Small Dog Breeds are at Risk to PSS

Yorkies are the lovable little dogs that are featured on British souvenirs and are owned and loved by thousands in the United States. These little pups can nuzzle their way into your heart with their short, stocky bodies and perky ears. Yet if you have a Yorkie, you should keep your eyes peeled for symptoms of portosystemic shunt (PSS.) This illness is common in small dog breeds, affecting mainly Yorkies, Shih Tzus, and Tibetan Spaniels. The illness can also affect cats such as Persians, Himalayans, and mixed breeds. In bigger dogs, shunts tend to be found inside the liver, but they are just as dangerous when discovered on the outside.

Congenital PSS is a failure of the circulatory system of the liver. The illness is normally a birth defect that causes the portal vein to carry toxins form the intestines to the liver. The vein is supposed to clean the blood, but won’t function successfully when the dog has PSS. Instead, the vein will bypass the liver, and the toxins won’t be removed when it is necessary. The disease will manifest itself in poor growth, confusion, common vomiting, and seizures. Most of the time the PSS can be corrected with surgery, so you will want to take your dog to the vet top get a diagnosis if you are worried that he or she might have this illness.

The symptoms of PSS often occur at about six months of age. Puppies with the sickness will fail to gain weight, and may show signs of hepatic encephalopathy. This is a condition when the toxins which are normally removed by the liver accumulate in the blood. This impairs the function of the brain cells, and will cause your dog to appear mentally unaware. If you need more information about PSS, then talk to a veterinarian near you today. You our directory to find a loyal veterinarian that can help you today.