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Treatment

The course of treatment will ultimately depend on the severity of the valve obstruction. If the dog undergoes congestive heart failure (CHF), it will require immediate hospitalization. Balloon catheter dilation is relatively safe and common procedure that involves passing a catheter at the site of obstruction and inflating a balloon to dilate the obstruction. A more advanced surgical technique involves incising the obstructed cardiac valve to relieve the obstruction (valvuloplasty). However, the prevalence of complications and mortalities are much higher with this technique as compared to performing a balloon catheter dilation.

Living and Management

If long-term treatment is required, you must follow all the veterinarian's instructions and administer medication at the proper dosage and time. The dog will also need to rest in a stress-free environment -- away from children, pets, and noise -- to avoid putting undue stress on the heart. Diet restrictions often involve restricting foods with high salt content.

Dogs with a mild form of pulmonic stenosis can life a normal lifespan, whereas patients with moderate and severe forms of the disorder have a more guarded prognosis, especially if congestive heart failure (CHF) has developed.

In addition, due to the genetic nature of this disorder, your veterinarian will typically recommend against breeding dogs with pulmonic stenosis.