Non-Descriptive Puppy and its Successful Surgical Correction

A 50 day old Non-Descriptive puppy weighing 0.9 kg was brought to the hospital, for evaluation of regurgitation of 6 day. The puppy began regurgitating 6 days before at the time of weaning to solid food. The puppy was thin, underweight and had distended abdomen, contrast radiograph revealed megaoesophagus and constriction of the oesophagus at the base of the heart and the condition was diagnosed as Persistent Right Aortic Arch (PRAA). Left lateral thoracotomy was performed and PRAA was surgically corrected. Long term follow-up for 6 months was conducted, pet recovered uneventfully. Keywords: Persistent Right Aortic Arch (PRAA); Megaoesophagus; Thoracotomy PRAA is a congenital anomaly which occurs commonly in larger breed dogs like German Shepherd and Irish Setter but rare in Non-Descriptive dogs [1,3,4]. Puppies with vascular ring anomaly like PRAA usually have histories of postprandial regurgitation of solid foods after weaning. In this condition the oesophagus becomes trapped by the ligament which extends from pulmonary artery and the aorta at the level of base of the heart, which leads to regurgitation of solid food and megaoesophagus in case of puppies and it can be diagnosed with the help of contrast radiography using barium swallow [2,5,6]