The aim of the study was to assess the usefulness of vascular angiography in the diagnostics of liver vascular system diseases. The study was conducted on 3 dogs: Yorkshire terrier marked C1, German Shepherd C2 and Airedale Terrier - C3, aged 11 months, 9 and 5 years respectively. The examinations were performed as follows: the history and clinical examination, abdominal USG, morphological examination, urea and creatinine concentration, AlAT, AspAT, ALP, GGT, amylase and lipase, the concentration of total bilirubin, ammonia, total protein and albumins. All animals underwent the angiography of the liver vascular system. Additionally, in laparotomy, an oligobiopsy of the liver was performed during which liver samples were collected for histopathological examinations. Results: Dogs C1 and C3 manifested leucocytosis. Only in dog C2 the morphological examination revealed thrombocytopenia. The biochemical examinations of blood serum in dog C1 showed a decrease in the urea level. Dog C2 demonstrated an increase the activity of AspAT, AlAT, ALP and GGT, as well as hyperbilirubinemia, hypoproteinemia and hypoalbuminemia. Dogs C1 and C2 had hyperammonemia. The histopathological examination of liver samples collected during diagnostic laparotomy in dog C1 revealed a slight fibrosis of single portal spaces and dilation of central veins and sinuses, which suggested passive hyperemia. Additionally, diffuse micro- and macrofollicular lipidosis of the whole bioptate was recognized. The histopathological examination of the collected liver bioptate in dog C2 showed macro- and micronodular cirrhosis of the liver. In dog C3 a venous congestion of the liver without signs of inflammation, fibrosis or lipidosis was diagnosed. The contrast examination of the liver vascular system in dog C1 revealed an extrahepatic portosystemic shunt. A connection of the splenic vein with the caudal vena cava in the form of a short loop between the portal vein branching off and the jejunal vein was observed. Dog C2 had multiple intrahepatic portosystemic shunts. In addition, a characteristic spiral course of intrahepatic branches was observed, which suggested liver cirrhosis. The examination of the liver vascular system in dog C3 revealed no abnormalities in the structure of the liver vascular system. Clinical signs and results of laboratory tests suggest the disease but the basic examination enabling the final diagnosis and location of a shunt is portography. This method is widely used in the diagnostics of liver vascular system diseases. However, it is an invasive method and should be performed in large specialist centres.
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