The BBCI is working hard to support and assist Breeders, Pet Owners and Veterinarians on the most up to
date information possible in the research being performed by the experts of Liver Shunt and MVD.
Our group of dedicated members are working diligently towards providing others with a greater
awareness of Liver Shunt as well as helping to assist those who are interested in education and pedigree
research.
We hope to provide support, guidance, information and direction when considering breeding pairs and
the suggested proper breeding protocol for affected dogs and litter-mates.
Open discussions and sharing of information is our main focus on helping eliminate this highly suspected
inherited disease. Our goal is to help direct and advise other's so that breeders can make intelligent
educated choices when breeding their dogs and culling affected dogs from their breeding program.
Liver Shunt can strike any breed! Please help us fight this dreaded disease.
date information possible in the research being performed by the experts of Liver Shunt and MVD.
Our group of dedicated members are working diligently towards providing others with a greater
awareness of Liver Shunt as well as helping to assist those who are interested in education and pedigree
research.
We hope to provide support, guidance, information and direction when considering breeding pairs and
the suggested proper breeding protocol for affected dogs and litter-mates.
Open discussions and sharing of information is our main focus on helping eliminate this highly suspected
inherited disease. Our goal is to help direct and advise other's so that breeders can make intelligent
educated choices when breeding their dogs and culling affected dogs from their breeding program.
Liver Shunt can strike any breed! Please help us fight this dreaded disease.
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Portosystemic Shunt
*The Basics*
A porto-systemic shunt is an abnormal vessel that allows blood to bypass the liver. As a result the blood is not
cleansed by one of the bodies filters: the liver.
GENETIC KNOWLEDGE AND TESTING:
Mode of inheritance:
Polygenic
Age of onset:
Under one (1) year of age.
Portosystemic shunting is a term used to describe abnormal blood flow between the liver and the body. The liver is
responsible for detoxifying the body, metabolizing nutrients and eliminating drugs. When the body’s blood flow
bypasses the liver, as is the case with portosystemic shunts (PSS), a multitude of signs may appear.
There are two types of shunting: intra hepatic (the vein is within the liver) and extra hepatic (not attached). Since
congenital shunts are believed to be hereditary, dog breeders need to be aware of early signs of liver disease so that
potential carriers of the problem can be identified and eliminated from the breeding program.
In an affected dog the liver is not getting an adequate blood supply and this causes the dog to be smaller than
normal. The liver is also not able to properly rid itself of all the toxins that it does manage to take in through the
capillary system. Protein is the major culprit. Dogs with liver shunt are not able to assimilate the protein from food.
Therefore most often the shunt is found because the dog suffers seizures from the build-up of toxins.
Clinical signs of PSS are generally noticed before 1 year of age however, it is not uncommon for symptoms to
appear at around 2 years of age.
Warning signs are: head pressing, thin and/or poorly grown (small) dogs, depression, vomiting, ataxia, aimless
walking or compulsive pacing, circling, disorientation (weaving and bobbing) and apparent blindness. Seizures are
another possible sign of this problem. Uncharacteristic aggression can also be a sign. All these symptoms may be
multiple or singular to this disease.
Animals that are showing signs of liver disease should have a complete blood count, serum chemistry screen, and
urinalysis performed. If the test results are suggestive of a liver disorder, the animal's bile acids should be measured.
Bile acids are considered to be the most sensitive screening test for portosystemic shunts. Two (2) blood samples are
drawn, the first after a twelve (12) hour fast, the second sample is drawn 2 hours after a high protein meal. Elevation
of bile acids (especially the second sample) is highly suggestive of a portosystemic shunt (rather than any other
cause of liver disease). These patients should have the diagnosis of PSS confirmed.
Diagnostic tests include radiographs, ultrasonography and intravenous portovenography. Portovenography
involves anesthetizing the patient, injecting radio opaque dye intravenously, and taking radiographs of the liver as
the dye is circulating through the liver vasculature.
Treatment of choice is surgery to tie off the abnormal vessel or to place a metal band around it so it is eventually
occluded.( Ameroid Constrictor)
SYMPTOMS:
Prolonged recovery after anesthesia, or excessive sedation after administration of tranquilizer or anticonvulsant.,
anorexia, lethargy, circling, pacing, behavioral changes, blindness, seizures, vomiting (intermittent), diarrhea
(intermittent), stunted growth or failure to gain weight.
MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT:
Portosystemic Shunts
Info and animated diagram
http://www.vetsurgerycentral.com/pss.htm
The University of Tennesee Portosystemic Shunts
http://www.vet.utk.edu/clinical/sacs/shunt/
Dr. Karen Tobias
http://www.vet.utk.edu/faculty/tobias.shtml#Education
Liver Shunt Info
http://livershunt.com/
Liver Disease Signs Symptoms and Diagnosis
http://www.candog.com/cavaliers/Health/Liver_Disease_Signs_Symptoms_Diagnosis.htm
Blood Chemistry Levels Normal Ranges for Dogs
http://www.thepetcenter.com/pha/cp.html
Understanding your Dogs Blood Work
http://www.bichonfriseusa.com/caninebloodwork.htm
The Ins and Outs of Pedigree Analysis, Genetic Diversity, and Genetic Disease Control by Jerold Bell, DVM
(Director of the Clinical Veterinary Genetics course for Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine and National
Project Administrator for numerous genetic disease control programs of pure-bred dogs).
The Ins and Outs of Pedigree Analysis, Genetic Diversity, and Genetic Disease Control
http://siriusdog.com/articles/bell-pedigree-analysis-genetic-diversity.htm
Control of Genetic Disease by Dr. George A. Padgett, DVM (Veterinary Pathologist at Michigan State University
with special interest in canine genetics and what role breed clubs play in the control of the genetic diseases in their
particular breed).
http://www.workingdogs.com/doc0031.htm
*The Basics*
A porto-systemic shunt is an abnormal vessel that allows blood to bypass the liver. As a result the blood is not
cleansed by one of the bodies filters: the liver.
GENETIC KNOWLEDGE AND TESTING:
Mode of inheritance:
Polygenic
Age of onset:
Under one (1) year of age.
Portosystemic shunting is a term used to describe abnormal blood flow between the liver and the body. The liver is
responsible for detoxifying the body, metabolizing nutrients and eliminating drugs. When the body’s blood flow
bypasses the liver, as is the case with portosystemic shunts (PSS), a multitude of signs may appear.
There are two types of shunting: intra hepatic (the vein is within the liver) and extra hepatic (not attached). Since
congenital shunts are believed to be hereditary, dog breeders need to be aware of early signs of liver disease so that
potential carriers of the problem can be identified and eliminated from the breeding program.
In an affected dog the liver is not getting an adequate blood supply and this causes the dog to be smaller than
normal. The liver is also not able to properly rid itself of all the toxins that it does manage to take in through the
capillary system. Protein is the major culprit. Dogs with liver shunt are not able to assimilate the protein from food.
Therefore most often the shunt is found because the dog suffers seizures from the build-up of toxins.
Clinical signs of PSS are generally noticed before 1 year of age however, it is not uncommon for symptoms to
appear at around 2 years of age.
Warning signs are: head pressing, thin and/or poorly grown (small) dogs, depression, vomiting, ataxia, aimless
walking or compulsive pacing, circling, disorientation (weaving and bobbing) and apparent blindness. Seizures are
another possible sign of this problem. Uncharacteristic aggression can also be a sign. All these symptoms may be
multiple or singular to this disease.
Animals that are showing signs of liver disease should have a complete blood count, serum chemistry screen, and
urinalysis performed. If the test results are suggestive of a liver disorder, the animal's bile acids should be measured.
Bile acids are considered to be the most sensitive screening test for portosystemic shunts. Two (2) blood samples are
drawn, the first after a twelve (12) hour fast, the second sample is drawn 2 hours after a high protein meal. Elevation
of bile acids (especially the second sample) is highly suggestive of a portosystemic shunt (rather than any other
cause of liver disease). These patients should have the diagnosis of PSS confirmed.
Diagnostic tests include radiographs, ultrasonography and intravenous portovenography. Portovenography
involves anesthetizing the patient, injecting radio opaque dye intravenously, and taking radiographs of the liver as
the dye is circulating through the liver vasculature.
Treatment of choice is surgery to tie off the abnormal vessel or to place a metal band around it so it is eventually
occluded.( Ameroid Constrictor)
SYMPTOMS:
Prolonged recovery after anesthesia, or excessive sedation after administration of tranquilizer or anticonvulsant.,
anorexia, lethargy, circling, pacing, behavioral changes, blindness, seizures, vomiting (intermittent), diarrhea
(intermittent), stunted growth or failure to gain weight.
MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT:
Portosystemic Shunts
Info and animated diagram
http://www.vetsurgerycentral.com/pss.htm
The University of Tennesee Portosystemic Shunts
http://www.vet.utk.edu/clinical/sacs/shunt/
Dr. Karen Tobias
http://www.vet.utk.edu/faculty/tobias.shtml#Education
Liver Shunt Info
http://livershunt.com/
Liver Disease Signs Symptoms and Diagnosis
http://www.candog.com/cavaliers/Health/Liver_Disease_Signs_Symptoms_Diagnosis.htm
Blood Chemistry Levels Normal Ranges for Dogs
http://www.thepetcenter.com/pha/cp.html
Understanding your Dogs Blood Work
http://www.bichonfriseusa.com/caninebloodwork.htm
The Ins and Outs of Pedigree Analysis, Genetic Diversity, and Genetic Disease Control by Jerold Bell, DVM
(Director of the Clinical Veterinary Genetics course for Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine and National
Project Administrator for numerous genetic disease control programs of pure-bred dogs).
The Ins and Outs of Pedigree Analysis, Genetic Diversity, and Genetic Disease Control
http://siriusdog.com/articles/bell-pedigree-analysis-genetic-diversity.htm
Control of Genetic Disease by Dr. George A. Padgett, DVM (Veterinary Pathologist at Michigan State University
with special interest in canine genetics and what role breed clubs play in the control of the genetic diseases in their
particular breed).
http://www.workingdogs.com/doc0031.htm
| We welcome you to contact us at the following email address with any questions or comments you may have! We are always looking for equally dedicated people to join us in our endeavor any questions or comments you may have! We are always looking for equally dedicated people to join us in our endeavor to protect and preserve the Biewer. For consideration for membership please contact us at the following email addresses! biewerbreedclubint@yahoo.com |
| Biewer Breed Club International |
| Liver Shunt Information |
