Persistent Right Aortic Arch (PRAA) is a congenital “vascular ring anomaly”.

A blood vessel that should have developed differently in the foetus instead forms a ring around the oesophagus (and sometimes the trachea), pinching it like a tight collar at the base of the heart.

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This causes food to get stuck and come back up (regurgitation), most often starting right after weaning.

 

Surgery is the definitive treatment for almost all PRAA cases. The goal is to cut the constricting band so the oesophagus is no longer squeezed. Surgery often dramatically improves quality of life, but some pets still need lifelong feeding management if the oesophagus has been stretched too long (megaoesophagus).

 

Early treatment is the key!