The BBCI is working hard to support and assist Breeders, Pet
Owners and Veterinarians on the most up to date
information possible in the research being performed by the
experts of Liver Shunt and MVD.
Our group of dedicated members are working diligently
towards providing others with a greater awareness of Liver
Shunt as well as helping to assist those who are interested in
education and pedigree research.
We hope to provide support, guidance, information and
direction when considering breeding pairs and the suggested
proper breeding protocol for affected dogs and litter-mates.
Open discussions and sharing of information is our main
focus on helping eliminate this highly suspected inherited
disease. Our goal is to help direct and advise other's so that
breeders can make intelligent educated choices when
breeding their dogs and culling affected dogs from their
breeding program.
Liver Shunt can strike any breed! Please help us fight this
dreaded disease.
Owners and Veterinarians on the most up to date
information possible in the research being performed by the
experts of Liver Shunt and MVD.
Our group of dedicated members are working diligently
towards providing others with a greater awareness of Liver
Shunt as well as helping to assist those who are interested in
education and pedigree research.
We hope to provide support, guidance, information and
direction when considering breeding pairs and the suggested
proper breeding protocol for affected dogs and litter-mates.
Open discussions and sharing of information is our main
focus on helping eliminate this highly suspected inherited
disease. Our goal is to help direct and advise other's so that
breeders can make intelligent educated choices when
breeding their dogs and culling affected dogs from their
breeding program.
Liver Shunt can strike any breed! Please help us fight this
dreaded disease.
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| Inspiring excellence... Leading by example! |
| Copyright Biewer Breed Club International © 2008 All rights reserved |
WHAT IS A LIVER SHUNT?
Portosystemic Shunt
*The Basics*
A porto-systemic shunt is an abnormal vessel that allows blood to bypass the liver. As
a result the blood is not cleansed by one of the bodies filters: the liver.
GENETIC KNOWLEDGE AND TESTING:
Mode of inheritance:
Polygenic
Age of onset:
Under one (1) year of age.
Portosystemic shunting is a term used to describe abnormal blood flow between the
liver and the body. The liver is responsible for detoxifying the body, metabolizing
nutrients and eliminating drugs. When the body’s blood flow bypasses the liver, as is
the case with portosystemic shunts (PSS), a multitude of signs may appear.
There are two types of shunting: intra hepatic (the vein is within the liver) and extra
hepatic (not attached). Since congenital shunts are believed to be hereditary, dog
breeders need to be aware of early signs of liver disease so that potential carriers of the
problem can be identified and eliminated from the breeding program.
In an affected dog the liver is not getting an adequate blood supply and this causes the
dog to be smaller than normal. The liver is also not able to properly rid itself of all the
toxins that it does manage to take in through the capillary system. Protein is the major
culprit. Dogs with liver shunt are not able to assimilate the protein from food.
Therefore most often the shunt is found because the dog suffers seizures from the
build-up of toxins.
Clinical signs of PSS are generally noticed before 1 year of age however, it is not
uncommon for symptoms to appear at around 2 years of age.
Warning signs are: head pressing, thin and/or poorly grown (small) dogs, depression,
vomiting, ataxia, aimless walking or compulsive pacing, circling, disorientation
(weaving and bobbing) and apparent blindness. Seizures are another possible sign of
this problem. Uncharacteristic aggression can also be a sign. All these symptoms may
be multiple or singular to this disease.
Animals that are showing signs of liver disease should have a complete blood count,
serum chemistry screen, and urinalysis performed. If the test results are suggestive of
a liver disorder, the animal's bile acids should be measured.
Bile acids are considered to be the most sensitive screening test for portosystemic
shunts. Two (2) blood samples are drawn, the first after a twelve (12) hour fast, the
second sample is drawn 2 hours after a high protein meal. Elevation of bile acids
(especially the second sample) is highly suggestive of a portosystemic shunt (rather
than any other cause of liver disease). These patients should have the diagnosis of PSS
confirmed.
Diagnostic tests include radiographs, ultrasonography and intravenous
portovenography. Portovenography involves anesthetizing the patient, injecting radio
opaque dye intravenously, and taking radiographs of the liver as the dye is circulating
through the liver vasculature.
Treatment of choice is surgery to tie off the abnormal vessel or to place a metal band
around it so it is eventually occluded.( Ameroid Constrictor)
SYMPTOMS:
Prolonged recovery after anesthesia, or excessive sedation after administration of
tranquilizer or anticonvulsant., anorexia, lethargy, circling, pacing, behavioral changes,
blindness, seizures, vomiting (intermittent), diarrhea (intermittent), stunted growth or
failure to gain weight.
MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT:
Portosystemic Shunts
Info and animated diagram
http://www.vetsurgerycentral.com/pss.htm
The University of Tennesee Portosystemic Shunts
http://www.vet.utk.edu/clinical/sacs/shunt/
Dr. Karen Tobias
http://www.vet.utk.edu/faculty/tobias.shtml#Education
Liver Shunt Info
http://livershunt.com/
Liver Disease Signs Symptoms and Diagnosis
http://www.candog.com/cavaliers/Health/Liver_Disease_Signs_Symptoms_Diagnosis.
htm
Blood Chemistry Levels Normal Ranges for Dogs
http://www.thepetcenter.com/pha/cp.html
Understanding your Dogs Blood Work
http://www.bichonfriseusa.com/caninebloodwork.htm
The Ins and Outs of Pedigree Analysis, Genetic Diversity, and Genetic Disease Control
by Jerold Bell, DVM (Director of the Clinical Veterinary Genetics course for Tufts
University School of Veterinary Medicine and National Project Administrator for
numerous genetic disease control programs of pure-bred dogs).
The Ins and Outs of Pedigree Analysis, Genetic Diversity, and Genetic Disease Control
http://siriusdog.com/articles/bell-pedigree-analysis-genetic-diversity.htm
Control of Genetic Disease by Dr. George A. Padgett, DVM (Veterinary Pathologist at
Michigan State University with special interest in canine genetics and what role breed
clubs play in the control of the genetic diseases in their particular breed).
http://www.workingdogs.com/doc0031.htm
Portosystemic Shunt
*The Basics*
A porto-systemic shunt is an abnormal vessel that allows blood to bypass the liver. As
a result the blood is not cleansed by one of the bodies filters: the liver.
GENETIC KNOWLEDGE AND TESTING:
Mode of inheritance:
Polygenic
Age of onset:
Under one (1) year of age.
Portosystemic shunting is a term used to describe abnormal blood flow between the
liver and the body. The liver is responsible for detoxifying the body, metabolizing
nutrients and eliminating drugs. When the body’s blood flow bypasses the liver, as is
the case with portosystemic shunts (PSS), a multitude of signs may appear.
There are two types of shunting: intra hepatic (the vein is within the liver) and extra
hepatic (not attached). Since congenital shunts are believed to be hereditary, dog
breeders need to be aware of early signs of liver disease so that potential carriers of the
problem can be identified and eliminated from the breeding program.
In an affected dog the liver is not getting an adequate blood supply and this causes the
dog to be smaller than normal. The liver is also not able to properly rid itself of all the
toxins that it does manage to take in through the capillary system. Protein is the major
culprit. Dogs with liver shunt are not able to assimilate the protein from food.
Therefore most often the shunt is found because the dog suffers seizures from the
build-up of toxins.
Clinical signs of PSS are generally noticed before 1 year of age however, it is not
uncommon for symptoms to appear at around 2 years of age.
Warning signs are: head pressing, thin and/or poorly grown (small) dogs, depression,
vomiting, ataxia, aimless walking or compulsive pacing, circling, disorientation
(weaving and bobbing) and apparent blindness. Seizures are another possible sign of
this problem. Uncharacteristic aggression can also be a sign. All these symptoms may
be multiple or singular to this disease.
Animals that are showing signs of liver disease should have a complete blood count,
serum chemistry screen, and urinalysis performed. If the test results are suggestive of
a liver disorder, the animal's bile acids should be measured.
Bile acids are considered to be the most sensitive screening test for portosystemic
shunts. Two (2) blood samples are drawn, the first after a twelve (12) hour fast, the
second sample is drawn 2 hours after a high protein meal. Elevation of bile acids
(especially the second sample) is highly suggestive of a portosystemic shunt (rather
than any other cause of liver disease). These patients should have the diagnosis of PSS
confirmed.
Diagnostic tests include radiographs, ultrasonography and intravenous
portovenography. Portovenography involves anesthetizing the patient, injecting radio
opaque dye intravenously, and taking radiographs of the liver as the dye is circulating
through the liver vasculature.
Treatment of choice is surgery to tie off the abnormal vessel or to place a metal band
around it so it is eventually occluded.( Ameroid Constrictor)
SYMPTOMS:
Prolonged recovery after anesthesia, or excessive sedation after administration of
tranquilizer or anticonvulsant., anorexia, lethargy, circling, pacing, behavioral changes,
blindness, seizures, vomiting (intermittent), diarrhea (intermittent), stunted growth or
failure to gain weight.
MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT:
Portosystemic Shunts
Info and animated diagram
http://www.vetsurgerycentral.com/pss.htm
The University of Tennesee Portosystemic Shunts
http://www.vet.utk.edu/clinical/sacs/shunt/
Dr. Karen Tobias
http://www.vet.utk.edu/faculty/tobias.shtml#Education
Liver Shunt Info
http://livershunt.com/
Liver Disease Signs Symptoms and Diagnosis
http://www.candog.com/cavaliers/Health/Liver_Disease_Signs_Symptoms_Diagnosis.
htm
Blood Chemistry Levels Normal Ranges for Dogs
http://www.thepetcenter.com/pha/cp.html
Understanding your Dogs Blood Work
http://www.bichonfriseusa.com/caninebloodwork.htm
The Ins and Outs of Pedigree Analysis, Genetic Diversity, and Genetic Disease Control
by Jerold Bell, DVM (Director of the Clinical Veterinary Genetics course for Tufts
University School of Veterinary Medicine and National Project Administrator for
numerous genetic disease control programs of pure-bred dogs).
The Ins and Outs of Pedigree Analysis, Genetic Diversity, and Genetic Disease Control
http://siriusdog.com/articles/bell-pedigree-analysis-genetic-diversity.htm
Control of Genetic Disease by Dr. George A. Padgett, DVM (Veterinary Pathologist at
Michigan State University with special interest in canine genetics and what role breed
clubs play in the control of the genetic diseases in their particular breed).
http://www.workingdogs.com/doc0031.htm
| We welcome you to contact us at the following email address with any questions or comments you may have! We are always looking for equally dedicated people to join us in our endeavor any questions or comments you may have! We are always looking for equally dedicated people to join us in our endeavor to protect and preserve the Biewer. For consideration for membership please contact us at the following email addresses! biewerbreedclubint@yahoo.com |