Animal Health Clinic Blackfoot Idaho Animal Health Clinic, Blackfoot Idaho

Twelve-week-old dog Max undergoes an open heart surgery at the Animal Health Clinic in Blackfoot, while his six-year-old owner with a spine disorder waits patiently for his recovery.

Dr. Jason Moulton of the Animal Health Clinic and Cardiac Surgeon Dr. Jacob DeLaRosa of the Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello joined with several other veterinarians and nurses opened a valve from Max’s heart.

“To listen to his heart, it sounded like you were listening to an old Maytag washing machine,” Dr. Moulton said.

Dr. Moulton’s cousin, Travis Moulton and wife Melissa, purchased the dog for their son so that he would have a buddy. They chose Max for his mild manner and quiet demeanor to match the character of their son, Tristan, who has an amazing story himself.

“He was told that he wouldn’t live to be 4 years old and now he is six years old,” Dr. Moulton said, “so Tristan is kind of an anomaly by himself.”

Dr. Moulton at first sent the dog home and said there was only the chance of him living a few weeks, but after discussion with his colleagues and volunteer help from Dr. DeLaRosa, they decided to try the surgery.

“That surgery might be an option, we were totally excited,” Melissa Moulton said, “because we’d be able to keep him longer and Tristan would be able to keep his buddy for a lot longer.”

The surgery took less than two hours and they said the heart was the size of a half dollar.

“He’s so small that the surgery itself was like microsurgery,” Dr. Moulton said. “He (Dr. DeLaRosa) equated doing this type of surgery on a premature baby.”

After less than twenty-four hours, Max can walk around and he returns to his family on April 19.

When Local News 8 spoke with Tristan on the phone he could barely contain his excitement and could only laugh and shout.

All veterinarians and doctors involved say they hope to do a surgery like this again.

Full Story On Local News 8 found here.

Full Video found here.

We will be posting more photos soon on Max’s progress.

Filed under: All News by kellymoulton
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