Portosystemic shunts tend to be common in cats. Hepatic encephalopathy
and ptyalism are very common in cats with portosystemic shunts. Serum
bile acid assay is an accurate method of establishing abnormal liver
function in these cats. When combined with the history and clinical si
gns, serum bile acid assay leads to a presumptive diagnosis of portosy
stemic shunts. Positive-contrast portography confirms portosystemic sh
unting, which in cats is usually a single extrahepatic portacaval shun
t. Results of surgical ligation in cats are less favorable than in dog
s, with only approximately 59% of feline patients having a good to exc
ellent outcome.