PDA Surgery in Dogs

PDA, or patent ductus arteriosus, occurs when a blood vessel, the ductus arteriosus, does not close off correctly in a puppy's chest. This causes an abnormally high amount of blood flow through the left side of the puppy's heart.

  1. PDA Surgery

    • Minimally invasive surgery for PDA involves using a catheter to insert a device like a coil or a plug into the PDA, closing it off and stopping the blood flow. In open surgery, a dog's heart is exposed and a veterinary surgeon uses surgical ligation to tie off and close the PDA.

    Aftercare

    • Both forms of PDA surgery take about two hours to complete. A dog that undergoes open surgery could have a longer hospital stay. At home, it is important to keep the stitches clean and dry. Pain medication can help to manage a dog's discomfort during recovery.

    Considerations

    • While PDA surgery in dogs is usually safe, some complications can arise, including excessive bleeding. In dogs with PDA that do not receive surgery, death from heart failure occurs at a rate of 60 percent in the first year of life, according to Texas A&M University.