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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Young German shepherd with liver vein scarring causing brain symptoms

By Fredholm, Dan·Published in The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne·2009·Atlantic Veterinary Hospital·View original on PubMed

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Original publication title: Multiple acquired extrahepatic portosystemic shunts secondary to veno-occlusive disease in a young German shepherd.

Species:
dog

Plain-English summary

An 11-month-old German shepherd was brought in for unusual behavior, which raised concerns for potential health issues. After running tests and performing surgery to examine the liver, the vet found a condition called veno-occlusive disease, which caused high blood pressure in the liver and led to the formation of abnormal blood vessels. This condition was likely present from birth. Treatment options for this serious issue would typically involve managing symptoms and addressing the underlying liver problems, but the specific outcome for this dog wasn't detailed.

People also search for: German shepherd behavior problems · dog liver disease symptoms · puppy liver shunt treatment

Abstract

An 11-month-old German shepherd presented with behavioral abnormalities. Histopathologic analysis of liver biopsies taken during exploratory laparotomy revealed veno-occlusive disease caused by fibrosis of the hepatic central veins leading to secondary portal hypertension, development of shunting vessels, and hepatic encephalopathy. The fibrosis was likely congenital in origin.

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Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19794875/