The liver carries out a multitude of functions that ensure we are able to live healthy and productive lives. Roles include the filtration of blood, production of bile and the storage of glycogen. Focusing on blood filtration, the liver processes blood flowing from the digestive tract, removing any toxins that may be present via the portal vein. In instances of portal hypertension, there is increased blood pressure in the portal veins which can have grave consequences for the patient.

The identification of a non-intrusive, straightforward method by which to assess for the presence of portal hypertension would be greatly beneficial to both practitioners and the individual in question – whether the individual is human or a member of the animal kingdom.

A paper published at the end of 2012 by Sakamoto Y. et al in The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science/The Japanese Society of Veterinary Science (74 (10): pp 1299-302) sought to identify ways that blood pressure in the portal vein could be measured in our canine companions. This study used both male and female healthy Beagle dogs between the ages of 3 to 6 years of age and measured portal blood pressure in three different regions: wedged hepatic venous pressure, splenic pulp pressure and the trans-splenic portal vein. The results of this research paper revealed that measuring the splenic pulp pressure aided by ultrasonography methods could be carried out quickly and easily, advantageous for both the dog and the owner. Most importantly, the paper speculates that this may have a knock on effect when assessing dogs afflicted with liver diseases, by enabling the detection of portal hypertension in such instances.

There are many liver-associated conditions that dogs can suffer from, which can manifest themselves in a number of different ways. Taking liver disease as an example, this condition has a variety of different causes, including cirrhosis, the onset of cancer or persistent inflammation of the liver (petMD). As the dog in question is likely to be experiencing some level of discomfort if suffering from liver disease, a technique that causes minimal damage to the sufferer (such as the one detailed above) is sure to be a welcome discovery for veterinarians and canine specialists alike.

If you would like more information on which of our scanners are suitable for use on our canine companions, click here or feel free to contact us by clicking here.