Heal BuckleyBlue the IrishWolfhound
Donation protected
Hello! Allow me to introduce Blue, a darling, playful 15 week old Irish Wolfhound puppy who was recently diagnosed with a single intrahepatic congenital portosystemic shunt (PSS) and Hyperammonemia.
Intrahepatic (inside the liver) portosystemic shunts (PSS) are abnormal connection between the portal vascular system and systemic circulation. Blood from the abdominal organs which should be drained by the portal vein into the liver is instead shunted to the systemic circulation by the PSS. This means that a portion of the toxins, proteins and nutrients absorbed by the intestines bypass the liver and are shunted directly into the systemic circulation.
In a normal dog, the blood that exits the intestines, spleen, and pancreas enters the portal vein, which then takes the blood to the liver. The liver metabolizes and detoxifies this blood.
If a shunt is present, the liver is deprived of factors that enhance liver development, which results in failure of the liver to reach normal size (hepatic atrophy).
If left untreated, the lack of normal liver function combined with circulating toxins and proteins can lead to issues with the central nervous system including ataxia, seizures, blindness and head pressing.
Dr. Karen Becker discusses the problem of liver shunts – what they are, what causes them, and what to do if you suspect your pet has the condition. Liver Shunts in Dogs
Info on Liver Shunts
The Internal Medicine specialists at Texas A&M University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) believe that surgery is the best treatment option for long term success. The aim of surgery is to close down the shunt vessel as far as possible, and stop the flow of blood by-passing the liver.
Medical therapy is used to stabilize patients prior to surgery, and for long-term management in which either surgery is not performed or surgery cannot completely close down the shunt vessel.
Currently, the most commonly utilized minimal interventional technique for single intrahepatic shunts is the percutaneous transjugular coil embolization (PTCE) technique. This is where a catheter-guided stent and multiple coils are placed through the jugular vein into the aberrant vessel, slowly causing a clot to form that then narrows and hopefully blocks the shunt vessel. This slower occlusion is preferred, as compared to direct surgical ligation, so that the liver has time to adjust to the increasing pressures within it as a result. Sometimes multiple coils are needed to fully occlude the vessel, and sometimes there are complications such as coil migration or multiple acquired extrahepatic shunts developing after successful occlusion of the shunt vessel. Mortality rates associated with an intrahepatic shunt repair using this interventional technique have been reported to be as low as 5-10%. However, it is important to realize that many dogs will still need medical therapy even if the coiling technique was a "success".
Additionally, there are complications associated with the coiling in that 30% of patients will need a second procedure and there is a risk that the coils can move to aberrant locations.
The procedure will be done at Texas A&M University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) by a team of surgeons, internists, and cardiologists; the cost for the first procedure is approximately $4000-5000 and the second is $1200-2500.
Until Blue is old enough to undergo surgery, at around 9-10 months, he requires medical management comprised of daily antibiotics (amoxicillin) and a stool softener (lactulose) to decrease the production and absorption of ammonia from the intestines. In addition, Blue needs regular checkups every few weeks at Texas A&M VMTH to monitor the ammonia level in his body.
Thanks for stopping by to hear Blue's story. We appreciate your interest in helping heal our sweet Baby Blue :)
All proceeds raised will be used to fund Blue's treatment and cost of surgery. In the case that excess funds are available, they will be donated to fund liver shunt research. Our hope is to expand research in this field that will one day lead to the prevention of PSS in Irish Wolfhounds and other wonderful breeds!
Please feel free to share Blue's story with others that may be interested in helping him, and/or funding research to expand our knowledge on liver shunts.
Intrahepatic (inside the liver) portosystemic shunts (PSS) are abnormal connection between the portal vascular system and systemic circulation. Blood from the abdominal organs which should be drained by the portal vein into the liver is instead shunted to the systemic circulation by the PSS. This means that a portion of the toxins, proteins and nutrients absorbed by the intestines bypass the liver and are shunted directly into the systemic circulation.
In a normal dog, the blood that exits the intestines, spleen, and pancreas enters the portal vein, which then takes the blood to the liver. The liver metabolizes and detoxifies this blood.
If a shunt is present, the liver is deprived of factors that enhance liver development, which results in failure of the liver to reach normal size (hepatic atrophy).
If left untreated, the lack of normal liver function combined with circulating toxins and proteins can lead to issues with the central nervous system including ataxia, seizures, blindness and head pressing.
Dr. Karen Becker discusses the problem of liver shunts – what they are, what causes them, and what to do if you suspect your pet has the condition. Liver Shunts in Dogs
Info on Liver Shunts
The Internal Medicine specialists at Texas A&M University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) believe that surgery is the best treatment option for long term success. The aim of surgery is to close down the shunt vessel as far as possible, and stop the flow of blood by-passing the liver.
Medical therapy is used to stabilize patients prior to surgery, and for long-term management in which either surgery is not performed or surgery cannot completely close down the shunt vessel.
Currently, the most commonly utilized minimal interventional technique for single intrahepatic shunts is the percutaneous transjugular coil embolization (PTCE) technique. This is where a catheter-guided stent and multiple coils are placed through the jugular vein into the aberrant vessel, slowly causing a clot to form that then narrows and hopefully blocks the shunt vessel. This slower occlusion is preferred, as compared to direct surgical ligation, so that the liver has time to adjust to the increasing pressures within it as a result. Sometimes multiple coils are needed to fully occlude the vessel, and sometimes there are complications such as coil migration or multiple acquired extrahepatic shunts developing after successful occlusion of the shunt vessel. Mortality rates associated with an intrahepatic shunt repair using this interventional technique have been reported to be as low as 5-10%. However, it is important to realize that many dogs will still need medical therapy even if the coiling technique was a "success".
Additionally, there are complications associated with the coiling in that 30% of patients will need a second procedure and there is a risk that the coils can move to aberrant locations.
The procedure will be done at Texas A&M University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) by a team of surgeons, internists, and cardiologists; the cost for the first procedure is approximately $4000-5000 and the second is $1200-2500.
Until Blue is old enough to undergo surgery, at around 9-10 months, he requires medical management comprised of daily antibiotics (amoxicillin) and a stool softener (lactulose) to decrease the production and absorption of ammonia from the intestines. In addition, Blue needs regular checkups every few weeks at Texas A&M VMTH to monitor the ammonia level in his body.
Thanks for stopping by to hear Blue's story. We appreciate your interest in helping heal our sweet Baby Blue :)
All proceeds raised will be used to fund Blue's treatment and cost of surgery. In the case that excess funds are available, they will be donated to fund liver shunt research. Our hope is to expand research in this field that will one day lead to the prevention of PSS in Irish Wolfhounds and other wonderful breeds!
Please feel free to share Blue's story with others that may be interested in helping him, and/or funding research to expand our knowledge on liver shunts.
Organizer
Katie Hiller
Organizer
Houston, TX