Reverse patent ductus arteriosus and tricuspid valve dysplasia : multiple congenital cardiac defects in a Beagle
A 1-year-old castrated male Beagle hound was evaluated for multiple congenital cardiac defects, including reverse (right-to-left shunting) patent ductus arteriosus (rPDA) secondary to pulmonary hypertension (PH) and tricuspid valve dysplasia (TVD). The patient presented with a Grade 5/6 right apical systolic murmur, but was clinically normal. The co-existence of such profound cardiac abnormalities serves as a unique case study of canine congenital heart disease. This case illustrates that some severe heart diseases, such as rPDA, may not be associated with a murmur and that the patient can often compensate well in the face of multiple, severe cardiac abnormalities. Furthermore, this case underscores the diagnostic usefulness of echocardiography in the cardiologic evaluation.