A 4-month-old male Labrador was presented for evaluation of neurological signs (pacing, circling, abnormal behavior, seizures) and diarrhea. Urinalysis showed urate crystals. Abnormalities on serum biochemistry were elevated ammonia, mildly elevated ALT (86) and ALP activity (647), hypoproteinemia, and elevated pre-and-post prandial bile acids.
Large intrahepatic shunt. This is consistent with central divisional or left divisional shunt. Second aberrant vessel decoursing caudally to the right kidney.
The right liver revealed a large, abnormal intrahepatic vessel. This is consistent with left or central divisional intrahepatic shunt. The portal vein was followed to the branching. The abnormal vessel at its widest point measured approximately 1.0 cm. A second aberrant vessel was noted caudal to the right kidney. This should be investigated during CT evaluation. This measured approximately 1.0 cm and was coursing caudally to the right kidney. Its final destination could not be assessed. The remainder of the liver was unremarkable other than mildly subnormal size. The vena cava and aorta presented a 1:1 ratio.
None
Porto-caval shunt, congenital fibrosis, primary portal vein hypoplasia
None
