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What Is Dog Liver Disease Shunt?
Ammonia is created from bacteria in the intestines or
if muscles are utilizing proteins as an energy source. With a
healthy dog, the ammonia is delivered through a portal vein that
goes directly to the liver. The liver will then metabolize the
ammonia to be excreted by the kidneys. The liver will detoxify
bacteria and drugs absorbed from the intestines before they get
circulated to the rest of the dog's body.
Shunts will happen when the blood supply that goes through the liver
is abnormal. The abnormal blood vessel will shunt the blood around
the liver and not through the liver. When the blood bypasses the
liver, the toxins that were normally metabolized by the liver will
flow into general circulation before they can be detoxified. The
ammonia buildup causes symptoms that are associated with liver
disease because the toxins affect your dog's brain.
A dog liver disease shunt can be multiple or single and can occur
within the liver or in the blood supply before it enters the liver.
Breeds of dogs that are larger are more prone to certain kinds of
shunts and the small breeds are associated with another type. Your
vet knows which type of shunts is present to therapeutically correct
it.
Other Diseases That Mimic Shunts
There are other diseases that can mimic shunts, so proper diagnosis
is required. These diseases include liver toxins, liver infection,
liver cancer and hepatic lipidosis. The liver is a complex organ and
needs to be precisely diagnosed before a treatment should be
administered.
Your dog is your most loyal companion and deserves to feel as good
as they can. Make sure you try to prevent any type of liver disease
by feeding the proper diet to them, keeping them free from injuries
and taking care of viruses. If you see any symptoms of liver disease
in your dog or they have reached eight years of age or more, you
should bring your dog in to have a complete blood count done to rule
out liver disease.
Once you have diagnosed this form of liver disease, you will be
given a treatment program to administer. This treatment will involve
both medicine and change in diet or lifestyle.
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