Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Irish setter puppy with right-to-left heart shunt causing weakness
By Ferasin, L et al.·Published in Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)·2007·University of Bristol, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Original investigation of right-to-left shunting patent ductus arteriosus in an Irish setter puppy.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A six-month-old female Irish setter was brought to the vet because she had been getting weaker in her back legs and sometimes collapsed when exercising over the past two months. The vet found a soft heart murmur and used special imaging tests to confirm that she had a rare heart condition called right-to-left shunting patent ductus arteriosus (r-PDA), which affects blood flow. This condition can lead to low oxygen levels in the blood. The puppy's treatment options would depend on the severity of her condition, and it's important for her to be monitored closely by a veterinarian.
People also search for: Irish setter puppy weakness · dog heart murmur treatment · r-PDA in dogs
Abstract
A six-month-old, entire female, Irish setter was presented with a two-month history of progressive hindlimb weakness and collapse on exercise. Thoracic auscultation revealed a soft systolic murmur and a split second heart sound. Differential cyanosis and polycythaemia were not observed. Right-to-left shunting patent ductus arteriosus (r-PDA) was confirmed on contrast echocardiography ("bubble study") and selective right ventricular angiography. Comparison of blood gases from the metatarsal and auricular artery confirmed the presence of differential hypoxia. This technique is not known to have been described previously in the diagnostic investigation of r-PDA in dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16442821/