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Nell is a talented working sheepdog who spends her days doing what she loves most – managing sheep with focus, intelligence and that classic “eye” that makes a great sheepdog truly special.
Nell doing her favourite thing!
Her owner described her as one of the best dogs he had ever worked with. But over time, he began to notice a change. Nell became quieter. She seemed reluctant to work and, eventually, unable to do the job she had always excelled at.
When his farm vet detected something unusual while listening to her heart, Nell was referred to Karl Bovenizer, our Cardiologist, for further investigation.
When a Heart Murmur Means Something More
On examination and heart scanning, two significant findings became immediately clear.
Firstly, Nell’s heart was enlarged. The two chambers on the left side, responsible for pumping oxygenated blood to the body, were noticeably bigger than they should have been. Secondly, we identified an abnormal flow of blood in an area where no flow should exist. These findings led to a diagnosis of Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA).
A PDA is a congenital condition. Before birth, a small blood vessel (the ductus arteriosus) allows blood to bypass the lungs. Shortly after birth, this vessel should naturally close. In dogs with a PDA, it remains open. When this happens, blood recirculates through the left side of the heart, causing it to work harder than normal. Over time, this extra workload causes the heart to enlarge.
At just 1½ years old, Nell had likely been living with this condition since birth — and the enlargement of her heart showed it had been under strain for quite some time.
Considering the Treatment Options
There are two recognised ways to correct a PDA:
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A minimally invasive catheter-based procedure (performed at a tertiary referral centre)
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Open surgical correction
At Bridge Referrals, we are able to offer surgical PDA ligation in-house with our soft tissue surgeon, Mark Gosling. Nell’s owners were understandably keen to avoid travelling long distances and were happy to proceed with surgery here.
The Surgery – And an Instant Result
Nell was admitted to stay with us for two days. During surgery, her heart was approached through the left side of her chest. The abnormal vessel was carefully located and securely tied off.
Surgery photos showing the PDA being tied off!
One of the remarkable aspects of this condition is its very characteristic heart murmur. The moment the PDA is tied, that murmur disappears. For the surgical team, it’s an incredibly satisfying confirmation of success — an instant change you can hear.
Nell stayed with us overnight, and the following day we repeated her heart scan. As expected, her heart was still enlarged – structural changes take time to reverse – but the abnormal blood flow was gone.
Recovery and Reassessment
One month later, Nell returned for her progress check. She was bright, alert and back to her usual self and her murmur had completely resolved.
On scanning, her heart was still larger than normal, but it had already reduced in size, a positive sign that it was beginning to remodel now that the extra strain had been removed. A tiny residual flow was visible, which is not uncommon with this condition and was not clinically concerning.
Nell during her one month progress check!
Most importantly, Nell herself was thriving. She was discharged on medication to support her heart as it continues to recover and we will reassess her again in six months to monitor further improvement.
Nell’s Back on the Job!
Since Nell was discharged, her owners have sent us some wonderful videos of her back doing what she loves best – working with the sheep.
After her heart surgery, we were all excited to see her recover, but seeing her confidently back in the fields, moving the flock with that incredible sheepdog “eye,” is just amazing. Her journey from a quiet, reluctant dog to a bright, active, happy sheepdog is a real testament to the difference that timely veterinary care and heart surgery can make.
Even though her heart is still remodeling, Nell’s energy and enthusiasm are back and it’s clear she’s ready to enjoy life and work again. There’s nothing quite like seeing a dog return to the job they love, and Nell’s story is a perfect reminder of why we do what we do every day! 💚💙
To refer to our Cardiology or Soft Tissue Team, please use our platform or email us:
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