Abstract

Case Description: A 56kg (123,2lbs) one-day-old newborn purebred red Angus calf was evaluated because of a cardiac condition. Clinical Findings: Radiography and ultrasonography revealed a loss of continuity of 18mm in the mid intra auricular area, in the region of the oval trench and it was diagnosed as patent foramen ovale. The right auricle was notably distended, with marked volume overload. There were eco dense structures foating inside the left auricle. Treatment and Outcome: Pharmacological treatment aimed to avoid overload of liquid fow in both the lung and the heart. Drugs administered were: furosemide (1mg/Kg every 12h), enalapril (0,5mg/kg every 12h) and sildenafl (0,5mg/kg every 12h). The goal of using sildenafl was to reduce the preload of the right ventricle and to diminish the risk of right cardiac failure and thus of acute respiratory crisis. Clinical Relevance: Patent foramen ovale is common in newborn cloned calves and probably is under diagnosed in otherwise healthy looking newborn calves. The results of this paper show that foramen ovale can be pharmacologically treated in calves and that euthanasia of newborn animals carrying such pathology must be the last option, only when pharmacological approaches proved non-effective.