Portal ScintigraphyIn a normal dog or cat, there is a vessel or group of vessels that runs into the liver to filter the blood. In a dog or cat with a Porto-Systemic Shunt (PSS), the vessel(s) circumvent the liver. As a result, the blood is not detoxified by the liver, producing a build-up of toxins in their system. These high levels of toxins sometimes become more apparent after a meal and can include symptoms such as seizures, ataxia (wobbly, irregular walking), and stunted growth when compared with litter mates. This is by no means an exhaustive list of the potential symptoms this abnormality can produce. Other disease processes can cause similar clinical signs and a thorough work-up by the referring veterinarian, as well as this diagnostic test, will help to rule out (or in) other disease processes. By injecting a small amount of radioactivity into the spleen, we can follow this radioactivity in a dynamic, real-time 2 minute scan and determine its path to the heart.
Most of our patients will be released the same day as their procedure, but some may require overnight hospitalization. Due to California State Law, a pet cannot be released immediately after their procedure. A “holding period” is required to allow the radioactivity to decay before a patient is released from the hospital. Most dogs and cats with a PSS are young and have had this abnormality since birth. This is also likely to be an inherited condition and breeding these animals is not recommended. We look forward to working with veterinarians to help determine if this diagnostic test is recommended for a patient with certain clinical signs. Home | Staff | Continuing Ed | FAQ | Location | Contact |
