Total lipid concentration of hairs increases after successful attenuation of extrahepatic portosystemic shunts in dogs.

Background: Skin and coat quality can reflect nutritional deficiencies in humans and dogs with liver diseases.

Hypothesis/objectives: Determine skin and coat quality based on a scoring protocol and skin biopsies in dogs with an extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (EHPSS), and determine total lipid concentrations in hairs of dogs at time of surgery and 3 months after successful shunt closure.

Animals: Ten client-owned dogs that underwent successful gradual attenuation of EHPSS, as defined by transsplenic portal scintigraphy, were included.

Materials And Methods: A prospective cohort study was performed. All dogs underwent gradual attenuation of the EHPSS. Skin and coat scoring was performed at diagnosis, surgery, and 1 and 3 months postoperatively. Hair was plucked from the lumbar region for total lipid analysis and an 8 mm punch skin biopsy was taken at time of surgery and 3 months postoperatively, when the dogs underwent transsplenic portal scintigraphy to determine EHPSS closure.

Results: No significant differences were observed in skin and coat scoring over time. Total lipid concentrations of hairs increased significantly from surgery to 3 months postoperatively [30 μg/mg hair (13-56 μg/mg hair) to 47 μg/mg hair (25-63 μg/mg hair); p = 0.005]. Skin biopsies showed the presence of significantly more scales 3 months postoperatively (p = 0.018).

Conclusions And Clinical Relevance: A significant increase in total lipid concentrations in hairs suggests that successful surgical attenuation of EHPSS improves either intestinal absorption of lipids, fat metabolism in the liver, or a combination of both.