Congenital Heart Diseases in Dogs - An overview -

Congenital heart diseases are defined as anatomical and morphological defect of the heart or great vessels at the time of birth. Congenital defects were formed primarily during the different phases of embryonic development or at birth or secondary to a drug or toxin. Most of the congenital heart diseases were inherited. Most common congenital heart diseases were patent ductus arteriosus, subaortic stenosis, pulmonic stenosis and tetralogy of fallot followed by other less commonly reported conditions like atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, dysplasia of atrioventricular valves and persistent right aortic arch. Diagnosis of congenital heart diseases includes physical examination, auscultation, electrocardiography and cardiac imaging techniques like radiography, echocardiography, cardiac catheterization and angiography. Cardiac catheterization with selective angiographic procedures were used for diagnosis and treatment. Most of the congenital diseases lead to cardiac failure that can be managed by drugs or its correction by interventional procedures. Surgical corrections of defects were limited because of its postsurgical complications.