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Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) and the Pomeranian

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Last Updated on 06/12/2023 by Denise Leo. Post first published on May 3, 2016.

What exactly is Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)?

When mammals are born, they need to adapt to a new environment. While still a fetus, they live in amniotic fluid while the mother supplies all the oxygen. When they’re born, the new environment is where they must breathe air and gain enough oxygen through their lungs. The PDA is a crucial part of this process. It’s a tiny blood vessel that runs between that pulmonary artery (its function is to supply blood to a new baby’s lungs). It connects to the aorta (thus being channeled to all other body parts).

Before birth, most blood in the heart uses the ductus arteriosus to bypass the lungs. Shortly before birth, his lungs become much more functional. Once the baby arrives, he no longer gets blood from his mother; he starts to breathe by himself, and the amount of blood running through the PDA drops significantly and, after a few days, shuts fully. If it doesn’t shut, the dog has a PDA, and how much it does or doesn’t affect him can depend on the size of the opening of this ductus.

What Are the Main Dog Breeds That Can Have Problems With PDA? 

This is the number one canine heart defect. Many breeds can potentially face this problem, and it’s more common in female dogs. Dogs in the highest risk category for PDA are the Pomeranian, chihuahua, Kerry Blue terrier, and Shetland sheepdog. Dogs that are in a higher risk category are the Irish Setter, collie, Bichon Frise, Keeshond, toy and miniature Poodles, Yorkshire Terriers, German Shepherds, English Springer Spaniels, Cocker spaniels, and Maltese.

The frequency or type of inheritance of numerous disorders and breeds of dogs have either been studied with inconclusive results or haven’t been studied at all. The listed breeds are only dogs, and enough practitioners agree that PDA is a significant problem.

What Does PDA Mean For You and Your Pomeranian?

How badly your dog will be affected will depend on how serious the PDA is in each case. It may be a tiny blind pocket that comes off the aorta and doesn’t make trouble at all. Different amounts of blood can flow through it, affecting how badly the problem becomes.

The left-to-right shunt within the heart causes the most common problem. The aorta’s blood pressure is higher than the pulmonary aorta. A larger amount of blood may get into the dog’s lungs, causing a build-up of fluid (known as pulmonary edema) and overloading the left part of the heart.

Symptoms may include weight loss, decreased ability to exercise, coughing, and, later on, congestive heart failure. If he doesn’t undergo surgery, it may prove fatal. A less typical issue is the right-to-left shunt. It may exist at birth, or it may happen due to the size of the dog’s PDA being so big that lung pressure and the resistance of said pressure increase dramatically.

This brings the circulation back to what it was before birth when a certain amount of blood from the heart’s right side completely bypasses his lungs. Therefore, his body recirculates blood that’s low in oxygen, causing your pet to be breathless and have weakened rear legs, which could cause him to collapse.

How Does a Vet Diagnose Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)?

The first indicator is when the vet can hear a continuous heart murmur while examined before being vaccinated. Certain image machines can help diagnose this problem. Your puppy usually won’t have symptoms corresponding to PDA.

Murmur: A continuous “machinery-like” sound that disappears in a right-to-left shunt.

Electrocardiogram: An enlarged left atrium, dilated left ventricle, and hypertrophy (hypertrophy in the right ventricle with a right-to-left shunt).

Radiographs: Over-circulation of the pulmonary artery, enlargement of the left ventricle and atrium, a dilated descending aorta, and major pulmonary artery (hypertrophy of the right ventricle with the right-to-left shunt).

Echocardiography: Enlarged left side of the heart and dilated aorta and pulmonary artery (hypertrophy of the right ventricle with the right-to-left shunt). Others: Indicators of heart failure on the left side and pulmonary edema. In the right-to-left shunt, blood in the lungs and blood (poorly oxygenated) from the dog’s pulmonary artery are mixed in his descending aorta. This can cause weakness in the dog’s hind legs and cyanosis. Unsaturated blood from arteries also ends up in the kidneys, causing polycythemia, hypoxemia, and hyperviscosity, often exceeding 65% PCV.

Treatment Options For a Pomeranian With PDA?

If your dog is under two years old, surgery is almost always recommended if the left-to-right shunt has worked. The vet ties up the PDA and is generally successful. Surgery can be carried out on puppies as young as eight weeks old. It must be done as soon as possible before the heart works to overcome the defective ductus.

The good news is that a long, healthy life is probable if surgery is conducted early enough. If your dog has heart disease indicators, surgical procedures have bigger risks, and the vet will try medication before surgery. Medication is used instead of surgery if the shunt runs from right to left. Restricted exercise, plenty of rest, and avoiding stress are also elements that should be focused on. Your vet will check your dog regularly to see what works well and what doesn’t in his quest to control issues that may happen because of low oxygen blood.

Breeding with PDA Diagnosed Pomeranians 

A Pomeranian diagnosed with PDA must NOT be used to breed, regardless of whether there has been surgical intervention. 

Always discuss concerns with your vet.

Please note: while I do discuss health, care, and behavioral issues, you should never use this information as a replacement for advice from qualified veterinarians, diagnoses, or recommended treatment regimes. If you have any worries about the health of your Pomeranian, your first contact should be your regular vet or, if you don’t yet have one, a vet that works locally. Never ignore or avoid treatment and advice from your vet because of a piece of information you have read on any website.

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About

Denise Leo

Pomeranians are my passion, and I have shared my life with these darling little dogs for many decades. The creator and face behind this website is published author and Pomeranian breed authority Denise Leo of Dochlaggie Pomeranians.

Denise Leo
Denise Leo