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New Heart Treatment Option for Dogs with Mitral Valve Disease
Transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair, or TEER, is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat mitral valve degeneration — the most common heart disease in dogs.

New heart treatment option for dogs with mitral valve disease

A minimally invasive procedure may offer new hope for suitable dogs with leaking mitral valves.

Transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair, or TEER, is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat mitral valve degeneration — the most common heart disease in dogs. Instead of relying only on medication, TEER aims to repair the leaking valve and reduce the strain on the heart.

Mitral valve degeneration is a genetic degenerative disease that result in thickening of the mitral valve.  When the valve thickens, it starts to leak. When this leak is small, it is of no consequence. However, over time, the leak can progressively worsen so that the left ventricle is pumping a large amount of blood back ward into the left atrium rather than forward to the body. As there is now extra blood on the left side of the heart, to accommodate this, the left atrium and left ventricle slowly enlarge.

If there is a severe leak, over time, the pressure in the left atrium increases. This high pressure is transmitted back along the vessels that are draining blood from the lungs.  If this pressure gets high enough, fluid can leak out into the air sacs. This is called pulmonary oedema and means your dog has developed congestive heart failure. This is a life-threatening condition.

For many dogs, treatment has traditionally focused on medication once the heart becomes enlarged or congestive heart failure develops. Medication can help slow the disease down, but it cannot reverse the underlying valve problem. TEER offers a different approach by improving valve function in a way that may improve comfort, quality of life, and long-term outcomes for suitable patients.

How does the V-Clamp work?

TEER in dogs is performed using a device called a V-Clamp. The procedure is carried out while the heart is still beating, through a small chest incision, without open-heart bypass surgery. Guided by transoesophageal ultrasound, the V-Clamp brings the two mitral valve leaflets together to reduce leakage while still allowing blood to flow normally on either side.

The clamp remains permanently in place. This technique was first performed at Colorado State University in 2020 and is now being used in centres around the world.

Which dogs may be suitable?

To find out whether a dog is a suitable candidate, we recommend a consultation and echocardiogram with Dr Singh. This allows us to confirm mitral valve disease, assess the heart and valve measurements, and decide whether the anatomy meets V-Clamp criteria. If your pet has a known heart murmur, early echocardiography is recommended, as earlier assessment may improve the chance of successful intervention. If TEER is not suitable, or if you choose not to proceed, ongoing medical management remains important.

What are the outcomes and risks?

Reported outcomes include a 50–90% reduction in leak severity, 95% procedural survival, early walking after anaesthetic recovery, and discharge within 1–3 days for many patients. Reported survivals are 80% at one year and 78% at two years. Human data also show that mitral valve repair can be superior to medication alone. For suitable dogs, V-Clamp treatment may improve longevity and quality of life, although follow-up care remains essential.

As with any advanced cardiac procedure, there are risks. In suitable candidates, 95% survive to discharge, but complications can occur. The most serious is clamp detachment, estimated at about 7%, which is most likely within the first 72 hours and may be fatal.

What happens after TEER?

Cardiac medications may be reduced over time as heart size improves. Any medication changes are guided by follow-up assessments and repeat ultrasounds by a Cardiologist.

What is the current availability?

Currently travel to the east coast is required to have this procedure performed. However, Dr Singh and her team will be travelling to Shanghai in late January 2027 to learn this life saving procedure and bring its techniques back to Western Australia.  Please do not hesitate to email us on cardiology@acesvet.com.au if you would like more information.