Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Neurological signs in older dogs from congenital liver shunts
By Windsor, Rebecca Christine & Olby, Natasha J·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2007·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Congenital portosystemic shunts in five mature dogs with neurological signs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Five mature dogs were brought in for severe neurological symptoms, including trouble walking and balance issues, due to congenital portosystemic shunts, which are abnormal blood vessels that can affect liver function. Despite their age, all dogs showed improvement after receiving either medical or surgical treatment. This case highlights that even older dogs can benefit from intervention for this condition, leading to better quality of life.
People also search for: dog neurological signs treatment · portosystemic shunt in dogs · older dog balance problems · congenital liver shunt symptoms in dogs
Abstract
Congenital portosystemic shunts are a common cause of hepatic encephalopathy and are typically first identified when dogs are <2 years of age. This case series describes five dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts; the dogs were presented for severe encephalopathic signs during middle or old age. Three dogs had portoazygos shunts, and four dogs had multifocal and lateralizing neurological abnormalities, including severe gait abnormalities and vestibular signs. All five dogs responded to medical or surgical treatment, demonstrating that older animals can respond to treatment even after exhibiting severe neurological signs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17975214/