A 13-year-old Labrador named Muffin Zore, underwent a cathlab-guided embolisation for liver and spleen tumors at The Small Animal Clinic, Pune. The dog had been admitted with severe anemia, a low platelet count, breathing difficulty, and abdominal distension.
According to the clinic, pre-procedure investigations showed hemoglobin at 3.5 g/dL and platelet count at 30,000, with imaging indicating large tumors in the spleen and liver and suspected metastasis. Clinical examination noted a palpable abdominal mass estimated at 2.5–3 kg. The owners, Sumeet and Aru Zore of Pune, reported the dog had struggled to get up and walk for 4–5 months and was gasping for breath.
Interventional tumor embolisation involves guiding a catheter through blood vessels to block the tumor’s blood supply, reducing its size and bleeding risk. The clinic stated that the approach can be considered for patients who are at high risk for major surgery.
Veterinary surgeon Narendra Pardeshi said the team considered open surgery to be high risk due to the dog’s fragile condition and the vascularity of the spleen and liver. He added that the team then opted for a minimally invasive embolisation, “The A catheter was passed through the femoral artery and guided to the arterial branches supplying the liver tumor to reduce its blood supply.” Dr. Pardeshi further stated that this was a procedure performed in a cathlab for the first time in their veterinary practice, with the assistance of a vascular surgeon and an interventional radiologist.
that the procedure was performed on December 15, 2025.
The embolisation was carried out under the guidance of Dr. Dharmesh Gandhi (vascular surgeon) and Dr. Kiran Naiknaware (interventional radiologist), with technical support from Mr. Kanhaiya Khaire, cath lab technician and manager of the cardiac department. No inpatient admission was required, and the pet was discharged the same day, the clinic said.
The clinic reported that within 48 hours of the procedure, hemoglobin levels began to rise. At a 15-day follow-up, it recorded over 70% regression in tumor size and over 70% reduction in abdominal swelling. The doctors confirmed that Muffin is active, alert, breathing comfortably, and is steadily regaining strength.
Published – January 09, 2026 11:01 am IST
