7 Metabolic encephalopathy hepatic encephalopathy Ed Friend, Susan Fitzmaurice INTRODUCTION Severely reduced liver function is required to produce hepatic encephalopathy. This is most commonly due to vascular shunting. Low blood glucose levels may contribute to the cerebral malfunction caused by an array of substances which include ammonia. Only two-thirds of canine congenital portosystemic shunts occur in small breeds such as Yorkshire terriers, Maltese terriers, poodles and miniature schnauzers. Domestic shorthair cats represent the majority of feline cases. CASE HISTORY Cerebral dysfunction occurs in approximately 95% of cases with signs generally commencing by 2 years of age. Intermittent episodes of abnormal behaviour (aimless wandering, head pressing, circling or a change in personality), ataxia, blindness and seizures may be triggered by gastrointestinal bleeding, infections, hypokalaemia, constipation and high protein diets. Improvement may be seen after antibiotic therapy. The animal may be slow to recover from a general anaesthetic. Seizures with a normal inter-ictal period may be the only abnormality. Only gold members can continue reading. Log In or Register to continue Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Related Related posts: Metabolic encephalopathy: insulinoma Metabolic encephalopathy: osmolality Idiopathic epilepsy LMN paresis and paralysis: Brachial plexus avulsion Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel Join Tags: Saunders Solutions in Veterinary Practice Small Animal Neurology Sep 3, 2016 | Posted by admin in SMALL ANIMAL | Comments Off on Metabolic encephalopathy: hepatic encephalopathy Full access? Get Clinical Tree
7 Metabolic encephalopathy hepatic encephalopathy Ed Friend, Susan Fitzmaurice INTRODUCTION Severely reduced liver function is required to produce hepatic encephalopathy. This is most commonly due to vascular shunting. Low blood glucose levels may contribute to the cerebral malfunction caused by an array of substances which include ammonia. Only two-thirds of canine congenital portosystemic shunts occur in small breeds such as Yorkshire terriers, Maltese terriers, poodles and miniature schnauzers. Domestic shorthair cats represent the majority of feline cases. CASE HISTORY Cerebral dysfunction occurs in approximately 95% of cases with signs generally commencing by 2 years of age. Intermittent episodes of abnormal behaviour (aimless wandering, head pressing, circling or a change in personality), ataxia, blindness and seizures may be triggered by gastrointestinal bleeding, infections, hypokalaemia, constipation and high protein diets. Improvement may be seen after antibiotic therapy. The animal may be slow to recover from a general anaesthetic. Seizures with a normal inter-ictal period may be the only abnormality. Only gold members can continue reading. Log In or Register to continue Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Related Related posts: Metabolic encephalopathy: insulinoma Metabolic encephalopathy: osmolality Idiopathic epilepsy LMN paresis and paralysis: Brachial plexus avulsion Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel Join
