Ventricular Septal Defect in Dogs

What is ventricular septal defect (VSD)?

If your dog is diagnosed with ventricular septal defect (VSD), it means that it has a hole in his division between the ventricles. VSD is a congenital disease in dogs and affected dogs should not be used to breed. When a dog is diagnosed with ventricular septal defect disabled, the elderly also can not be used for further breeding. Brother can be used to multiply, but only after a careful physical examination. Descendants of the siblings should be carefully examined for VSD, and if the problem is diagnosed the elderly can no longer be used to breed.

As a dog embryo develops, the heart begins as individual tubes. The fund is then gradually be separated into four different spaces. Variants can appear at different steps in the process are complicated and this can cause ventricular septal defect in a dog. When a dog has a hole between the ventricles in the heart, it will cause abnormal blood flow in the heart. The exact symptoms vary depending on the size and location of the abnormality.

Symptoms of ventricular septal defects in dogs

The nature and severity of symptoms will depend on both the size difference and exactly where he is. In mild cases the ventricular septal defect, most dogs will show no symptoms except for heart murmurs. It is even possible for small defects to close on its own as an adult dog.

In dogs with larger defects, the pressure on the left side of the heart will be higher than the pressure on the right side, and there will be blood flow from left to right through the defect. Dog heart's left side will be forced to work harder than usual and will circulate more blood to the lungs. This in turn will result in higher workload than normal for the lungs. If your dog is suffering from ventricular septum defect, symptoms may develop over several months or even years. Common symptoms in dogs ventricular septal defect is exercise intolerance and shortness of breath. In severe cases, abnormal heart rhythm that can cause premature death. If the liver expand reverse action so-called because of the pressure around the heart, the result can be cyanosis, pink mucous membranes of your dog will turn gray.

Ventricular septal defect treatment for dogs

To begin with, a variety of symptoms of heart disease can be treated to make the dog feel better. The vet can give a drug that will support the heart and reduce each lung congestion. This should normally be combined with a special diet suitable for dogs with ventricular septal defect and restrictions when it comes to exercise. If the dog is to undergo medical procedures such as dental, preventive antibiotic treatment may be given to reduce the risk of infection.

Where large handicapped dog has been found in the heart, the pulmonary artery of banding are surgical options that will lower the blood flow around the abnormal area. This will make the overload in the lungs and left heart significantly lower. Pulmonary artery banding is performed before the development but only right-to-left shunting. Conduct other possible surgical ventricular septal defect in dogs is to improve disabled. But that would require open heart surgery, which is a very risky procedure even for a healthy dog.