A five-month-old pup is feeling the love this Valentine’s Day after surviving complex heart surgery. Winnie-Wynter's owners were left distraught after learning she was suffering from a congenital heart defect.
The cocker spaniel had been rushed to Croydon PDSA Pet Hospital by her worried family after they noticed her abnormally fast heart rate, that wouldn’t slow down. When PDSA vets examined her, they found that, as well as it beating faster than it should be, Winnie also had a loud heart murmur.
The concern was that Winnie could be suffering from a congenital heart defect called Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA). This is when a connection between the two major blood vessels leading from the heart doesn’t close after birth as it should, which often leads to heart failure if not treated.
At Thamesmead PDSA Pet Hospital, Winnie underwent X-rays which showed her heart was already larger than it should be due to the extra workload put on it by the defect. An ultrasound then confirmed the enlargement and the diagnosis of PDA.
Sadly, most puppies with a PDA go on to develop heart failure before they are a year old. For Winnie to have a chance at survival, she needed to have the defect repaired urgently, an intricate and delicate operation.
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Given her tiny size, surgery was risky, and had to be performed with extreme care and precision. And her owners, Kersharn McPherson, 27, and Natasha Ashton, 32, were extremely concerned about the cost of the unexpected and life-saving care Winnie desperately needed.
Due to the complexity, the surgery had a high risk of complications, but her family were keen to go ahead to try to ensure the best possible future for her. Kersharn said: “Our world crumbled when we found out that Winnie had a serious, life-threatening condition at such a young age."
Luckily, senior vets, David Mills and Millie Wilder, are both skilled surgeons and were able to perform a complex operation together to repair the PDA and fix her broken heart. After an overnight stay at the charity’s Pet Hospital, Winnie was able to head home to continue her recovery.
"I can’t express the relief we felt when we found out the surgery was a success and she was recovering well," said Kershan. "We were bracing ourselves for the worst news, so we are eternally grateful to PDSA for saving our girl’s life.”
She will need to be closely monitored over the next few months to ensure the surgery was a success and that there are no lasting ill effects on her heart. Kersharn added: “This Valentine’s and beyond, we will be spoiling Winnie with so much love.
"After beating all the odds, we can’t wait to enjoy many more years with her. The surgery she had would have cost thousands at a private vet, due to its complexity, and we wouldn’t have been able to afford it.
"Like everyone, we’ve been feeling the impact of rising bills. I’m just so glad PDSA were here to help us in our time of need.”
PDSA is appealing for donations so that the charity can continue to support owners and their pets. To donate, visit pdsa.org.uk/donate
