Patent Ductus Arteriosus
PDA

PDA is the most common congenital heart defect among dogs. Before birth, a passageway called the ductus arteriosus allows the blood that is ejected by the heart to bypass the developing puppy's non-functioning lungs. Shortly after birth the ductus arteriosus should close, thus separating the blood pumped to the lungs by the right side of the heart from the blood that is pumped to the rest of the body by the left side of the heart.

Patent is a medical term that means open; and the presence of a patent ductus arteriosus after birth simply indicates that this blood vessel did not close as it should have. The result is much harder to maintain a normal amount of blood flow to the rest of the body. This extra workload eventually causes the heart to fail.

The first signs an owner might notice include a cough, rapid breathing, or difficulty breathing, especially with exercise. This heart defect is inherited in most affected dogs, and some of the breeds prone to developing PDA include the Yorkshire terrier, and numerous other breeds.

The puppy with a PDA can be repaired now I've read with using a device inserted through a catheter placed in a large vein. In years past, open heart surgery has been the only reliable way to repair a PDA. A PDA should have been reconized before a new owner gets it's puppy.

Currently surgery is being performed successfully by Dr. Sisson at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital if your vet is unfamiliar with the new technique.

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