Clinical and imaging characteristics of patent ductus arteriosus in Standard poodles and their crossbreeds.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES: Standard poodle (SP)/Standard poodle crossbred (SP-C) dogs have gained popularity with limited literature representation. The study objective was to report clinical, imaging, and procedural data in SP/SP-C dogs with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). ANIMALS: Breeds included SP (12/30), Goldendoodle (9/30), Labradoodle (7/30), and Bernedoodle (2/30). At presentation, dogs were 0.6 years old (0.2-6.0 years) and weighed 14.8 kg (3.1-25.6 kg). Nine had concurrent congenital heart disease. Thirteen required diuretic therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multi-institutional retrospective study including 30 client-owned SP/SP-C dogs was conducted. Data are reported as median and range. RESULTS: Intra-operative imaging was performed with angiography (n = 28) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) (n = 20), with discrepancies in morphology classification identified in six dogs in which both modalities were performed. Pulmonary ostium diameter measured by TEE, ampulla diameter 4 mm above the ostium measured by TEE (TEE-Amp4), ampulla diameter at the level of the aorta measured by TEE, and ampulla length were measured. Pulmonary ostium diameter measured by TEE was 4.1 mm (1.4-8.1 mm), measuring 42% (35-66%) of the TEE-Amp4. Closure methods included the use of an Amplatz canine duct occluder (ACDO) device (27/30) and surgical ligation (3/30). The median ACDO size was 7 mm (3-12). Immediately after ACDO occlusion, TEE-Amp4 and ampulla diameter at the level of the aorta measured by TEE had a median increase of 21% (0-148 %) and 16% (4-59%), respectively. Complications occurred in four dogs (intra-operative atrial fibrillation [2/30], device embolization following ampulla dilation with subsequent ligation [1/30], and postoperative death following PDA rupture with partial ligation [1/30]). STUDY LIMITATIONS: Potential errors in breed identification and imaging could affect results. CONCLUSIONS: Standard poodle and crossbred dogs can have large or unusually shaped PDAs, with TEE imaging able to provide anatomic information and intra-operative monitoring.