Small dogs have a more than 60% chance of developing mitral valve insufficiency as they age. For a long time, veterinary approaches have focused on slowing the progression of the disease by reducing blood backflow with medication rather than offering a fundamental cure.
However, since around 2015, direct heart surgery became possible at Jasmine Animal Hospital in Japan, offering a cure for the condition. For a considerable period, it was the only hospital in the world capable of performing heart valve surgery. Nevertheless, the rigorous quarantine process in Japan, requiring a minimum of 7 months and significant costs, led to missed surgery opportunities or the deterioration of the disease before departure.
This year, the surgical team at NEL Animal Medical Center (www.nelamc.com), a private 24-hour animal hospital in South Korea, has successfully performed five consecutive dog heart valve surgeries. The surgical team, including Dr. Eom Tae-Heum, Dr. Lim Deok-Ho, Dr. Son Seong-Ji, Dr. Son Dong-Ju, Dr. Lee Jong-Hyup, Dr. Yoon Il-Yong, and Dr. Bae Woo-Ram, announced the successful surgeries for dogs at stages C~D of heart disease. This development positions South Korea alongside Japan and the UK, with private veterinary hospitals capable of performing regular heart surgeries. Previously, heart surgeries in Korea were limited to a single university hospital with long waiting periods. The successful surgeries at NEL Animal Medical Center mark the first time a private hospital in Korea can offer this service, making it easier for patients from other countries to undergo heart surgery in Korea, which has a much simpler quarantine process compared to Japan and the UK.
NEL Animal Medical Center has been receiving inquiries for heart surgeries from abroad through Email, Instagram, and KakaoTalk. The center is preparing a cooperative medical treatment program with major hospitals in the region to facilitate easy and safe surgery visits to Korea from Vietnam, Malaysia, China, the USA, and other countries. By sharing diagnostic techniques that can determine if heart surgery is feasible locally, it opens an easy path for patients to be accurately diagnosed in their home country and come to Korea for a safe and complete cure. In Vietnam, Saigon Ventures’ animal medical division and local partner veterinary hospitals will offer related support.
Dr. Eom Tae-Heum stated, “Many dogs worldwide suffer from valve diseases. We are pleased to announce that heart valve surgery is now possible in Korea, offering hope to pet owners who previously had to undergo a complex quarantine process to receive surgery in Japan. This surgery provides dogs and their owners with a new lease on life, free from medication dependence.”
The medical achievements of NEL Animal Medical Center’s team have been featured on the YouTube channel “They said we were family” (http://www.youtube.com/@gajok2), sharing stories of pets with heart disease who have gained a new life through heart valve surgery.
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/embed/nOn0lJ5p4kI?si=GSOH9YfL8-HfWAZR
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Company Name: NEL ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER
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Country: South Korea
Website: www.nelamc.com