Congenital Portosystemic Shunt in a Cat

Abstract

We examined an intact male cat (age 3 and a half months) suffering from depression, ptyalism, and such upper respiratory infection signs as eye and nasal discharges and chemosis. The cat manifested high levels of plasma ammonia, alkaline phosphatase, and serum total bile acid. Jejunal vein portography under laparotomy led to a diagnosis of extrahepatic portosystemic shunt. Partial ligation of the shunt vessel resulted in some improvement in the symptoms.