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Doctor flies his Cockapoo 8,000 miles to the UK and back for life-saving heart surgery

RealFix by RealFix
April 6, 2022
in Animals, Health, Most Popular
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Doctor flies his Cockapoo 8,000 miles to the UK and back for life-saving heart surgery

Hula, the 12-year-old Cockapoo.

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An American doctor spent thousands of pounds flying his sick dog 8,000 miles to the UK and back for life-saving heart surgery.

Dr Jeffrey Bernfield, 62, was told his Cockapoo Hula had a seriously enlarged heart which meant she was at risk from a fatal cardiac arrest.

The 12-year-old pooch was diagnosed with myxomatous mitral valve disease and vets in her home city of Chicago told Dr Bernfield the best treatment was available in the UK.

In a bid to save his beloved pet, the radiology specialist arranged for Hula to be flown 4,000 miles to a specialist heart vet in Cambridge.

Dr Bernfield was allowed to sit with Hula for the seven-hour flight to the UK last month.

Hula, the 12-year-old Cockapoo.

Hula was then rushed to Linnaeus-owned Dick White Referrals who operated on her to repair her heart valve.

Dr Bernfield said: “I did a lot of research on where this kind of advanced surgery could be performed and the UK and Japan were the only two viable places.

“I decided the UK was a better option for Hula and me as it is a seven-hour flight rather than a 13-hour flight and obviously the people speak English, making communication easier.

“DWR’s Dr Poppy Bristow also has an excellent reputation as a skilled surgeon, doctor and person which sealed the decision.”

DWR’s head of cardiac surgery Poppy Bristow, who treated Hula, said: “Mitral valve disease is a progressively degenerative condition that affects a lot of middle-aged and older dogs and Hula was a very serious case.

“She had Stage C myxomatous (degenerative) mitral valve disease so needed urgent and expert attention.

“The first challenge was to stop her heart while we repaired her failing mitral valve.

Hula, the 12-year-old Cockapoo.
Hula, the 12-year-old Cockapoo.

“To do this safely we put her under cardiopulmonary bypass, where a machine
temporarily takes over the function of the heart and lungs during surgery.

“Only a handful of centres in the world are able to perform this type of surgery.

“Surgery went very well with four different specialities involved in ensuring such a successful outcome.

“Happily, Hula is back home in Chicago now and doing very well.

“She has experienced hardly any residual leakage and her heart is almost back to a normal size, having been extremely large prior to surgery.”

A relieved Dr Bernfield added: “Hula is doing great since surgery.

“She is no longer short of breath and her activity level is like it was five years ago. She is a different dog – and in a great way.”

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