Persistent Right Aortic Arch in Dogs

During development, the aorta may not mature as it should. Typically, there is an embryonic branch that does not regress and instead wraps around the esophagus putting pressure on it. This leads to problems directly related to the abnormality, such as regurgitation, or secondary issues, such as breathing issues from aspiration pneumonia from regurgitation. The only treatment for PRAA is surgical correction. The sooner your dog has surgery to fix it, the higher his chances of a full recovery. If you postpone the surgery too long, his prognosis of a full recovery declines.

Persistent right aortic arch is a congenital condition that can affect your puppy. If not fixed, he may not be able to grow and thrive due to inability to swallow his food and absorb the nutrients. If your puppy is vomiting or regurgitating his food, take him to a veterinarian.

Symptoms of PRAA typically make themselves known when the dog begins to eat solid foods. Symptoms may include:

• Inability to get food down
• Regurgitation
• Dilated/stretched esophagus
• Stunted growth
• Breathing problems

Types

• There is only one type of persistent right aortic arch that can occur in dogs
• The severity can range from mild to moderate and even to severe
• The severity of the issue will play a role in diagnosis, treatment, and recovery of this issue in your dog
• Other names PRAA is known by include vascular compression of the esophagus or vascular ring anomaly

PRAA in dogs is typically congenital, meaning the puppy was born with the condition. It is an abnormality of the blood vessels of the heart that can interfere with the function of the esophagus. If your dog has PRAA, it means an embryonic branch of the aorta wraps around the esophagus and puts pressure on the tube. This prevents the esophagus from being able to pass food and will cause him to regurgitate it.

As your puppy is growing and developing, symptoms of PRAA will make themselves apparent sooner rather than later. If you suspect your dog is having trouble eating, it is a good idea to take him to the veterinarian. 

When you arrive, she will begin by performing a complete physical exam to ensure there are not other things going on too. She will also verbally collect a history from you to discuss how long it has been occurring, if it has been getting progressively worse, or if he could have ingested something he wasn’t supposed to. This will give her an idea of possible causes of his symptoms.

One of the first things she will suggest is to perform blood work. This will allow her to check for any causes occurring from within, such as organ failure or parasite infection. A chemistry panel and complete blood count will give her the basic information she needs. She may also perform a packed cell volume (PCV) to check your dog’s hydration status. If he is regurgitating relatively frequently, dehydration is a concern.

The next diagnostic she will recommend is to have radiographs taken. This will allow her to check for multiple probable causes of his symptoms. She will take a radiograph of the abdomen to check for any gastrointestinal blockage. She will also take a radiograph of his chest and esophagus to check for a blockage or abnormality there. If your dog does have PRAA, his radiograph will show he has a dilated esophagus, also known as megaesophagus. In most cases, the dilation will run from the esophagus to the base of the heart. In certain cases, the veterinarian may want to use a contrast known as barium to emphasize the dilation.

The ultimate treatment to correct PRAA is surgery. During surgery, a constricting ring is placed around the abnormal vessel causing it to degenerate over a period of time. Other forms of treatment include allowing the esophagus to return to its normal size and function. In order to do this, the veterinarian may recommend small meals of wet or moistened food to allow the food to go down easily. When you are feeding your dog, try to feed him from above instead of in a bowl from below in order to let gravity pull the food into the stomach versus making the esophagus work. 

Given time, the embryonic branch of the aortic vessel will degenerate and therefore no longer put pressure on your dog’s esophagus. This will allow him to eat properly and begin to thrive.

Recovery of PRAA will depend on when you sought surgical correction for your dog. The earlier you seek veterinary care for him, the better his chances of a full recovery. Even if your dog does have surgery, there is not a guarantee it will solve the issue entirely. For example, if your dog suffered nerve damage or if his esophagus was severely distended before he received treatment, he may have long term issues.