Meet The Labrador Who Became The World's First Dog To Undergo Open-Heart Surgery

Mabel the Labrador set tongues and tails wagging when she became the first of her kind to go through open-heart surgery after being diagnosed with a life-threatening heart condition called congenital tricuspid valve dysplasia. Congenital tricuspid valve dysplasia is a birth defect in which heart valves are fused together.

Generally speaking, most dogs born with such condition can survive without going through any surgical procedure. However, Mabel's condition left her with two very small holes where her blood flows through, causing the dog the experience extreme exhaustion and heart failure.

Thus, the three-year-old dog was brought to the Royal Veterinary College's (RVC) Queen Mother Hospital for Animals in Hatfield where the dog underwent to the six-hour long procedure. Dan Brockman, a professor specializing in small animal surgery, led the team of specialists including three anaesthetists.

Last February 15, surgeons replaced the faulty valve of the dog with a synthetic one-- making the procedure the world-first using cutting-edge technology to correct heart defect of a dog. After the grueling procedure, the life-saving procedure has initially announced a success.

Hence, the dog was sent home after six days. However, the dog was suspected to have a blood clot, so the dog was readmitted for a week. Mabel is said to be recovering now.

Mabel's owner, Annabelle Meek from Melton, Leicester, said she was fully aware of the risks involved in the procedure. However, she knew she had no choice but to trust the team and hope for the best. "I couldn't be more thrilled at the success of the surgery," Meek told Mail Online. "She has come on leaps and bounds."

According to 9News.com.au, Professor Brockman first performed open-heart surgery on a dog at RVC in 2005. He has since been working hard to develop the technique.