Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Congenital portosystemic shunts in five mature dogs with neurological signs.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association
- Year:
- 2007
- Authors:
- Windsor, Rebecca Christine & Olby, Natasha J
- Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Sciences · United States
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
This study looked at five older dogs that had congenital portosystemic shunts, which are abnormal blood vessels that can lead to brain problems due to liver issues. Normally, these shunts are found in younger dogs, but these dogs showed serious signs of brain dysfunction, like trouble walking and balance problems. Three of the dogs had a specific type of shunt, and all five were treated either with medication or surgery. Remarkably, even though they were older and had severe symptoms, all the dogs improved after treatment.
Abstract
Congenital portosystemic shunts are a common cause of hepatic encephalopathy and are typically first identified when dogs are <2 years of age. This case series describes five dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts; the dogs were presented for severe encephalopathic signs during middle or old age. Three dogs had portoazygos shunts, and four dogs had multifocal and lateralizing neurological abnormalities, including severe gait abnormalities and vestibular signs. All five dogs responded to medical or surgical treatment, demonstrating that older animals can respond to treatment even after exhibiting severe neurological signs.
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/17975214/