A five-month-old rescue puppy named Moxie is recovering after undergoing a specialized heart surgery in Ames to treat multiple congenital heart defects.

The five-hour procedure was performed on Wednesday, and she is now resting at Animal Lifeline of Iowa, a special-needs, no-kill shelter.

According to the shelter, a post-surgery echocardiogram showed that pressure across Moxie’s pulmonic valve has been reduced by more than 50%, which veterinarians described as an excellent outcome. The improvement is expected to significantly enhance her heart function and overall quality of life.

Moxie will remain on strict activity restriction for five days following the procedure before gradually returning to normal puppy activities. Animal Lifeline of Iowa is also raising funds to help cover the cost of her medical care.

kcci.com