Pomeranian Puppies

Patent Ductus Arteriosus - Heart Disease

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is the most common congenital heart disease in dogs and usually causes heart failure and death unless corrected at a young age. Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) occurs when a special blood vessel, used to bypass the puppy's lungs in the womb, fails to seal after birth. Normally, this vessel will seal with the animal's first breath. If it doesn't, it disrupts the circulation of blood through the heart.

Early recognition and treatment of PDA is critical before the development of severe lung pressure and uncorrectable disease.

Clinical signs include coughing, decreased exercise tolerance, a "machinery" murmur in the pulmonic-aortic region, bounding pulse, a bluish or purplish discoloration of skin, hindlimb and collapse.

PDA is thought to be inherited and occurs twice as often in females as in males, most commonly in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, German Shepherd Dogs, Toy and Miniature Poodles, Collies, Cocker Spaniels, Shetland Sheepdogs and Pomeranians. About half of untreated dogs develop left-sided heart failure by 8 months of age. There was a significant difference in survival times between the corrected and non-corrected group.

The relatives of dogs with PDA, particularly parents, offspring, and siblings, should be screened for evidence of PDA. Dogs with PDA should not be used for breeding, regardless of breed.

Source: PubMed

For more information about most common inherited diseases and health diorders in Pomeranian dogs read Pomeranian Health Problems