A retrospective study of tetralogy of Fallot in dogs

Authors : Urszula PASLAWSKA, Agnieszka NOSZCZYKNOWAK, Alicja CEPIEL, Maciej STASZCZYK, Adrian JANISZEWSKI

Pages : 57-60

Doi:10.3906/vet-1108-30

View : 17 | Download : 9

Publication Date : 0000-00-00

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Tetralogy of Fallot is a rare congenital heart defect; however, it is the most common cyanotic heart malformation in humans and animals. It consists of a ventricular septal defect, pulmonic stenosis, displacement of the aortic root, and hypertrophy of the right ventricle. At the Department of Internal Medicine Clinic of Diseases of Horses, Dogs, and Cats at the Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, patients with Fallot syndrome constituted 4.44% of all patients with congenital heart diseases. There was no breed predisposition found. The most common clinical signs were exercise intolerance, dyspnea, and cyanosis of the mucous membranes, but it can also be asymptomatic. Echocardiography is considered to be the best method for diagnosing this congenital heart disease. Contrast angiocardiography can be used to confirm the diagnosis or as a complement to diagnosis. Surgery is the only effective method of treatment; however, for animals, we only provide palliative treatment.
Keywords : Key words Tetralogy of Fallot, cyanosis, congenital heart disease