Good news from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Ghent University. All pups of our latest R-litter are tested today and found free of livershunt (portosystemic shunt or PPS).
A portosystemic shunt (PSS) is an abnormal connection between the portal vascular system and systemic circulation. Blood from the abdominal organs which should be drained by the portal vein into the liver is instead shunted to the systemic circulation by the PSS. This means that a portion of the toxins, proteins and nutrients absorbed by the intestines bypass the liver and are shunted directly into the systemic circulation. There are two categories of congenital shunts, extrahepatic (outside the liver) and intrahepatic (inside the liver). While most portosystemic shunts are congenital (the dog or cat is born with the shunt), under certain circumstances portostystemic shunts may be acquired secondary to another problem with the liver (acquired shunts).
More information about portosystemic shunt in dogs: https://www.acvs.org/small-animal/portosystemic-shunts