PORTOSYSTEMIC SHUNT
(Liver Shunt)
A 'Shunt' is when the blood by-passes, or is shunted past, the liver
and so is not cleansed.
Shunts may appear at an early age, perhaps 6 weeks old and
usually before 12 months old, but later cases have been reported.
Symptoms of a Shunt are many and vary greatly. Often the first
signs are lack of co-ordination; pacing around in circles; pressing
the head against a wall; personality change; abdominal pain;
retarded growth; and general decline in health.
Some Shunts are operable depending on how the liver is by-passed
but it is usually kinder to have a sufferer put to sleep. A few cases
can be controlled by careful diet.
The cause of Shunts has not been proven but it would be most
unwise to repeat the mating.
Much has been done on PSS in other breeds and the general
suspicion is that a polygenic factor is involved. This is not good
news. Although we have heard about several cases unofficially,
only two cases have been reported to the Health Watch in detail.
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