Mitral Valve Disease Surgical Repair

[Jennifer and Jack]

I am posting this link here in the event that someone, someday searched for mitral valve disease.   Jack was diagnosed with Advanced Mitral Valve disease recently and I was told that there isn't much you can do for it but to manage with medications and to hopefully slow down the progression of the almost certain heart failure.

I recently learned that this in fact, is not true.   I met the founder of this amazing foundation. He kind of does for dogs, what I do for humans... His dogs life was saved by this surgeon and he has grown a very well respected and amazing foundation.  They alert dog owners who have dogs with mitral valve disease of the options that are available for treatment.

Currently as of today, this surgery is mostly done in Japan and has a great than 90 percent success rate over a ten year period, it was being done in France but is suspended, and maybe, just maybe within the year the same surgeon will be doing this surgery in Fla on a rotating basis.  

The surgery is not like the one in CO that has very poor outcomes as they replace the valves.. This surgeon repairs the actual valve with suturing methods and reinforcement.  No issues with rejection.. It is an open Chest surgery with bypass though.  Five to six Days in the ICU chambers 

This surgery isn't going to be an option for everyone but it may be for some.. Anyway, I am all about sharing the information and letting people make the best informed decisions about what is best for them and their fur babies.

I have become enamored with watching dogs with grade C and D heart failure return to normal lives. Just wanted to give someone hope maybe.

https://mightyheartsproject.org

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

My mom had mitral valve prolapse and lived to almost 95.  Hers was managed quite well with medications and she didn't die from heart failure (well, we all die of heart failure, but you know what I mean).  I realize that you were sharing about dogs, and I also realize that she was able to describe symptoms to the doctors and Jack can't do that.  I know humans and dogs aren't the same, but perhaps knowing that mitral valve prolapse in humans is not always a death sentence, might make you feel better about Jack's medication regimen until you can find a surgeon who can repair the valve.  Good Luck.

[Jennifer and Jack]

You are so sweet.... I am pursuing the surgery for Jack one way or another ..  we are at least working on it... I would be willing to bring Jack to Japan, I would just need someone to go with me as I am not strong physically.   That said, they are all but saying that they surgery will be in FLA within the year...  We go to Fla next week to do our meet and greet.  Jack's local cardiologist knows this surgeon and the success he has.

Right now, Jack barely shows any outward signs of failure,  his echo's beg to differ.    To go to Japan you have to start the rabies quarantine process, which is 180 days.. ( they are not actually in quarantine but during that time, you have to do certain shots, and titer testing).  

This disease is highly treatable in humans.... My hope is Jack never needs to have surgery...and that he never progresses ..but he clearly is... so I want all my ducks in a row.  Jack is on the gold standard medication treatments and we will see what the next echo shows... Really I just want people to know there are options.  

our plan is to start quarantine just in case but pursue surgery though FLA.... with the absolute hope and prayer we can medically manage him...   So happy to hear about your mom. God bless her long life...

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Good information, Jennifer! Thanks for sharing. I hope Jack stay stable and the medications continue to help!!

[Jennifer and Jack]

Thanks Laurie,   I am so dumb when it comes to knowing anything about dogs health and am learning through the school or hard knocks.   We have started the process of at home quarantine that Japan requires.... Once he is through that we have a two year window that we would be able to go to Japan with.  Quarantine is up October 20th..  There is a decent chance that the surgeon from Japan will have his Visa as he has in the past for Cornell and being going to Fla.. If he does surgery in the US,  Jack's insurance will pay for 90 percent of it, if not, we will be traveling to Japan in October for surgery.. The MightyHeartsproject.org  has been incredible to me... I didn't know mini poodles had a higher rate or Mitral valve disease.. not that that would have changed anything but I am grateful I don't have to sit here with no options.... My anxiety is awful... I worry so much.. Jack is stable but he is progressing pretty fast ... He stayed stable for years but now it's advancing....   His cardiologist believes with medications, activity restriction and other things, he will make it to October... The only real thing I see in him is an increase in his respirations and he is sleepy but he still has a lot of interest in everything...  As you know Jack is my first dog and I will never get another one ever... the amount of emotions in this is too much for me.. I seriously am so distraught ..... I love him so darn much...  I swear it feels like I just got him.. I mean honestly,=.    Hopefully Jack stays stable...  We do have room to go up on mediations and to add more..... We just need to make it until surgeon comes here or October...

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Jennifer, I know Jack is the love of your life and I pray everything works out for him! 

[Jennifer and Jack]

Thank you, I am confident in the surgery he is going to have..( most likely) .. I just hate he has to have it... I am grateful there is something that can be done for this disease now..Thank you for always being so darn nice.  You really are a joy.  

[Jennifer and Jack]

I just wanted to update.  Jack is doing really well on his Pimobendan/Vetmedin.   IN fact, his last echocardiogram showed a possible small decrease in size.  I pray that is true.  Jacks Mitral Valve disease has NOTHING to do with the possible Taurine deficiency at all.  Small poodles can have a propensity to develop this disease.  In fact, in our support groups. there are several different size doodles in there and many, many, many King Charles Cavaliers.

Anyway, when I started this thread, the only surgery that could be done to save his life was by a team in Japan at the Jasmine Clinic.   There they have over a 90 percent success rate in repairing the leaky valve and reversing the backflow and causing heart failure.   

I am SO happy to report that the surgery will be offered at the Univesity of Fla Small Animal Clinic, the team from Japan, five of them will be flying there every other month and performing the surgery.  Eventually, they will be training the team there to take it over.  They also will be using the doctors from Shands children's hospital.   

I am So excited for this.  The cost of the surgery is extremely expensive, luckily I have been able to maintain Jack;s insurance which has NO out of pocket max.    

Some people choose to have the surgery while their dog is in the same stage as Jack B2. I have decided I wouldn't do it unless it was a last resort and he has progressed to the point where he had a few months left to live.   That can happen at any time but thankfully right now he is stable. 

My point in this post is to reach someone or anyone who might be in these shoes and feel as afraid as I did.  I highly recommend you reach out to Dr Simon Timothy Swift at the University of Fla.  He can help you if your baby ends up with Mitral Valve disease that is progressing to Heart Failure.  

I am a firm believer in sharing information and putting it out there so people know all their choices.  There is a group called the Might Hearts Group.  They have done amazing work with spreading awareness.  If I can help you with anything please don't hesitate to let me know. My name is Jennifer Champy and I am on FB a lot.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Thanks for sharing. In humans there are prescriptive avenues to pursue well before a surgical one. I’m glad to know that it’s the same for dogs. Hopefully Jack’ current treatment plan will work forever.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Thank you so much for your kind response,   I am so grateful for the medications that can slow the progress down.  Just like in humans, it isn't really a medication fix but a surgical one but my prayer is that Jack is held off on the medications for the natural course of his life.   His last echo actually showed either the same without progression or possibly even a small shrinking of the heart.  YAY. He is only on one medication and has room to go up.. Once they start needing Lasix they are usually only given one year to live.  So far we are good. I do not hinder anything Jack wants to do like some people do. I let him run if he wants and chase birds or bark.  I want his life to be lived to the fullest.  THey also fun a test BNP which shows how likely the dog is to go into heart failure within the year.  0-900 is normal. Jack's was 907 which is really good.  I will take that.. He is due for it again in a few months.. Still hoping it is low.. That test will help guide me to know when to get him ready for surgery.