Description: Also called liver shunt or portosystemic shunt, a
condition in which the embryonic blood vessel in the liver fails
to go away after the puppy or kitten is born. As a result, blood
bypasses the liver which means it fails to be processed by the
liver which can lead to neurological symptoms. In some cases,
the liver shunt is acquired as a secondary condition to other
liver issues. Symptoms: Stunted growth, pacing, seizures,
tiredness and lethargy, bladder stones. Diagnosis:Diagnosed via
radiograph or ultrasound of liver; ammonia tolerance test.
Treatment: Surgery is required to treat this condition. It is
recommended that the animal's health be very stable prior to
surgery, which can be achieved by a healthy diet and proper
medications. The success rate is very high. (See example claim.)