Anatomical anomalies and variations of main thoracic vessels in dogs: a computed tomography study

Anomalous origin of the right subclavian artery in a Neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis, Olfers-1818)

The Neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) is a mustelid distributed geographically from Mexico to Argentina. Anomalous origins of the aortic arch branches are rarely reported in wild carnivorans. Therefore, this study aimed to report the anomalous branching of the aortic arch in one formaldehyde-fixed specimen of L. longicaudis. The aortic arch provided three branches: the bicarotid trunk and the left and right subclavian arteries. The latter passed dorsally to the esophagus toward the right side without a mark of compression at the esophagus. This is the first report of an anomalous origin of the right subclavian artery in L. longicaudis.

Key considerations in the approach to congenital heart disease in dogs and cats

Congenital heart disease is an important subset of all cardiovascular disease in dogs and cats that is present at birth and most often detected in young animals but can be diagnosed in adulthood. The range of abnormalities that can occur during development of the heart is vast incorporating simple and complex defects, varying degrees of severity and clinical presentations that include heart failure and cyanosis. While some defects do not result in morbidity in an individual animal, others cause severe clinical signs and death at a young age. Advances in imaging and expanding treatment options offer increasingly more possibilities in the diagnosis and management of congenital heart disease which is the focus of this review. The objective is to provide a broad overview of current practice and highlight key aspects to guide practitioners in their approach to congenital heart disease diagnosis and knowledge of available treatment options.

Local Hemodynamic Changes Immediately after Correction of an Aberrant Right Subclavian Artery in a Dog: A Contrast Computed Tomographic Study

A 1-year-old female Akita dog was referred for intermittent regurgitation. Computed tomographic angiography (CTA) showed an aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA), resulting in constriction of the esophagus. After surgical ligation of the ARSA, CTA showed that the ARSA was not enhanced by contrast medium, and that sufficient collateral circulation of the right forelimb was supplied through the vertebral artery. Furthermore, the right and left vertebral arteries merged into the basilar artery at the level of the atlas, and no abnormal expansion of the ventral spinal artery was observed. Overall, we demonstrated the importance of post-surgical CTA for identification of surgical complications, including the formation of abnormal vessel alterations.