Within the liver the blood is detoxified and sent to the vena cava, which then carries the blood to the heart, and onward via the circulatory system. The result is a poisoning of the body's tissues and cells. There are several tools available to the veterinarian to aid in the diagnosis of this condition. Among these tools is urine analysis by cystocentisis, x-rays, ultrasound and rectal portal scintigraphy. Care of a portosystemic shunt can only be through surgery.
Medical management is available in the event of inoperable shunts.
Long-term medical management can be difficult, expensive, and impractical. Again, the prognosis has to be evaluated case by case. Success in the treatment of portosystemic shunts relies heavily upon early diagnosis, and immediate treatment. Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication shall be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without written permission from Bark Bytes, Inc.