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Section: Overview
Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a degenerative disease of the brain caused by severe hepatic insufficiency in advanced liver disease. It is characterized by abnormal mental status, an altered state of consciousness and impaired neurologic function. The most common cause is a congenital abnormality present at birth called a portosystemic shunt. This is an anatomical defect that causes blood to be diverted around the liver instead of passing through the liver. The liver cannot detoxify the blood and the toxins reach the brain and cause the clinical syndrome. Patients with liver failure due to toxic or infectious causes can also exhibit signs of HE.There is no age, sex, or breed predisposition for animals with toxic or infectious liver disease; however, animals with congenital portosystemic shunts are usually brought to the veterinarian within the first year of life.
A seizure (convulsion or fit) is sudden excessive firing of neurons in the brain. The seizure results in involuntary muscular activity, abnormal sensations, abnormal behaviors or some combination of these...
Determining the level of consciousness is an important aspect of the physical exam. Pets that are depressed, stuporous or comatose may have a serious, potentially life threatening illness.
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