FMAR reaches out to community to help for Gidget’s heart surgery

The Friends of Michigan Animals Rescue are reaching out to the community for help with funds to operate on a puppy that could suffer heart failure without the surgery.
Marci LaFramboise, vice president and founder of FMAR, said they were given Gidget by one of the local animal control facilities.
FMAR found her to be a very happy puppy. She’s about six months old and is believed to be a dachshund/min-pin mix.
When they took her to get spayed, the vet told them that the puppy had a heart murmur and it sounded so severe he was hesitant to spay her.
So, they took her to a specialist at Michigan State University Veterinary Clinic.
The MSU specialist found that Gidget had a ring of fibrotic tissue causing a narrowing of her right heart ventricular area that would eventually lead to heart failure, if left untreated.
The specialist told FMAR it was really bad, but he believed he could fix it.
LaFramboise said the surgery costs about $3,000, but she feels the adorable puppy is definitely worth saving. Gidget should be a normal, healthy pup that can live a normal life, she said.
The surgery will be a balloon valvuloplasty procedure. This involves a catheter being used to insert a balloon into her heart to widen the affected area so normal blood flow can resume.
The procedure is expected to provide Gidget with an increased stamina and energy level.
She may still have a slight heart murmur after it’s over, but it shouldn’t shorten her life if she has regular vet care, LaFramboise said.
“Once the word is out about Gidget, we know people will fall in love with this little girl and maybe help us out with her medical expenses.
“She is definitely worth a new fresh start,” LaFramboise said.
Those interested in helping to pay for Gidget’s surgery are asked to contact Friends of Michigan Animals Rescue at 734-461-9458.
FMAR is located in Sumpter Township.