Anyone have experience with surgery for PDA?
 

I am going to be taking a puppy to Texas A&M this week to see the cardiologist. My vet strongly suspects PDA. YHR had a yorkie with PDA a few years ago, but I did not care for her nor do I remember a lot of the details.

There are two ways to operate on these and I am wondering if anyone has had experience with this. This puppy is quite small at 1 lb 6 oz and I am wondering if anyone knows if it is possible to do the least invasive type of surgery on a puppy that small. He is estimated to be approx. 4 months old.

I would appreciate any input that anyone might have.

No one? :(

I don't have experience...but I can offer up prayers for this tiny little boy.

Thank you. :) I guess I will know on Thursday. I did a search on here and found a few threads...but not much to answer my questions.

Ah that is so sad. I have no experiance either only prayers for this little pup.

The surgery is very successful. That much I do know. I just am curious about the two different types of repairs.

He is a cutie pie...and I hate that he must go through it, but he will be fine.

I have head of it, but don't know of any that have gone thru it. I do know there is great success rate with it.
Prayers going for this sweet puppy.

Poor little baby. :( I know nothing about this. Lol. It is YOU that I go to for help. :D Wish I could give you some information. Keep us updated on this little baby.

We all have things that we have experienced....and/or not experienced! This is one I have not had before. I know a bit about it, but no hands on experience with it.

I am looking forward to getting answers tomorrow. I have two pups I am taking to A&M. Some of you know Sammy...he is the one that had two operations for the perineal hernia. He is being checked by neuro for his atlanto axial luxation. He saw neuro here locally who recommended surgery....and also gave other options. I just want a second opinion...Sammy is old and he very well could have enough scar tissue to support this. Just not comfortable jumping into surgery on him. Then, I have this little guy, (I think his name will be Cowboy) with his heart problem. Soooooo....I will be getting more hands on experience than I care to. haha

I will definitely post about the PDA. This is not necessarily common in yorkies, but it is a common birth defect and it is good to have information about it.

Saying prayers for both of them....Yorkies Inc has never had a pup with PDA so have no first hand experience...so please share what you find out.

We have had two AAI pups (actually have Wyatt right now)....both have not had surgery but we have done casting... Posey fused but will always need to wear a collar (no bite) for protection...... we are hoping that Wyatt fuses also and will not need surgery.....

I know Posey is a puppy...what about Wyatt? My concern is that this is an old guy. Could be anywhere from 9 up...even 12. We just don't know. He has had two surgeries for his perineal hernia and it is still weak and might need another surgery. :( He also has some issues with choking when he eats do I hand feed him. I just don't know how much is too much, Ya know? I am hoping A&M will give me some guidance on it. He has more than likely had this since he was a puppy, so maybe there is enough scar tissue to support it. This is a hard one for me. The other neuro was pretty much thinking surgery was best.....she mentioned a cast...but then changed her mind because of the way he chokes.

I will definitely share what I find out about the PDA. I think the major concern with Cowboy is going to be his size. At least tomorrow I will have an answer for both of them.

Poor babies! :(

It infuriates me that the breed is being destroyed and so many pups are suffering because of greedy people. So many problems any more. :(

There really is so many more problems presenting. And yes, it is because of the greed in selling this breed. It is just down right irritating that they are so selfish. :( Or better yet, if the dog has a problem just get rid of it. Who cares about it? Throw it away like it is nothing. I just get so mad. :mad: And it is not just dogs. They do it with all kinds of animals. One of my students rescued a cat last week that some jerk had thrown into the dumpster. What if she had not heard the poor thing? She climbed in there and got it and took it home. People just make me sick.

BTW, my son had heart surgery at 10 months old. I had to look but his was to repair a PDA. That was 18 years ago. So, they have been doing it on humans for a while. Hopefully, they have experience on how to handle it on pups too. Medicine has come a long way! Just look at Gabby and Summer! :D:D

Wyatt is a puppy also....he was just diagnosed with pectus excavatum which is an inverted sternum so it is pressing against his organs in particular his lungs...so he is going to need surgery to fix that issue....

What about just a collar..those no bite ones... for Sammy...I know of one AAI dog also a puppy though she wore (and still is I think) a brace and they never casted her and she fused....

Hope you have more answers tomorrow....and yes it is so sad all the issues these puppies are now having...it use to be a very healhty breed....

I picked Cowboy up this afternoon from the vet. The employees have been taking turns fostering him. :) Anyway...have to be up at 5AM so I am keeping him overnight. Took a few pics...what a cutie!

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He is a cutie. Safe travels today, LJ.

Will check this thread tonight for an update and appreciate you sharing what you learn today.

Oh my goodness what a cute little guy Cowboy is. Prayers being said for him. I hope his appointment goes well.
I will keep checking back for updates.

Sending prayers. Look forward to the update.

Awwww, he is adorable!

I just got home and do not have great news for Cowboy. Sammy is staying overnight...they did some testing on him today and he will be having a MRI in the morning. Cowboy does not have PDA...it is sadly a much worse condition....pulmonic stenosis. I am exhausted right now and will post more details later. Bottom line is that we will be starting him on meds, but this is not a condition that can be surgically repaired. He will be ok for now hopefully with the meds but his life expectancy will probably not be long...maybe a couple of years. :( Thank goodness Lolasmom1211 went with me for the ride. She really is great company and made a difficult day more pleasant. :)

I will post more later on. My pups have missed me all day and I am exhausted to boot.

Oh Linda. Poor Cowboy. :( Let us know more when you can. We all know that you have to be beyond exhausted. Poor little guy. :(

Sorry to hear about Cowboy, LJ. :( Will keep him in my thoughts and prayers.

Sending prayers for little Cowboy...never heard this diagnosis before. Poor little guy:(

Linda so sorry about the ddx. I hope you get a good rest tonight.

Oh, so sorry to hear of Cowboys prognosis. You just get one little pup out of the woods and another takes it's place. I will be praying for strength, endurance & wisdom for you. Strength and endurance for Cowboy.:(

Pulmonic Stenosis
 

Here is a link regarding Pulmonic Stenosis in dogs.
http://www.vet.upenn.edu/Portals/0/m...20stenosis.pdf
Cowboy might be too small for the procedures they talk about here, but I thought those of us who didn't know anything about it would be interested.:confused:

Thanks, Marcy! That is an excellent link...gives a really good description of it. :) Yes, Cowboy is too small for anything at this point. He will be re-evaluated in 6-8 months when he has grown a bit. It was difficult for the cardiologist to view the valve; but she did say his case is severe. The right side of his heart is very enlarged. She also feels that the 3 "flaps" of that valve have significant thickening (although the visualization was poor so that could be wrong but highly unlikely). Bottom line, the only thing that can be done now is medication which he has been started on. We will be calling them each week with his weight and also reporting how he is doing with the med...and his dose will be adjusted. They start them at a lower dose and work up slowly.

Yes, we do seem to keep getting sickly pups. :( I guess in a way it is a compliment that people send the sickly ones to us. There is a never ending supply of homeless yorkies here in TX. I just wish we had more foster homes. Everyone is full and we are turning pups away constantly. This little guy did not have many options so I really felt I had to say yes. He is with me for a short time....I really don't have the time to devote to him. Thankfully, the employees at my vet are helping with him until we can move him into another foster home. I also can keep him off and on. He is a precious little guy.

I'm so sad for Cowboy. I hope whatever time he has is full of unconditional love. I know you'll do what's best for him, no matter what.

Thank you. :)

I just got back from A&M with Sammy. His diagnosis blew my mind. I think I will start another thread. His case is very interesting.