This week’s segment features Dolly Joy the 2 year old corgi!! 🐾 Dolly Joy came to us for eating less than normal and not gaining as much weight. After sending out a comprehensive panel to our outside laboratory we found an elevation in her liver enzymes, which is unusual in a dog so young. Young dogs with liver value elevations can be indicative of congenital (birth) defects such as shunts, microvascular dysplasia and other anatomical abnormalities. In Dolly Joy’s case after we performed an abdominal ultrasound and found no significant abnormalities we sent off blood for additional testing. Her lab results confirmed a diagnosis of microvascular dysplasia. Hepatic microvascular dysplasia (sometimes called portal vein hypoplasia) is an inherited abnormality of the liver. In affected dogs, the microscopic blood vessels within the liver are underdeveloped or absent. This decreases blood flow within the liver, causing atrophy (decrease in size) of the liver and its cells. Due to this atrophy and decreased blood flow, the liver is less capable of processing toxins or producing proteins needed for growth and development. After starting Dolly Joy on medications to support her liver which she will remain on life-long, she has made a full recovery!!! 🐾