Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Surgery helped a dog with portal vein underdevelopment and high blood
By Shin, Joon-Ho & Han, Hyun-Jung·Published in Frontiers in veterinary science·2025·Department of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, South Korea·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Case Report: Successful surgical intervention for portal hypertension caused by primary hypoplasia of the portal vein in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
An 11-year-old Miniature Poodle was brought to the vet with severe belly swelling (ascites) that had lasted for three weeks. After various tests, the dog was diagnosed with portal hypertension caused by a condition called primary hypoplasia of the portal vein, which affects blood flow in the liver. Despite trying medications and a special diet, the swelling didn't improve, so the vet performed surgery to remove the spleen and take a liver biopsy. After surgery, the dog had some temporary issues but eventually, the swelling went away completely, and follow-up showed that the dog's condition had improved significantly.
People also search for: dog ascites treatment · Miniature Poodle portal hypertension · dog spleen removal recovery
Abstract
An 11-year-old, 5-kg castrated male Miniature Poodle presented with persistent ascites lasting 3 weeks. A thorough physical examination, comprehensive blood tests, and diagnostic imaging (including radiography, ultrasonography, and computed tomography) revealed ascites, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, and decreased portal vein velocity (5-6.6 cm/s), leading to a diagnosis of portal hypertension. Prehepatic and posthepatic causes were ruled out, and the patient was diagnosed with intrahepatic portal hypertension. Despite conservative management with diuretics and a sodium-restricted diet, severe ascites persisted. A surgical liver biopsy via exploratory laparotomy was performed to determine the specific cause of intrahepatic portal hypertension. Concurrently, splenectomy was carried out after identifying splenomegaly and congestion, which were likely associated with portal hypertension. Histological examination of the spleen revealed mild-to-moderate congestion and complex nodular hyperplasia, while liver examination confirmed a diagnosis of primary hypoplasia of the portal vein (PHPV). Postoperatively, the dog experienced a transient increase in ascites and complications such as anorexia, mild anemia, and hypoalbuminemia, all of which were managed with supportive care. From postoperative day 4, the ascites completely resolved, and the portal vein velocity normalized (17-18 cm/s). Four months post-surgery, the patient showed no further signs of ascites. This case report describes the diagnosis and successful management of PHPV-induced portal hypertension in a dog, highlighting the efficacy of splenectomy in resolving ascites and improving portal vein hemodynamics in cases of PHPV in dogs.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40496922/