Susan'sFreddie98
01-24-2001, 02:31 AM
I just read a VERY good article on this from Drs. Foster & Smith www.peteducation.com (http://www.peteducation.com) Click on 'Dogs', 'Digestive System, Liver, & Pancreas', 'Portal Caval Shunts (Liver Shunts).
What causes it is, the fetal Circulartory System develops abnormally. When the puppy is whelped, it's blood vessels DO NOT close. Instead of the blood filtering THROUGH the liver, it goes AROUND it, causing high amonia levels and toxic wastes.
All mild and severe cases are serious AND life-threatening. Without proper treatment, the life expectancy is short. The preferred treatment is surgery, to identify and close the blood vessels. Other treatment is diet and meds which may or may not work.
This is evidentally a much-discussed topic. With Mrs. F's Maggie having it, and someone else too I think, I thought I'd mention this info I read. It's wonderful that Maggie is responding well.http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif MRS. F, hope you see this.
Susan
What causes it is, the fetal Circulartory System develops abnormally. When the puppy is whelped, it's blood vessels DO NOT close. Instead of the blood filtering THROUGH the liver, it goes AROUND it, causing high amonia levels and toxic wastes.
All mild and severe cases are serious AND life-threatening. Without proper treatment, the life expectancy is short. The preferred treatment is surgery, to identify and close the blood vessels. Other treatment is diet and meds which may or may not work.
This is evidentally a much-discussed topic. With Mrs. F's Maggie having it, and someone else too I think, I thought I'd mention this info I read. It's wonderful that Maggie is responding well.http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif MRS. F, hope you see this.
Susan