Archive Case #92: Canine Portosystemic Shunt

Clinical Clues

1. A young small breed dog is presented for poor growth and intermittent episodes of staring and disorientation after meals.
2. The owner says the dog sometimes presses its head and then improves again by the next day.
3. Body size is smaller than expected for age and breed.
4. Bloodwork reveals low urea and low albumin, and ammonium biurate crystals are present in the urine.
5. Bile acid testing is markedly abnormal.
6. Abnormal blood flow bypassing the liver can cause hepatic encephalopathy and stunted growth in young dogs.

Diagnosis

Canine Portosystemic Shunt

This case is most consistent with Canine Portosystemic Shunt because the dog has postprandial neurologic signs, poor growth, and biochemical evidence of reduced hepatic processing. The most important clues are the bile acid result and ammonium biurate crystals, which make primary brain disease less likely.

Educational Use

Vetdle archive cases are educational veterinary games for diagnostic reasoning practice. They do not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional medical guidance.