One of the most common congenital heart defects seen in dogs is a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Before birth, all developing puppies have a ductus arteriosus. The purpose of the ductus arteriosus is to shunt blood away from the lungs of the fetus, which are filled with fluid and not ready to breathe normally. When the puppy is born, the ductus arteriosus gradually closes, and blood starts flowing through the pulmonary artery to get oxygenation in the lungs. The ductus arteriosus should be completely closed before the puppy reaches seven days of age.
Certain breeds are predisposed to PDAs: German shepherds, miniature poodles, keeshonds, cocker spaniels, pomeranians, shelties, and Yorkshire terriers.
In a dog with a patent ductus arterisosus (the ductus hasn’t closed), the blood flow is abnormal, resulting in cardiac overload (too much blood for the heart to pump efficiently), which can progress to heart failure.
A 12-week old Yorkie
Punja was a 12-week-old Yorkie. He belonged to a couple that had recently moved to a house on Bare Hill Pond. Punja came in one day for routine vaccinations, and a classic PDA murmur was noted during his physical exam. A definitive diagnosis is made by performing an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart), where the abnormal flow of blood can actually be seen.
The treatment of choice is to surgically close the PDA by ligation. This involves open chest surgery and careful placement of a ligature with nylon suture material around the PDA to permanently close the open duct.
Little seven-pound Punja was Dr. and Mrs. H.’s baby. He was constantly cuddled and cooed to. They were an interesting couple. They had escaped from Czechoslovakia during the 1950s because of U.S.S.R.’s takeover of their country. They had two little girls whom they hid under bags of potatoes when they crossed the border in a horse-drawn cart. They eventually made their way to Boston where Dr. H. (a Ph.D. chemist) worked for DuPont as a researcher. He was instrumental in developing the plastics used in tarps and pool covers. They raised their daughters in Lexington. Their older daughter became a high school teacher working in New Hampshire, and their younger daughter became a physician practicing on the island of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands.
Punja’s surgery went well, and after about 10 days, he was back to her normal level of activity, with even more cuddling and cooing after what he had been through. Dr. and Mrs. H. were an especially nice couple, and in addition to loving their Punja, they were very sweet to each other.
An invitation to Shangri La
On several occasions they invited my wife Lis and me to their home and often talked about their vacation home in Tortola, which they called Shangri-La. Each time they brought Punja to the animal hospital, they would describe Shangri-La and insist that Lis and I spend a week there. I always declined, feeling a little funny about accepting their kind offer. They finally brought in a photo album of Tortola and Shangri-La, insisting that I show it to Lis and asking that I please take them up on their offer.
We accepted their invitation and spent a week on Tortola. It was a truly wonderful vacation. The road to Shangri-La was steep, narrow, and scary, but we soon felt comfortable driving around the island and discovered two beaches where we spent most of our days.
Best part of stay: beaches, swimming, sunning, Caribbean restaurants, and how beautiful Lis looked after having her waist-long hair braided like Bo Derek in the movie “10.” Worst part of stay: Lis spending six hours taking out braids.
Fred Karotkin is a veterinarian and a resident of East Bare Hill Road.
