Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Older Maltese dog with multiple liver blood vessel shunts causing
By Yoda, Shinichiro et al.·Published in The Journal of veterinary medical science·2026·School of Veterinary Medicine, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: A canine case of multiple intrahepatic portosystemic shunts.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 10-year-old spayed female Maltese was brought to the vet because she was not eating well, losing weight, drinking a lot of water, and staggering when she walked. Blood tests showed high levels of liver enzymes and ammonia, indicating liver issues. A special imaging test suggested there were multiple abnormal blood vessels in her liver, but it couldn't confirm the diagnosis. During surgery, the vet found several small blood vessels that were causing the problem, leading to a diagnosis of multiple intrahepatic portosystemic shunts. The vet decided on medical management to help manage her condition.
People also search for: Maltese dog weight loss · dog staggering gait · portosystemic shunt treatment in dogs
Abstract
An elderly, spayed female Maltese dog (10 years 3 months, 2.2 kg) presented with hyporexia, weight loss, polydipsia, and a staggering gait. Serum biochemistry analysis revealed increased aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, ammonia (226 μg/dL), and fasting total bile acids (130 μmol/L). Contrast-enhanced CT showed multiple clusters of contrast enhancement within the hepatic parenchyma; however, discrete shunt vessels could not be clearly identified, and a definitive diagnosis could not be established based on CT alone. Intraoperative jejunal venous portography revealed numerous microvascular clusters connecting portal branches to the hepatic vein and caudal vena cava. The portal pressure was 7 mmHg. Based on these findings, multiple intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (MIPSS) were diagnosed, and medical management was selected.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41922215/