Hello everyone, my name is Eli and my wife and I just recently got a puppy after getting married. Shortly after getting our new family member, Appa, he was diagnosed with congenital valvular pulmonic stenosis (PS) by a specialist. The way I understand it, his coronary artery is blocked by a flap that is too thick, making his heart work extra hard to pump blood in his body.

He’s very exercise intolerant, so we try to take him on very short walks and play tug of war all the time. The treatment for his condition is surgical intervention, a ballon valvuloplasty, which will expand his right ventricle and allow the flap to heal in a better position. He will go under anesthesia, but it is minimally invasive and the recovery time is about two weeks.

Of the available studies, dogs who do not undergo this surgery show a 20-50% mortality rate within the first year of a dog’s life with severe PS. Approximately 80% of cases that are symptomatic maintain a sustained clinical improvement and reduction of

pressure gradient following balloon valvuloplasty. (Yippee!)

Since this surgery is urgent, we are asking for your generosity in helping our lovely dog live a normal life. We are very grateful for any contributions.