Portal Vascular Abnormalities in dogs

Bannasidhe

Recently began a thread about a little corgi x JRT I am long-term fostering with liver problems. After some research it looks like the little guy has a Portal Vascular Abnormality. One vet has already diagnosed this - will be getting second opinion to confirm.

Usually occurs when a portal-systemic shunt allows blood to pass from the digestive tract directly into the general circulation without being detoxified by the liver first. Usually a congenital defect restricted to young dogs and puppies, but can be the result of hepatic cirrhosis. Symptoms are never consistent, but many dogs are young, malnourished, chronically sick, poorly tolerant of toxins, drugs, and anesthetics, and tending to eat strange items (pica). Diagnosis is based on physical exam, history, laboratory tests, and specialized X-rays showing blood flow through the liver. Treatment is surgical correction of the circulatory abnormality to force the blood into the liver prior to it entering the general circulation.

http://canineliverdiseasefoundation.org/?cat=8



I was wondering if anyone here has experience of this condition (apparently it can be common in Miniature Schnauzers, Yorkshire Terriers, Cairn Terriers, Maltese, Scottish Terriers, Pugs, Irish Wolfhounds, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, and Poodles) and can offer any advice re:diet, possibility of surgery, vet surgeons with experience of treating this condition and ball park cost (so I can start saving if it is possible...!

Little guy is 7 months old and it seems our best chance of giving him a long life is if we can get him treated before he is 1 so if someone can give me an idea of cost it would help me work out where the hell I can get the funds.

jimf

sorry i can be of no help what so ever but fair play to you for the care and attention
you are so obviously giving this little guy

Bannasidhe

jimf wrote: »

sorry i can be of no help what so ever but fair play to you for the care and attention
you are so obviously giving this little guy

Thanks jim - guess I was hoping a boardsie had some experience so I'd be a bit forewarned/forearmed but it is a rare enough condition. Even the Refuge people with the 100s of dogs they have seen never heard of it.

Long shot asking but worth a try .

jimf

anybody in ucd vet college up to date on this condition if its such a rare condition maybe somebody might be able to get some funding for you and take this case on as an advanced student final year study case

Bannasidhe

jimf wrote: »

anybody in ucd vet college up to date on this condition if its such a rare condition maybe somebody might be able to get some funding for you and take this case on as an advanced student final year study case

That's a good idea! Will contact them.

Stheno

I seem to remember one of my vets operating to treat liver shunt in a wolfhound pup, it belonged to a lady involved in rescue, I can check for you Monday if you wish?

Bannasidhe

Stheno wrote: »

I seem to remember one of my vets operating to treat liver shunt in a wolfhound pup, it belonged to a lady involved in rescue, I can check for you Monday if you wish?

That would be great.

We have now had confirmation of the diagnosis. Little Scooby does indeed have a liver shunt.

Cath54

Sorry to ressurect old thread. Our Yorkshire terrier puppy has been diagnosed with extrahepatic liver shunt. He is 14 weeks old so we only have him couple of weeks. Apart from UCD does anyone know of a vet in Dublin/Meath who performs this type of surgery? Has anyone had an experience with a dog with this condition, and what was the outcome?

Bannasidhe

Cath54 wrote: »

Sorry to ressurect old thread. Our Yorkshire terrier puppy has been diagnosed with extrahepatic liver shunt. He is 14 weeks old so we only have him couple of weeks. Apart from UCD does anyone know of a vet in Dublin/Meath who performs this type of surgery? Has anyone had an experience with a dog with this condition, and what was the outcome?

More and more vets are doing the surgery now. Don't know any in the Meath area, sorry, but I know at least 3 in Cork do it.
I'm the OP on this thread and I'm pleased to say Scooby came through it all with flying colours and was 9 last April. He's snoozing next to me now.

Cath54

Bannasidhe wrote: »

More and more vets are doing the surgery now. Don't know any in the Meath area, sorry, but I know at least 3 in Cork do it.
I'm the OP on this thread and I'm pleased to say Scooby came through it all with flying colours and was 9 last April. He's snoozing next to me now.

That's wonderful to hear. Thank you for your reply. Its reassuring to hear the surgery was successful. We'd rather give this little guy a chance instead of sending him back to the breeder. And tho we know you have to expect some expense when you have a pet, we're a bit worried at the huge costs involved.
And is your Scooby still on special diet/meds? Or did the surgery solve all that?
Thanks again.

Bannasidhe

Cath54 wrote: »

That's wonderful to hear. Thank you for your reply. Its reassuring to hear the surgery was successful. We'd rather give this little guy a chance instead of sending him back to the breeder. And tho we know you have to expect some expense when you have a pet, we're a bit worried at the huge costs involved.
And is your Scooby still on special diet/meds? Or did the surgery solve all that?
Thanks again.

We have him, and all our dogs, on a raw diet. Tbh, what prompted that was reading the ingredients in commercial dog food and deciding I couldn't risk them on a dog with an underdeveloped liver.
Nowdays Scoobs is just a normal doggo with a ghost of a scar on his tummy and a metal clip that shows up on x-ray but is attached to absolutely nothing. I've never regretted getting it done. We've had 7 years we never thought we'd get and planning on at least 7 more.

Springwell

I'd be inclined to go for UCD or another referral level clinic for the surgery as the anesthesia for the surgery can be quite complicated/intensive as many of the drugs used for general anesthesia are metabolised by the liver. The Veterinary Specialist Clinic in Summerhill might be a good option of your own vet will refer you. Their two soft tissue surgeons are very, very experienced.

Cath54

Springwell wrote: »

I'd be inclined to go for UCD or another referral level clinic for the surgery as the anesthesia for the surgery can be quite complicated/intensive as many of the drugs used for general anesthesia are metabolised by the liver. The Veterinary Specialist Clinic in Summerhill might be a good option of your own vet will refer you. Their two soft tissue surgeons are very, very experienced.

Thank you so much for this information. I will get on to my vet tomorrow and ask for a referral to the vet specialist clinic in Summerhill.