PFC Elmo
Elmo was a stray that found his way into a rural Alabama shelter where their vets detected a grade IV heart murmur. On intake vetting with BSR, we learned that the valve in Elmo's heart that led to the pulmonary artery was so constricted that the right side of the heart had become enlarged and the pressure through the valve was roughly 3-4 times what it should be. Elmo was seen by a veterinary cardiac team at Texas A&M Medical Teaching Hospital where he underwent a balloon valvuloplasty to open the valve back up. Without this surgery, Elmo would not live more than 3-5 years due to the overload on his heart.
Elmo underwent surgery and while the valve itself opened up nicely, it was discovered that the extremely elevated pressures through the valve had led to a deterioration of the pulmonary artery on the other side of the valve. Given the unknowable consequences of the artery damage, Elmo will remain in our care for the rest of his life and stay with his foster close to Texas A&M for annual follow ups and care.
Elmo underwent surgery and while the valve itself opened up nicely, it was discovered that the extremely elevated pressures through the valve had led to a deterioration of the pulmonary artery on the other side of the valve. Given the unknowable consequences of the artery damage, Elmo will remain in our care for the rest of his life and stay with his foster close to Texas A&M for annual follow ups and care.
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