Congenital heart disease in small animals: a restrospective study of patent ductus arteriosus: 7 cases

Seven cases of complicated and non-complicated PDA-dogs are revisited retro spectively. A heterogenous population concerning breed, age (mean = 1,6 yea rs; min = 0,5, max = 3), sex (75 % females, 25 % males) and weight (mean = 13,8 kg, min = 4, max = 35) was observed. Anamnesis revealed common signs o f heart failure stage 1 to 2b according to the classification of the ISACHC (International Small Animal Cardiac Health Council) such as nocturnal coug h, dyspnea and exercise intolerance. Clinical features, radiological and ec hocardiographic features are discussed. One dog is presented as individual case report. All shunt vessels were corrected successfully by ligation with in a short period (mean = 90 min). Case follow-ups showed that one dog was lost three months later because of extracardiac disease. Another dog was lo st after surgery because of complicated PDA associated with pervious diagno sed mitral dysplasia. Pre- and post surgical clinical features are presente d. Therapeutical considerations are made concerning ligation of the ductus and are compared with coil-embolized cases described in the literature.