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Digestivas

Portosystemic shunt (hepatic shunt)

An abnormal blood vessel that lets blood from the intestine bypass the liver without being filtered. The toxins the liver should clear pass straight into the bloodstream. It is usually congenital.

Severe🐕 Dogs🐈 Cats

Symptoms to watch for

  • • Slow growth, animal smaller than its littermates
  • • Neurological signs after eating: disorientation, circling, lethargy, seizures
  • • Drinking and urinating a lot
  • • Intermittent vomiting or diarrhoea
  • • Often detected at a young age

Causes

An abnormal blood vessel, almost always congenital. Small breeds (Yorkshire Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer) are at higher risk of the congenital form.

Diagnosis

Blood tests (elevated bile acids), ultrasound and advanced imaging to locate the abnormal vessel.

Treatment

A hepatic diet low in protein and medication to reduce the toxins. The definitive treatment is usually surgery to close the abnormal vessel. The prognosis improves greatly with early surgery.

Prevention

Not preventable (it is congenital). Detecting it early in puppies with slow growth or neurological signs improves the outcome.

When should you see the vet?

See your vet if your puppy is growing poorly and has episodes of disorientation or lethargy after eating.

Consult a vet

WetAi guides you and takes you to the vet; it does not diagnose.

Notice: this information is for general guidance and educational purposes only. It does NOT replace diagnosis or treatment by a registered veterinary surgeon. If you notice any symptoms, always consult a professional. Wallapets accepts no responsibility for the use of this information without veterinary supervision.

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