Clinical and Pathological Findings of 17 Cases of Multiple Portosystemic Shunts in Cocker Spaniels

Abstract

In 17 Cocker Spaniels diagnosed as having multiple potrtosystemic shunts by ultrasonography and/or portal catheter tests, clinical signs, diagnositic findings, and the outcome of survival or death were investigated on the basis of medical records. The average age of the onset was 3 years and 6 months, and there was no sex difference. All cases had such clinical signs as weight loss (14 cases, 82%) or ascites (13 cases, 76%). In biochemical analyses, the activity of liver enzymes was high in 15- 17 cases (88-100%). An increase in the concentrations of fasting blood ammonia and fasting serum total bile acids were seen, and a decrease in the concentration of serum albumin was seen in 16 cases (94%). In ultrasonography, multiple abnormal blood vessels were found around the left kidney in 16 cases (94%). In seven dogs which underwent laparotomy, multiple abnormal blood vessels were easily seen macroscopically, and the surface of the liver appeared irregular. The most common pathologic finding was hyperplasy of the small bile ducts. The average survival period after the initial diagnosis was 604 days. Ten dogs died within 1 year. Their poor prognoses were thought to be attributable to juvenile outset, hemorrhagic bowel discharge, anemia, thrombocytopenia, increase in BUN, and development of hepatic failure.