ABSTRACT
Neurologic manifestations of liver disease are common in animals with either congenital or acquired portosystemic shunts (PSSs) or acute fulminating hepatic failure. The signs associated with hepatoencephalopathy are generally those of central nervous system (CNS) depression or overt signs of cerebral and diencephalic dysfunction (Figure 9.1). Depression, behavioral changes, ataxia, central blindness, circling, head pressing, pacing, panting, stupor, coma, and seizures may be noted. Seizures are most common in animals with PSSs, especially following attempted surgical correction. Cats with
Hepatology (the study of the liver and the diseases that affect it) remains a particularly frustrating area in small animal internal medicine because the liver is involved in hundreds of metabolic processes and can be involved with a variety of pathologic and pathophysiologic changes. Fortunately, the liver has a remarkable functional reserve; in some cases as much as 70-80% of the functional liver mass must be impaired before signs of dysfunction become apparent and, under the right circumstances, the liver is capable of regenerating significant functional capacity over relatively short periods of time.
