Cardiogenic hypertrophic osteopathy in a dog with a right-to-left shunting patent ductus arteriosus

A 5-year-old castrated male Shetland Sheepdog was examined because of progressive bilateral hind limb thickening. Cyanosis of the preputial mucous membranes was evident, whereas the oral mucous membranes had a normal color. A well-structured, palisade-like periosteal reaction with no underlying bone destruction was evident on radiographs of the hind limbs. The radiographic changes were consistent with hypertrophic osteopathy (HO). Severe right-sided cardiomegaly was seen on thoracic radiographs, and a diagnosis of patent ductus arteriosus with right-to-left shunting was made by means of echocardiography and contrast echoaortography. The cyanotic heart disease was believed to be the cause of the HO. Hypertrophic osteopathy has been associated with a number of diseases in animals and humans. In humans, congenital heart defects that cause cyanosis are among the most common causes of HO.