×

COVID-19 Updates For Pet Owners, March 24, 2020

Ellwood & Chippewa Animal Hospitals, Cranberry Holistic Pet Care are Staffed and Open for Pet Care Needs Notice to the pet owning community of Ellwood City, Chippewa, Cranberry Township and surrounding areas: Ellwood & Chippewa Animal Hospital and Cranberry Holistic Pet Care are operating and remaining open, under the guidelines set forth by state and national regulatory agencies. The office and staff are still working diligently to provide veterinary care for your pets in need, with urgent care problems and those that need ongoing care to alleviate pain and/or suffering. We have also been advised to provide zoonotic and parasite control, so if you have a pup or kitten which needs a Rabies vaccine or tick removal, we will see your pet.

Read More
Close

Would you like to switch to the accessible version of this site?

Go to accessible site Close modal window

Don't need the accessible version of this site?

Hide the accessibility button Close modal window
Accessibility View Close toolbar
Ellwood Animal Hospital
Menu
  • Home
  • New Patient Center
    • Online Forms
    • What to Expect
    • Veterinary Resources
    • Payment Options
  • About Us
    • Meet Our Team
    • Office Hours
    • Contact Us
    • Events
  • Services
    • Laser Surgery
    • Digital X ray
    • Massage
    • Acupuncture/ Alt
    • Rehabilitative Therapy
    • Chiropractic
  • Clinics
    • Ellwood Animal Hospital
    • Chippewa Animal Hospital
    • Cranberry Holistic Pet Care
  • Veterinary Careers
    • DVM Openings
    • Staff Openings
  • EAH Blog
  • Veterinary Topics
    • We Help Your Pet With
      • Chronic Conditions
      • Digestive and Oral Health
      • Diseases and Viruses
      • Pests and Parasites
      • Orthopedics
    • Today's Veterinarian
    • Choosing Your Pet
      • Birds
      • Cats
      • Dogs
      • Ferrets
      • Rabbits
      • Reptiles
        • Lizards
        • Turtles
    • Living With Your Pet
      • Bringing Your Pet Home
      • Providing Care
      • Travel
      • Saying Goodbye
    • Finding Your Pet
    • Newsletter Library
      • Tips for Pet Owners
      • Fun with Pets
      • Equine
      • Visiting the Vet
      • Unbelievable Pets
      • Seasonal Topics
      • Pet Dangers
      • Nutrition & Food
      • Recognizing Illness
      • Cats
      • Keeping Pets Healthy
      • Fleas & Parasites
      • Behavior & Training
    • Video Newsroom
      • Health Topics
      • Technology and Science
      • Other Interests
    • Client Survey
    • Pets4Kids
    • Feline

Ellwood Animal Hospital

728 Lawrence Avenue

Ellwood City, PA 16117 US

724-758-8882

.
No form settings found. Please configure it.
  • Home >
  • Articles >
  • We Help Your Pet With >
  • Liver Shunt

Liver Shunt

  • Created in We Help Your Pet With
Image of dog laying down.

A liver shunt is also named a PSS, portosystemic shunt, portacaval shunt or portosystemic vascular anomaly. This abnormality occurs when a pet's venous blood from the intestine bypasses the liver. In the normal pet, blood vessels pick up nutrients from ingested material in the intestine and carry it to the liver to be processed. In the case of a shunt, an abnormal blood vessel carries this blood around the liver and dumps the nutrients directly into the general circulation. Toxins build up in the bloodstream as a result. The pet can be born with the shunt (congenital) or can develop it later (acquired).

Breeds at increased risk for congenital shunts include Cairn Terriers, Yorkshire Terriers, Maltese, Irish Wolfhounds, Himalayans and Persians. An acquired shunt can develop in any breed and is usually caused by liver problems due to toxins, hepatitis, infections, inflammation, etc.

Symptoms of a liver shunt include stunted growth, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, unresponsiveness, seizures, disorientation, poor skin and coat, excessive drinking and urination. Some pets will have a single sign and some with have several.

The diagnosis is made with blood tests, urinalysis and imaging tests (radiographs and/or ultrasounds). A liver function test called bile acids is usually very suggestive for a liver shunt when the values are very high. Another diagnostic test that can be performed is nuclear scintigraphy, which must be done at a referral specialty facility. Yet another possible diagnostic test that can be performed is a CT scan.

The treatment and how well the pet responds are dependent on many things including the location and severity of the shunt. Some pets will do well for long periods of time with medical management only. Medical management includes a low protein diet, antibiotics and lactulose. Surgical repair is commonly done for congenital shunts and again the success is dependent on the location and severity of the shunt.

  • We Help Your Pet With
    • Chronic Conditions
    • Digestive and Oral Health
    • Diseases and Viruses
    • Pests and Parasites
    • Orthopedics
  • Today's Veterinarian
  • Choosing Your Pet
    • Birds
    • Cats
    • Dogs
    • Ferrets
    • Rabbits
    • Reptiles
      • Lizards
      • Turtles
  • Living With Your Pet
    • Bringing Your Pet Home
    • Providing Care
    • Travel
    • Saying Goodbye
  • Finding Your Pet
  • Newsletter Library
    • Tips for Pet Owners
    • Fun with Pets
    • Equine
    • Visiting the Vet
    • Unbelievable Pets
    • Seasonal Topics
    • Pet Dangers
    • Nutrition & Food
    • Recognizing Illness
    • Cats
    • Keeping Pets Healthy
    • Fleas & Parasites
    • Behavior & Training
  • Video Newsroom
    • Health Topics
    • Technology and Science
    • Other Interests
  • Client Survey
  • Pets4Kids
  • Feline

The doctors and staff of our animal hospitals are here in service to the community. Please let us know how we can help and know that our prayers are with you and your families.


"[We] would like to thank you all and Dr. Jones for the great presentation today! He was very informative and so willing to answer everyone's questions! Gee, we had him talking for almost 2 & 1/2 hours! Everyone learned and his presentation was extremely well received! If your office would ever like to collaborate again, please let me know! Thank you very much!"
Renee Lauer, President
The Bichon Frise Club of Western Pennsylvania

Location

Find us on the map

Office Hours

Our Regular Schedule

Ellwood

Monday:

9:00 am-8:00 pm

Tuesday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

9:00 am-8:00 pm

Thursday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

9:00 am-1:00 pm

Sunday:

Closed

Chippewa

Monday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Tuesday:

9:00 am-8:00 pm

Wednesday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

2:00 pm-8:00 pm

Friday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

9:00 am-1:00 pm

Sunday:

Closed

Cranberry

Monday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

11:00 am-7:00 pm

Thursday:

2:00 pm-6:00 pm

Friday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

8:00 am-1:00 pm

Sunday:

Closed

  • Copyright © 2020 MH Sub I, LLC dba iMatrix.
  • Admin Log In
  • Site Map