AUBURN, Ala. (EETV) - When 3-month-old Luna the Chihuahua began having heart problems in Seattle, veterinarians recommended her owner take her to Auburn's College of Veterinary Medicine, nearly 2,700 miles away.
The college has a history of working with small patients, but weighing less than two pounds, Luna became the smallest to date to have undergone surgery for Patent Ductus Arteriosus, or PDA.
Luna's owner, Jennifer Glover, first noticed a "persistent, hacking cough" in January. A vet in Seattle detected a heart murmur and later diagnosed the puppy with PDA.
Luna was diagnosed with the common congenital heart defect that affects both babies and dogs. Clinicians and staff at Auburn’s Wilford and Kate Bailey Small Animal Teaching Hospital treat a number of PDA patients annually.
Luna's case is unique because of her small size. Weighing only 1.76 pounds, Luna had to be placed on a ventilator to assist her in breathing during the procedure. Surgeons also had to be careful to minimize hypothermia and work delicately to gain access to her heart for the procedure.
PDA occurs when a temporary blood vessel fails to close after birth. Surgery is typically required to close the vessel so that there is not fatal congestive heart failure.
Glover said she found Auburn after a veterinary cardiologist in Seattle was hesitant to do the procedure because of Luna's size. Luna was admitted to the Bailey Small Animal Teaching Hospital on Feb. 8.
Dr. Harry Boothe and a team of surgeons worked on Luna for the procedure.
“I am so pleased with the level of care that we received at Auburn,” Glover said. “Hayley and Dr. Boothe talked with me for a long time to ease my anxiety about Luna and the surgery. I was very nervous, but they calmed me. They even gave me their contact phone numbers and sent photos of Luna. That helped keep my stress level down.”
Luna is expected to live a completely normal and healthy life.
