Heart surgery for dogs will only be appropriate for the relatively small number of dogs that have very specific, usually congenital heart problems. However, where appropriate, the success rate is very high, and your dog should benefit from a markedly improved quality and quantity of life. It is worth noting that surgical intervention in the cardiac case is almost always best performed by a specialist cardiologist, although some GP's are able to carry out a pericardial drainage.

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (keyhole vs traditional surgery).
For those dogs with PDA, traditional surgery to seal the blood vessel has a very high success rate. However, relatively new keyhole techniques are less invasive, and generally offer a quicker recovery.
 

Pacemakers
First developed for people, the technique of inserting a pacemaker has now been successfully applied in the veterinary world. A dog fitted with a pacemaker has every chance of living a long and healthy life.
 

Balloon Valvuloplasty
This technique involves the insertion of a balloon tipped catheter into the constricted area of the heart, and inflating to reduce the constriction. About 85% of animals show an improvement in health following the treatment, but it is not without risk. 5-10% of animals will not survive treatment.
 

Pericardial Drainage / Pericardiectomy
Pericardial drainage involves the insertion of a catheter into the pericardium to drain excess fluid and thereby relieve pressure on the heart. In some cases, the problem of fluid build-up is recurrent, and surgery to remove up to half of the pericardium may be called for.