Portosystemic Shunt

Happy Sunday, everyone! 

My Behr was finally diagnosed with a portosystemic shunt, a condition where a stray blood vessel is diverting the nutrients and toxins absorbed from the intestines away from the liver where they should be going to be detoxified and into systemic circulation. While I am extremely relieved to finally have a solution to all of his symptoms, the surgery to repair it is approximately $3,000. The doctor told me it can be medically managed (with low protein k/d and metronidazole) pretty much indefinitely though Behr would live a shorter life.

My current plan is to medically manage it until I can save up the money for the surgery (treating his odd symptoms and doing all the tests has gutted my savings), which should hopefully be by the end of next year at the latest.

My question is if anyone here has experienced the same condition with their own cats and which route you took? 

Thank you so much for your time! 

Zoey602 said:

Happy Sunday, everyone! 

My Behr was finally diagnosed with a portosystemic shunt, a condition where a stray blood vessel is diverting the nutrients and toxins absorbed from the intestines away from the liver where they should be going to be detoxified and into systemic circulation. While I am extremely relieved to finally have a solution to all of his symptoms, the surgery to repair it is approximately $3,000. The doctor told me it can be medically managed (with low protein k/d and metronidazole) pretty much indefinitely though Behr would live a shorter life.

My current plan is to medically manage it until I can save up the money for the surgery (treating his odd symptoms and doing all the tests has gutted my savings), which should hopefully be by the end of next year at the latest.

My question is if anyone here has experienced the same condition with their own cats and which route you took? 

Thank you so much for your time! 

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I don't have any experience.with.PSS but I have read some as my dog had.elevated ALT and I read up on it. I would suggest giving your baby antioxidants like vitamin e as well as omega 3 fatty acids. They will help fight the toxins. I don't know if PSS is treated with typical liver supplements like SAM-e and silymarin but you may want to ask your vet. These help the regeneration of the liver and detoxify it.

I'm sorry you and your baby are going through this. From what I've read and been told it is.difficult to diagnose a shunt. I wish you both the best. Sorry I couldn't give you more help. I can look up on the vet's message boards and see. What I find.

Thank you so much for your reply! The next time I'm at PetSmart I will definitely check out what supplements they have from GNC. I know they have an extensive collection there so I imagine I will easily find what you've mentioned.

Sam-e and silymarin are available from your vet as far as I know. You can use any vitamin e and there are many omega 3 fatty acid supplements. Get the ones that go in the fridge. Many supplements claim to have certain amounts of EPA snd DHA but I would get a trustworthy brand.

You could also consider a probiotics like Proviable by nutramax. It provides 7 strains of good bacteria which wi also help your cat's digestive system and thus boost his immunity. This comes from a a vet as well. Or like I do, get the probiotics by Flora - they have various varieties. Utter I get the one for adults or children for intestinal health and sprinkle about a sixth of the.capsule on my cat's food. This will help with the.antibiotic (Metronidazole). But in the long run, it would be good to keep up the good bacteria. Flora also has omega fatty acid supplements (eg. UFO's oil). It can be found at health food stores in the fridge. It is expensive but well worth it. I take the probiotics when I'm on antibiotics and I don't have any of the intestinal issues. I take it during antibiotic treatment and 10 days after it's done.