Persistent Right Aortic Arch

Persistent right aortic arch is a structural difference present from birth in which a blood vessel that normally disappears during development remains and forms a ring around the oesophagus. This ring can press on the oesophagus, making it difficult for food to pass normally into the stomach. The condition is one of several vascular ring anomalies, and it tends to become noticeable when a puppy begins eating solid food. Owners often first observe regurgitation shortly after meals, typically in young animals during or just after weaning. The puppy may bring back undigested food, sometimes in a tubular shape, and may seem hungry again soon afterwards. Some animals grow more slowly than their littermates, and signs can range from occasional episodes to more persistent difficulty with eating. This page explores the signals that may prompt consideration of this condition, the anatomical basis for those signals, the imaging and other investigations used to clarify the diagnosis, and the surgical and supportive approaches that may be discussed. The goal is to help you understand what may be happening and what questions may be useful as the picture becomes clearer.