Liver Shunt Testing

[Elfin]

I want to learn about liver shunt testing (porto-systemic shunt?).

What does the test involve?

Where can it be done in Melbourne?

From what age can you test?

Does the test need to be repeated annually (like eye etc tests do)?

How much does it cost?

We do not test for it in my breed here in Australia, and (touch-wood) it does not appear to be an issue here, but many breeders overseas are testing.

I am thinking about getting my dogs tested (they are all perfectly healthy), but just to be thorough and to keep up with international testing regimes.

Thank you in advance.

[Staff'n'Toller]

I could be wrong but I'd believe the best way to tell would be via Ultrasound. Perhaps coupled with a biochemistry profile to check liver values.

[fifi]

In wolfhounds, the pups are tested once at six/seven weeks by a pre & post prandial (feeding) blood test. Usually a bile acid test on the collected bloods.

In most cases they are tested once only for their lifetime.

fifi

[Rysup]

You would know if you were breeding portosystemic shunts.

I have bred two, slightly related and actually undiagnosed, but I am 99.9% sure they both had shunts.

Both failed to reach size, they were very small for the breed. One suffered from seizures from an early age. Their vet was treating him for diabetes and epilepsy. I felt sure he had a shunt, but no one would listen to me. He was PTS at 12 months of age, and they refused me an autopsy.

The second one was ill with gastro type symptoms from 6 months till she died, however they never told me, else I would have alerted them to have her tested. They rang me a week after she died, so again I could not get an autopsy done.

I am terribly paranoid I have this in my lines.

[~Anne~]

Pugs are prone to liver shunts. It is something very worthwhile checking for I believe. I have no personal experience with this but have a friend who has a Pug that was diagnosed at around 12 months with a live shunt. I am happy to put you in contact with them to discuss the pros cons and symptoms if you like. I am sure they would be happy to help you with any info.

[Elfin]

Thank you all for your replies.

None of my dogs have ever exhibited symptoms of a shunt, but I was wanting to test them (and future pups) so that I could be in line with what other breeders are doing overseas.

I may be jumping the gun a little, but I wish to test for every possible hereditary disease known to my breed, even though I am sure my dogs lines are free from these diseases. Overseas, my breed is regularly tested for heart problems and also Factor VII.

I would like to be able to breed healthy dogs that puppy buyers can be assured are free of hereditary disease.

Fifi, do you know if the pre-post feeding blood tests can be done by any vet or do I need to see a specialist? Do you know how much these cost?

Thank you all again.

[WoofnHoof]

In wolfhounds, the pups are tested once at six/seven weeks by a pre & post prandial (feeding) blood test. Usually a bile acid test on the collected bloods.

In most cases they are tested once only for their lifetime.

fifi

This is the test my dog had, based on those results it was followed up with diagnosis by ultrasound.

Just for interests sake what breed is it?

My dog is a husky and originally I thought it was very rare in them but in the UKC health stats for the breed it is a bit more frequent than I would have thought, although still not common.

ETA just saw your post above my dog's blood tests were taken at the vet in Toowoomba and sent to the lab in Brisbane (2 hours away) so it shouldn't need a specialist visit, the report from the lab actually stated that the figures were indicative of PSS so no specialist needed to interpret either

Edited July 19, 2009 by tkay

[Missymoo]

I want to learn about liver shunt testing (porto-systemic shunt?).

What does the test involve? 12 hour fast, blood test then fed then 1 -2 hour fast then another blood test

Where can it be done in Melbourne? Werribee is where I have all mine done - Dr Linda Abraham

From what age can you test? 7 weeks up to 12 weeks

Does the test need to be repeated annually (like eye etc tests do)? No once will tell you what you need to know, if levels are elevated they will repeat the blood testing, if numbers still increase or are still high for breed they will do a radiation ultrasound.

How much does it cost? Between $30 - $80

We do not test for it in my breed here in Australia, and (touch-wood) it does not appear to be an issue here, but many breeders overseas are testing.

I am thinking about getting my dogs tested (they are all perfectly healthy), but just to be thorough and to keep up with international testing regimes.

Thank you in advance.

Cairn Terriers are highly prone to this disorder and most breeders are checking pups now. Dr Abraham is doing reasearch into Liver shunt and ages the pups are tested in our breed.

Edited July 19, 2009 by Missymoo

[Elfin]

I have Deerhounds.

As far as I know, there are no Deerhounds in Australia with shunts, but I want to test to international standards for my breed.

(I am probably going waaaaaaaay over the top and it is probably all unnecessary, but I want to do my best for the dogs I breed )

[fifi]

Elfin, the tests are done on the same day, the pups are fasted for 12 hours & taken into the vets for a blood test, the pups are then fed & another blood test is done. It's all done in a few hours.

Most good vets are able to take the bloods and send them for pathology tests. Results are usually emailed / faxed to the vet within 48 hours.

expect to pay around the 70-100 dollar mark per puppy.

Different forms of PSS exist in different breeds, in some breeds the mode of inheritance can be traced, Some views is there are times when PSS can be polygenic - IE; a random occurance or possibly congenital origin.

So altough its fantastic to test and have a health guarantee, remember that nature's random acts can collide with our plans !

http://www.vet.utk.edu/clinical/sacs/calendar/

fifi

[Elfin]

Thank you, missymoo, that is what I was after.

Can they be tested after 12 weeks by this method?

[Elfin]

Elfin, the tests are done on the same day, the pups are fasted for 12 hours & taken into the vets for a blood test, the pups are then fed & another blood test is done. It's all done in a few hours.

Most good vets are able to take the bloods and send them for pathology tests. Results are usually emailed / faxed to the vet within 48 hours.

expect to pay around the 70-100 dollar mark per puppy.

Different forms of PSS exist in different breeds, in some breeds the mode of inheritance can be traced, Some views is there are times when PSS can be polygenic - IE; a random occurance or possibly congenital origin.

So altough its fantastic to test and have a health guarantee, remember that nature's random acts can collide with our plans !

http://www.vet.utk.edu/clinical/sacs/calendar/

fifi

Thank you, fifi. If I rule out as many inherited problems as I can, I am willing to cop nature's random acts on the chin!

So from what has been said, only pups are tested?

[becks]

yes, pups are tested as it is a problem they are born with. Symptoms will be showing after 12 weeks (depending on severity of the shunt) pup may form bladder stones, have fits etc as toxins build up in the body as the liver can't function as it should.

Caught early enough a PSS can be surgically treated with a good sucess rate, though I believe the intra systemic shunts are not treatable??

[WoofnHoof]

yes, pups are tested as it is a problem they are born with. Symptoms will be showing after 12 weeks (depending on severity of the shunt) pup may form bladder stones, have fits etc as toxins build up in the body as the liver can't function as it should.

Caught early enough a PSS can be surgically treated with a good sucess rate, though I believe the intra systemic shunts are not treatable??

Intrahepatic PSS are treatable but a higher risk as they can't put a band around the shunt they can only close it halfway and the blood supply to the liver has to be shut down too as they have to cut into it, there is a chance that the shunt will stay open and another op needed to close it down fully but my dog only had one op (thank dog one bill was enough!) and he came through brilliantly and is still going strong, he had the op at 10 months and he will be 3 next month.

I believe the intrahepatics are more common in larger breeds.

[MalteseLuna]

May I ask what breed?

I know in the USA it's a huge problem in Maltese (and I've heard its an issue in the UK an OZ as well). Unfortunately it's hard to test for in Maltese because almost all Maltese have abnormal Bile Acids test results. An ultrasound isn't a good way of diagnosing the issue as you need a highly skilled operator and even then the visibility is fairly low (so unless the shunt is huge/obvious it won't be detected). In the USA a vet (Dr. Center I think) has developed a Liver shunt test called a Protein C test - but they don't do it here and it's impossible (or very very hard) to get the samples to the USA within 24 hr. In Maltese the best method of detection in Australia is looking at Liver ALT levels, then ammonia tolerance (and bile acids), then ultrasound (though i think it's a waste), then a biopsy etc etc. The vet I talked to at Sydney Uni said that they don't do these tests unless the dog has symptoms (poor growth, sickly appearance or the ALT liver enzyme levels are extremely abnormal).

If you want more information I hear that the Sydney Uni Vet hospital is Australia's expert on liver shunts (they have one of the worlds best liver shunt surgeons).

(thankfully Luna's ALT levels although abnormal seem to be stable - and she is an otherwise healthy dog so not likely a liver shunt victim)

Another disease common in Maltese (which is often misdiagnosed as Liver Shunt... before Biopsy of course) is asymptomatic MVD.