portosystemic vascular anomaly

Liver Shunts – Small Problems that Cause Bigger Ones!

Ingested food is broken down in the intestinal tract, and subsequently nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream that travels to the liver (called the portal blood supply). The liver is the vital organ tasked with using these nutrients to store sugar and produce protein, as well as clean the blood of metabolic waste products. A … [Read more…]

Hepatic Encephalopathy: A Complex Syndrome

Hepatic encephalopathy is a multifactorial neurologic syndrome that occurs when liver dysfunction causes systemic biochemical alterations that disrupt brain metabolism. The most frequently reported cause of hepatic encephalopathy, sometimes referred to as a hepatic coma or HE, in dogs is portosystemic vascular anomalies (aka: liver shunts). There are three types of hepatic encephalopathy: Type A – … [Read more…]