Gracie will be having an ultrasound this week to see where her shunt it. She will have to have a very risky and expensive surgery. We are hoping our BlackFinn even will help us to cover her medical bills that are going to be well over $2,000. Here is a little info on what is going on with her.
A portosystemic shunt is a blood vessel that bypasses liver tissue, carrying blood from the intestines, stomach, spleen, and pancreas to the heart before it can be filtered and cleansed of proteins, sugars, bacteria, and toxins. Shunts are present in all fetal mammals and usually close down shortly before or after birth so that the baby's liver takes over the functions of filtration, storage, and production. In some individuals the shunt doesn't close down or develops in an abnormal place, and the animal's liver doesn't get enough blood supply to grow or function properly.
