Closure of patent ductus arteriosus with a vascular plug in a German Shepherd dog

A 4-year-old, spayed female German Shepherd dog (GSD) weighing 22.4 kg was referred to Chungnam National University Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital with the chief complaint of a cardiac murmur.A continuous murmur was detected at the left basilar region upon auscultation.In the thoracic radiographs, slight bulging of the aorta, the main pulmonary artery, and the left atrium were observed.Echocardiography revealed continuous turbulent flow directed from the main pulmonary artery towards the pulmonary valve and consistently within the main pulmonary artery.Based on all the results, a diagnosis of type II A patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) was made, and plans were established to treat it with transcatheter occlusion.Transcatheter occlusion was performed using a vascular plug and successfully deployed at the PDA.The patient did not exhibit any complications.GSDs are relatively less common compared to small-breed dogs in South Korea.Considering that GSDs are predisposed to PDA, it is crucial to periodically assess the presence of PDA through auscultation and echocardiography, even in the absence of clinical signs.Transcatheter occlusion using a vascular plug can be an option for treatment and can yield favorable outcomes.