A COAGULOPATHY ASSOCIATED WITH A PORTOSYSTEMIC SHUNT IN A DOG

A young, poorly grown Dobermann bitch was presented with a unilateral facial swelling. Fine needle aspiration and cytology determined the sw elling to be a haematoma. Blood coagulation studies showed an underlyi ng coagulopathy that may have predisposed to haematoma formation. Seru m biochemical and haematological data suggested the bitch was sufferin g from an underlying hepatopathy and hepatic dysfunction was demonstra ted by bile acid analysis. The differential diagnoses of chronic activ e hepatopathy and the use of vitamin K1 for the treatment of the coagu lopathy are discussed. Exploratory laparotomy, contrast mesenteric ven ography and hepatic biopsy confirmed the presence of an intrahepatic p ortosystemic shunt. Portosystemic shunting of blood with subsequent he patic dysfunction is postulated to be the underlying cause of the clin ically evident coagulopathy in this case.