Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Dogs

Category: Heart
Inheritance: Multifactorial
Breeds documented: 10
Published sources: 11

Overview

Before birth, a short blood vessel called the ductus arteriosus lets blood bypass the lungs. If it stays open after birth, the result is patent ductus arteriosus, or PDA. Blood usually flows back toward the lungs, overloading the heart. Many young puppies seem well at first, but larger openings can lead to heart failure. In some dogs, the abnormal blood flow later reverses direction.

Signs to watch for

No obvious signs in many young puppies
Tiring quickly during activity
Poor growth or difficulty keeping up
Weakness
Difficulty breathing
Fainting or collapse

Present from birth; signs may develop while young or remain unnoticed until adulthood.

Emergency Go to an emergency vet now if your dog has difficulty breathing.

Diagnosis and tests

A vet often first suspects PDA after hearing a continuous heart murmur during a puppy examination. Echocardiography, an ultrasound scan of the heart, confirms the open vessel and checks for other heart defects. Chest X-rays and a heart rhythm recording may help assess its effects.

Breeds with documented risk

10 breeds

By breed size

4 Toy
3 Small
3 Medium

Most popular breeds on this list

Pembroke Welsh CorgiSmall · Herding Group
MalteseToy · Toy Group
ChorkieToy
DorgiSmall
HamiltonstovareMedium · Foundation Stock Service
MalshiSmall
MorkieToy
PomchiToy

All 10 breeds, A to Z

Chorkie Source petmd.com

Dorgi Source petmd.com

Hamiltonstovare Source skk.se

Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Pomchi Source petmd.com

Schapendoes Source nederlandse.schapendoes.nl
Stabyhoun Source link.springer.com

Inheritance

Multifactorial
Poodle
Several genes and the environment together set the risk. Diet, growth rate, weight and exercise can all play a part. There is no single DNA test. Screening the parents (for example hip or elbow scores) and choosing from lines with good results lowers the risk, but does not remove it.
As stated by Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine

We've gathered what published sources say about this condition, so you can talk it through with your vet. It isn't veterinary advice: you and your vet know your dog best.