RVC introduces new treatment for canine heart condition
The surgery is minimally invasive, with quick recovery times.
The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has become the first centre in the world to offer a new treatment for dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD) alongside open-heart surgery and medical treatment.
The new treatment option, trans-catheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER), is minimally-invasive and is now available at the RVC’s Queen Mother Hospital for Animals (QMHA).
DMVD causes the mitral valve to thicken and become leaky, and so blood will flow backwards into the heart’s left atrium. This means the heart chambers will enlarge, often resulting in heart failure.
The condition is most frequent in smaller, older dogs. Although it is incurable, it is managed with medication and treatment to extend life.
The introduction of TEER, which is a relatively new procedure, is the result of collaboration between QMHA’s Cardiology Service and Bristol Veterinary Specialists. The procedure is undertaken using specialist equipment, including the hospital’s echo machines.
The surgery is minimally invasive, which allows surgeons to repair the mitral valve on a beating heart. Dogs are mobile the following day and are usually discharged within two days.
TEER is offered alongside open-heart surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass, which is still considered the most effective therapy for advanced cases of DMVD.
However, researchers suggest that TEER may be recommended to patients unsuitable for open-heart surgery, those requiring a less invasive approach, and those with financial limitations. It is also recommended to dogs with severe mitral regurgitation caused by DMVD, heart enlargement or a history of congestive heart failure.
Joshua Hannabuss, lecturer in veterinary cardiology and co-head of cardiology at RVC’s QMHA, said: "It's truly exciting to offer an additional treatment option for dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease. I believe we’re entering a new era where minimally invasive therapies will become more accessible for managing this condition.
“With a clearer understanding of the safety, benefits and potential risks of TEER, we feel that now is the right time to introduce this therapy to the UK, and we remain committed to improving the quality and longevity of life for dogs affected by this disease."
Image © Tymoshenko Olga/Shutterstock.com
The BSAVA has opened submissions for the BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026.
