09/06/2026
Jinx is a beautiful 5 month old Maine Coone who came to us all the way from Mackay to see us for a suspected liver shunt. She had been experiencing mental dullness and nausea after eating - both signs of a possible liver shunt.
A liver shunt (officially known as a portosystemic shunt, or PSS) is a congenital abnormality where an extra blood vessel is shunting around the liver, like a highway bypass. This means that blood is not being filtered by the liver and toxins can build up - especially after eating. 🦠
Typically animals with a PSS are small in size compared to their litter mates. You can see Jinx posing with her litter mate! Jinx also has copper coloured eyes, which is another phenomenon we sometimes see in cats with PSS. 🐈🐈⬛
Jinx had a CT scan which diagnosed a large ‘gastro-phrenic’ PSS. Jinx subsequently underwent surgical attenuation of the shunt using a cellophane banding technique, allowing gradual closure of the abnormal vessel and adaptation of blood flow through the liver.
Jinx spent one week post-operatively with us boarding until she could hitch a ride home to Mackay.
Jinx was an absolute delight to have in the hospital and we absolutely loved her and all six toes on each foot certainly added to her charm! 😻
