MSPCA-Nevins Farm Seeks Holiday Home for “Bella” Following Life-Saving Surgery
BOSTON and Methuen, Mass.—Dec. 18, 2017 – An adorable Yorkshire Terrier-mix with a potentially fatal heart condition is getting a second chance at life thanks to the MSPCA-Nevins Farm and the cardiology team at the MSPCA’s renowned 24/7 emergency and specialty hospital, Angell Animal Medical Center.
Eleven-month-old “Bella” was surrendered in November when her previous family lost their home. During a routine, pre-adoption health check, the Nevins Farm veterinary team discovered she was suffering from Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA), a condition marked by a blood vessel in the heart that does not close properly after birth.
Left untreated, the condition leads to congestive heart failure. “Discovering such a significant vulnerability to Bella’s heart was a complete surprise and we made a choice to prioritize her long-term health over immediate adoption,” said MSPCA-Nevins Farm adoption center director Meaghan O’Leary.
Mending Bella’s Broken Heart
O’Leary and her team reached out to the Cardiology department at Angell, renowned for its minimally invasive cardiac procedure program. Dr. Natalie Morgan confirmed the PDA by way of an ultrasound.
“We’re hopeful that Bella is a candidate for a non-invasive procedure we employ to repair the heart,” said Dr. Morgan. “But if her petite size proves an impediment our surgeons will use a different, slightly more invasive approach to fix the defect.”
The operation involves placing a specially designed plug into the end of the affected blood vessel, which in most cases repairs the problem. The surgery is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 20.
According to O’Leary, Bella has already captured the hearts of everyone involved in her care. “She’s an incredible little dog who has no idea just how sick she is—and we’re grateful for that. She runs, plays and showers all of us with as much affection as we extend to her. It’s been a joy to have her with us and we’re optimistic that she’ll have a full and complete recovery.”
Adopters Wanted!
Bella will require up to a week to recover from her surgery. After which she will be placed for adoption. According to O’Leary, she adores other dogs, cats and kids, making her an ideal family pet. Interested adopters can email methuenadoptions@mspca.org for more information about Bella.
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