Kito was presented to MVDr. Katarína Zapletalová for cardiac evaluation after the detection of a heart murmur.
During the echocardiographic examination, the findings were consistent with a patent ductus arteriosus, or PDA. This is one of the more important congenital cardiac diseases to recognise in dogs, as early diagnosis can make a major difference for the patient’s long-term outcome.
A PDA is a persistent abnormal connection between the aorta and the pulmonary artery. This vessel is normally present during fetal life, but should close shortly after birth. When it remains open, blood continues to flow from the high-pressure aorta into the pulmonary artery, leading to left-sided volume overload and, if left untreated, eventually congestive heart failure.
Diagnosing a PDA requires more than simply recognising a murmur. It requires a structured cardiac examination, careful echocardiographic assessment, correct use of Doppler, and an understanding of the haemodynamic consequences of the defect.
What makes this case especially valuable for us is that Katarína, one of our SkillVet delegates, identified and diagnosed the PDA completely independently.
This is exactly the type of progress we aim to see during the SkillVet mentorship programme: veterinarians developing not only their technical echocardiography skills, but also their confidence, clinical reasoning, and ability to make clear diagnostic decisions in real patients.
A big congratulations to Katarína for her excellent work on this case.