Left Atrial Decompression in a Dog
Ah B, 12 years old, was a challenging case, battling refractory or stage D myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), atrial fibrillation, heartworm disease, and pulmonary hypertension. Despite maximal medical management, he required 4 emergency admissions over the past six months. We knew that his life is nearing its end. In an effort to slow […]
Heartworm Removal in a Poodle
On 28 December 2025, heartworm removal was performed in a poodle weighing 4.35 kg, via minimally invasive surgery. Although only a single worm was extracted, removing one heartworm can be much harder than removing a whole bunch. Imagine fishing in a pool, catching one fish is often harder than catching many fish. The heartworm […]
Patent Ductus Arteriosus Occlusion in Dodo: A love of 6 months, a lifetime of devotion
Dodo is estimated to be 5 years old. She was adopted just six months ago, with very little medical history available. During a routine visit to a local veterinarian, a heart murmur was detected. Recognising that this required further investigation, the attending veterinarian promptly referred her to us for advanced cardiac evaluation. Timely referral […]
Minimally Invasive Surgery to Treat Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Dogs
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a congenital heart defect in which a fetal blood vessel, the ductus arteriosus, fails to close after birth. This results in abnormal blood flow between the aorta and pulmonary artery, increasing the heart’s workload and potentially leading to heart failure. If left untreated, dogs with hemodynamically severe PDA usually do not […]
Malaysia’s First Successful V-Clamp Surgery In a Dog
On 8th December 2024, our team performed Malaysia’s first successful V-clamp surgery on a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The dog, named Oscar, had been diagnosed with advanced-stage B2 myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) in June 2024. Since his diagnosis, he had been taking pimobendan, benazepril, and spironolactone to manage the disease. Understanding the severity of […]
Trans-Esophageal Echocardiography (TEE)
Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is a type of heart ultrasound that gives veterinarians or cardiologists a very detailed view of a pet’s heart. Unlike regular heart ultrasounds, where the probe is placed on the chest, TEE involves inserting a small probe into the pet’s esophagus (the tube connecting the throat and stomach). This enables the examiners […]
Thank You
31st August 2024 marks five years since I returned to Malaysia in 2019 after completing my PhD studies, and one year since establishing my main practice in Kota Damansara. As I reflect on this journey, my heart is filled with deep gratitude for the incredible people who have stood by me, offering their unwavering support […]
Successful heartworm removal surgery
Recently, our team performed surgery to remove heartworms from a local dog. When is heartworm removal by surgery indicated? When heartworms have migrated downstream into the right atrium and right ventricle, causing obstruction, surgery to remove the worms is recommended. If heartworms are present in the pulmonary artery, their removal is technically challenging and […]
The story of Ang Pao
Ang Pao was merely 13 weeks old during the first examination, and she weighed only 1.3 kilograms. She was experiencing difficulty breathing due to pulmonary edema. After the examination, it was discovered that she had patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), one of the congenital heart diseases. Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a relatively common congenital heart […]
Understanding MMVD and treatments in layman’s terms
MMVD stands for Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease, also known as degenerative mitral valve disease. The exact cause of MMVD is still unknown, but we do know that it commonly affects small to medium breed dogs. Certain breeds, such as Cavalier King Charles spaniels, Dachshunds, and Chihuahuas, can develop MMVD at a younger age, suggesting a […]
