Todayโs path rounds are on ๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ฌ, since I know how much yaโll love weird developmental stuff 
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ฌ is a congenital disease where the heart is formed in an unusual place, such as in the neck region, a strange position in the thorax, or even in the abdomen. Weird!
๐๐ก๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
Any species can get this!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
It is uncertain what causes this abnormality! It seems to be a sporadic finding in animals, and is quite rare.
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ?
These animals can actually survive surprisingly well, assuming that the heart is otherwise formed normally. The biggest concern is when the heart is located in the neck, as it is in an area prone to traumatic injury. Direct damage to the heart can cause immediate death, so protecting the heart in these cases is very important!
๐๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ฌ
1-4) Examples of ectopia cordis in calves.
5) An example of ectopia cordis in a kitten.
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ
Onda, K, et al. Long-term survival of a cow with cervical ectopia cordis. Canadian Veterinary Journal 2011 667-669.
Photo 1 courtesy of University of Calgary Diagnostic Services Unit.
Photos 2-5 courtesy of Noahโs Arkive.
