Complex corrective surgery performed on Shih Tzu puppy in Thiruvananthapuram

Veterinary team in Thiruvananthapuram successfully performs complex surgery on a 900g Shih Tzu puppy with congenital heart anomaly.

A medical team at the Multi-Speciality Veterinary Hospital (MSVH) here at Kudappanakunnu has successfully performed a complex congenital corrective surgery on a puppy weighing just 900 g.

Vets at the Department of Animal Husbandry facility said the Shih Tzu pup was one of the smallest patients to undergo the delicate procedure. The patient is doing well after the surgery performed earlier this month, they said.

The two-month-old puppy had been diagnosed with Persistent Right Aortic Arch (PRAA), a congenital vascular anomaly where abnormal blood vessel development compresses the oesophagus. The medical condition interferes with normal swallowing and commonly leads to regurgitation, poor growth, and potentially life-threatening complications.

Given the animal’s extremely small size, the procedure posed significant surgical and anesthetic challenges. The case was presented and managed under the guidance of T.N. Jayakrishnan, Assistant Director, MSVH. “Diagnosis is rare in such cases, and symptoms include continuous vomiting. The big challenge was the size of the puppy. Shih Tzu itself is a small breed, and the puppy weighed just 900 g, about one-third that of a human baby,” Dr. Jayakrishnan said.

PRAA is considered a technically demanding condition encountered in small animals. Corrective treatment involves thoracic surgery to release the constricting vascular ring to restore normal oesophageal function. The medical team credited the leadership and administrative support provided by MSVH Deputy Director L. Sophia, who ensured the availability of resources, infrastructure, and interdisciplinary cooperation necessary for the advanced procedure.