What is Liver Shunt?
Liver Shunt is a condition in which a portion of the blood in the body by-passes the liver and goes directly to the heart. Toxins, especially ammonia, build up in the blood stream and the dog has seizures due to the increased ammonia levels. The liver is usually smaller than normal (atrophied) and will have decreased function and secondary liver infection can occur. Surgery is the only corrective measure and without such surgery, death is likely.
Some signs of Liver Shunt or MVD: small stature, poor appetite, poor muscle development, behavioral abnormalities (circling, disorientation, unresponsiveness, staring into space, head pressing), quiet demeanor, drinking or urinating too much, apparent blindness, diarrhea and vomiting, slow recovery from anesthestics (barbituates) or sedatives (acepromazine) and , seizures. In some animals, these signs are associated with eating protein.
More on Liver Shunt continued below . . .
In the next series of pages you will learn everything that we know about Liver Shunt to date, what to do if your precious furbaby is suspected of or has been diagnosed with Liver Shunt, and where you can go for help to save your baby's life.
Please feel free to email us right away if necessary!
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