Hamilton Specialist Referrals is a veterinary referral hospital for dogs and cats open 24/7.
16/04/2025
We recently received some wonderful feedback from a client and her adorable dog, Tessa.
Tessa initially came to see our neurologist, Dr. Jocelyn Cooper, with neurological symptoms, including unusual behaviour and possible spinal pain. An MRI of her spine was performed, and a neurological condition was ruled out.
Back at her referring vet, a CT scan revealed that Tessa had an extra-hepatic portosystemic shunt. A portosystemic shunt, or liver shunt, is a bypass that allows blood to flow around the liver—either due to a congenital (present at birth) or acquired condition. In Tessa’s case, it was congenital, and while relatively common in dogs, it can lead to serious complications.
The shunt causes blood to bypass the liver and flow directly to the heart without being filtered. This unfiltered blood enters the systemic circulation, which can lead to a range of symptoms and explains the neurological signs Tessa was experiencing.
Tessa was then referred to Dr. Carolina Albuquerque in our internal medicine department for further assessment and treatment. She was subsequently scheduled for corrective surgery with Dr. Karla Lee, our soft tissue surgeon, and Dr. Barbora Mala, our surgical resident.
Tessa’s case highlights how multidisciplinary collaboration in a referral setting can lead to excellent outcomes for our patients.
We’re happy to report that Tessa’s surgery was a success, and she is now on the road to recovery. However, Tessa seems to think that four weeks of rest and recovery is far too long—she’s feeling great and is eager to return to her usual activities!
