01/09/2023
This weeks case is the gorgeous Stormie, here is his story as told by his mum Emma and some pictures from home, in the clinic and the ACDO device being deployed in his heart to close his ductus.
I got Stormie, a blue/white Staffordshire bull terrier when he was 8weeks old. I booked him in to have his first vaccination four days after I got him.
At his appointment my vet held a stethoscope to his chest and was listening for sometime which worried me as he looked concerned.
Then he told me the devastating news that he has a hole in his heart and he was pretty sure it was a PDA..
I was absolutely devastated, my vet told me what my options were surgery route or let him live his life however long/short. There was no way I was going to let him die so I got my vet to start the referral process as soon as he could.
After weeks of worry and anxiety he had a scan at another vets to confirm the PDA who then referred him to Cardiology at Liverpool small animal teaching hospital (SATH).
To think I had to take him to a ‘specialised hospital’ felt really scary as it brought it home to me how serious Stormie situation was.
We had our first appointment on the 17th May 2023 with a cardiologist. As soon as we stepped through the doors and spoke to the receptionist all my fear and dread went away it wasn’t a scary place at all and the staff on reception were absolutely lovely all making a fuss of Stormie who was just under four months and was lapping it up.
Stormie’s Clinician was Will Davis who was absolutely lovey and approachable he made a fuss of Stormie whilst giving him an examination and taking notes. I left Stormie with Will whilst he carried out a echocardiogram on him which did confirm a PDA.
Will explained everything that the PDA closure operation involved and what to expect and a date for his operation was confirmed for 30th May (admit appointment 29th May).
We brought Stormie to SATH on the bank holiday Monday (29th May) so he would be there for his operation the next day he was admitted and I was told I’d have a call in the morning before he went for his operation.
It was hard to leave him but he was wagging his tail and happy to go with the staff member so I felt at ease leaving him.
Will rang me at 9:00am on the day of his operation to tell me he was fine overnight and was being prepared for anaesthetic.
Once his operation was over and he was in recovery I got another call to tell me how the operation went and how Stormie was, everything went as expected which was such a relief. Will rang again at 6:00pm just to let me know how he was and that he had eaten etc.
The next day, Will rang first thing to let me know that Stormie had a comfortable night and that they had done a heart scan to ensure the closure wasn’t leaking and all was as it should be which it was and that Stormie could be discharged later that day which was amazing considering the operation he had just had.
After being discharged Will wanted to see Stormie in a months time for a follow up appointment and further echocardiogram to see how his heart was coping with the closure.
We had the appointment for the 29th June and all was fine apart from a valve issue (due to his heart being stretched) which won’t bother him until later on in life and will be monitored by my own vet in the meantime.
Stormie will have another visit to the hospital in a years time for another follow up scan etc unless anything happens in the meantime.
All in all we had a extremely positive experience at SATH, I can’t thank the staff and all the cardiology team enough for what they did to literally save my little boys life, thanks to them Stormie now has a chance at a normal happy life which I intend to make the best life possible for him.
Many many thanks
Emma Parker & Stormie (the super special Staffy).
