CIRCULATORY DISORDERS OF THE LIVER IN DOGS AND CATS

This paper presents a review of the literature on hepatic circulation and circulatory disorders of the liver in the dog and cat, and also in cludes a number of our own not previously published data. Circulatory disorders of the liver are frequently observed in dogs and cats. These disorders can be divided into congenital portosystemic shunts, disord ers associated with outflow disturbances, and disorders associated wit h portal hypertension. Outflow disturbances result in passive congesti on of the liver and in both species are mainly due to cardiac failure. Portal hypertension with resultant portosystemic collateral circulati on and ascites mainly results from chronic liver disease, particularly cirrhosis. The main vascular disorder resulting in portal hypertensio n and ascites in the dog is primary hypoplasia of the portal vein.