Patent ductus arteriosus and congestive heart failure in a cat

Abstract

This case report describes the clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in a 6-month-old cat, causing left-sided congestive heart failure. This congenital heart defect, rarely reported in the cat, was diagnosed during investigation of a loud, continuous heart murmur, exercise intolerance, tachypnoea and dyspnoea. The cat was started on medical treatment for congestive heart failure and underwent surgical closure of the PDA once optimal control of the heart failure had been achieved. The cat recovered well from the surgery, with no major complications and gradual resolution of the clinical signs. The cat was reported to be fully recovered following discontinuation of heart failure treatment 1 month after the surgery, and to be stable 4 months after surgery. This case report alerts the clinician to consider PDA within the list of differential diagnosis in a kitten with a continuous heart murmur, and demonstrates that surgical correction of this defect can be associated with an excellent prognosis.