TAMPA, Fla. (BLOOM) – BluePearl Pet Hospital in Tampa announced it will now offer a groundbreaking heart procedure for pets, making it only the eighth pet hospital in the country to provide the Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair (TEER) treatment.

The minimally invasive procedure is designed to treat severe mitral regurgitation, a common condition in dogs caused by chronic valvular disease. TEER, long used in human medicine, is now offering new hope for pets suffering from heart conditions. It boasts a 95% success rate and serves as a less invasive, more cost-effective alternative to traditional open-heart surgery.

“This is a game changer,” said Dr. Bradley Harris, DACVECC, a cardiologist at BluePearl Tampa. “TEER can improve the quality of life for pets with heart disease and extend their lifespans. We’re proud to bring this option to the Tampa Bay area.”

The procedure involves guiding a device through a catheter into the heart to clip together the leaflets of the mitral valve, reducing or eliminating valve leakage. Recovery requires up to six weeks of restricted activity, followed by check-ups over the course of a year.

BluePearl’s cardiology team—including Drs. Harris, Reems, Ishak and Gicking—underwent advanced training to be certified for the procedure.

“Our dedicated team continues to push the bounds of medical excellence,” said Dr. Richard Stone, DACVIM (SAIM), chief medical officer at BluePearl. “We’re committed to bringing industry-leading care to our communities.”

The procedure is now available at BluePearl’s Tampa hospital, located at 3000 Busch Lake Blvd. For more information, visit BluePearlVet.com/hospital/tampa.

Founded in 1996, BluePearl is one of the largest specialty and emergency veterinary networks in the U.S., with more than 100 hospitals in 30 states. The organization is part of Mars Veterinary Health, which supports nearly 70,000 associates worldwide with the shared goal of creating “a better world for pets.”