Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Clinical signs and radiographic diagnosis of a portosystemic shunt in a foal.
- Journal:
- The Veterinary record
- Year:
- 1993
- Authors:
- Hillyer, M H et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Surgery · United Kingdom
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A three-month-old native pony foal was having repeated episodes of strange behavior that suggested a problem with its brain. While the initial check-ups didn't point to anything specific, further tests showed signs of liver-related brain issues. A needle biopsy of the liver revealed changes that matched a condition called a portosystemic shunt, where blood bypasses the liver, and this was later confirmed during surgery and at the time of death.
Abstract
A three-month-old native pony foal had a history of recurrent episodes of bizarre neurological behaviour. The results of clinical examinations were non-specific but clinicopathological investigations indicated hepatic encephalopathy. A percutaneous, needle liver biopsy revealed histopathological changes consistent with a portosystemic shunt, which was later identified by operative mesenteric portovenography, and confirmed at post mortem.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8517006/