha. Well thanks. They're my babies. I also contacted UMN and Colorado where Dr O is:) happy to take a flight to save his life.
@TheKarlaCavalli you are A++++++
Is this a procedure for a dog already in heart failure?
@cindyfinney836 Yes. You can check out the TEER info sheet linked in the description for more details about inclusion criteria. Best of luck!!
How to get help????
@@TwinTreesVet
@rockwithjoy first step is to get a referral a veterinary cardiologist if possible for staging, etc. Do you have one where you live? Check the video description there are lots of links including the info sheet from CSU. -Dr. Lopez
Please include Greece!!!!!😢😢😢😢
Italy, France and the UK may be your closest options!! Best of luck and please keep us posted! -Dr. Lopez
What about dogs below 4 kg? 😢 my chihuahua 2,4 kg is in an early stage C and we live near Paris so this would be perfect! Can’t they give an alternative treatment for smaller dogs? Please answer, I’m desperately looking for help!! 🥲
@amygasolina did you hear Dr. Orton say that the smallest dog they have operated on was 2.5kg? It is definitely worth reaching out to the team to see if your pup is a candidate! Best of luck and please keep us posted! ❤️ -Dr. Lopez
Thank you for your answer. Unfortunately, i got a negative response saying that the low end of their weight range to perform a surgery is 3,5 kg. 😔
@amygasolina aw, sorry to hear that. Don’t give up. Would it be worth contacting any of the other TEER centres to see if they are accepting smaller patients? Hopefully soon there will be more availability for the little little guys ❤️- Dr. Lopez
My chihuahua is 3 kg and B2.Can she get help in Greece????